Nekrasoff then gave the manuscript to Byelinsky with the exclamation, "A new Gogol has made his appearance!" to which Byelinsky sternly replied, "Gogols spring up like mushrooms with you." But when he had read the romance, he cried out, with emotion, "Bring him, bring him to me!" Even before the romance made its appearance in print (early in 1846), Dostoevsky had won a flattering literary reputation.

The young author's head was fairly turned with his swift success, and he grew arrogant, the result of which was that he soon quarreled with Byelinsky, Nekrasoff, and their whole circle, and published his later writings (with one exception) elsewhere than in "The Contemporary." His coolness towards the circle of "The Contemporary" was not a little aided by the difference in opinions which began to make themselves felt.

Dostoevsky was carried away by the political and social ideas which reigned in that circle, but at the same time he obstinately upheld his own religious views.

The result of this was, that the members of the circle began to regard him as behind the times.

He became more and more interested in socialism, and soon went to live with his new friends in quarters where the principles of association ruled.