Vladimir Nabokov, genius writer and avid lepidopterist, was no big Dostoyevsky fan, at least based on the 1964 Playboy Interview that was conducted by future Futurist Alvin Toffler. An excerpt:

“Playboy: Dostoevski, who dealt with themes accepted by most readers as universal in both scope and significance, is considered one of the world’s great authors. Yet you have described him as ‘a cheap sensationalist, clumsy and vulgar.’ Why?

Nabokov: Non-Russian readers do not realize two things: that not all Russians love Dostoevski as much as Americans do, and that most of those Russians who do, venerate him as a mystic and not as an artist. He was a prophet, a claptrap journalist and a slapdash comedian. I admit that some of his scenes, some of his tremendous, farcical rows are extraordinarily amusing. But his sensitive murderers and soulful prostitutes are not to be endured for one moment– by this reader anyway.”