Images of Italy in Dostoevsky's epistolary heritage

The article presents a historical and literary analysis of the published texts of the writer, containing evidence of the route and travel notes, analysis of the main concepts related to Italy. To interpret the meanings of texts, the author applies an integrated approach using philological, philosophical, cultural and religious studies tools. Dostoevsky's epistolary texts as a factor in the formation of a national mentality are examined in terms of the relationship between text and extra-textual structures (symbolic representations, motivation, behavioral stereotypes, social and cultural practices).