★ “The Unusual Event” comprises two works by Fyodor Dostoevsky: “Another Man’s Wife and the Husband Under the Bed” and “The Crocodile—A Most Extraordinary Event.” Through these two delightfully witty tales, the book reveals a lesser-known side of Dostoevsky—an author brimming with humor and imagination.
★ The illustrations for this volume were created by Mikhail Bychkov, winner of the Golden Medal for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in Book Illustration from the Russian Artists’ Union, an IBBY Honorary Illustrator, and a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award!
★ This book shatters readers’ stereotypical image of Dostoevsky as a gloomy writer. With their imaginative plots and humorous style, complemented by Mikhail Bychkov’s illustrations, these two stories allow us to see how this literary giant could also portray human vanity, embarrassment, and absurdity with lightness and wit.

“The Wife Next Door and the Husband Under the Bed”: The male protagonist, Ivan, is an extremely jealous man. One night, suspecting his wife of having an affair, he storms into an apartment building to catch them in the act. To his misfortune, he ends up accidentally crawling under someone else’s bed. There, he crouches amid the dust, eavesdropping on their private conversation. When he is finally dragged out, he makes a complete fool of himself; in his panic, he even stuffs the dead body of their poodle into his own pocket. The entire tale unfolds like a comical stage play, vividly portraying the awkwardness and absurdity of a petty, suspicious husband.

“Crocodile—A Very Remarkable Incident”: An ordinary minor official is accidentally swallowed by a crocodile while shopping in a department store. Most people would react with fear, struggle, and an instinctive desire to escape, but instead of being frightened, he feels delighted. Throughout his life, he has been an insignificant, overlooked figure, unnoticed by everyone. Being gobbled up by the crocodile suddenly thrusts him into the spotlight, making him the center of attention for all. Trapped inside the creature’s belly, he holds forth at length, even communicating his “political views” to the outside world via his wife, fantasizing that this extraordinary event will secure his place in history. This story serves both as a satire of certain social trends of the time and as a wildly absurd farce.

Fyodor Dostoevsky is often regarded as a gloomy writer. However, this collection presents a completely different side of the world-famous author—one that reveals his cheerful nature, sparkling sense of humor, and penchant for extraordinary flights of fancy. Both stories are brimming with imagination and wit, showcasing Dostoevsky’s distinctive artistic style and profound insight into human nature. They highlight a strikingly contrasting facet of his comedic talent. Mikhail Bychkov’s illustrations further enrich these tales with vibrant color and vitality.

【Text Author】Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881)
A great Russian writer, regarded alongside Tolstoy as one of the pinnacles of Russian literature. Born into a family of physicians, he initially studied engineering before turning to literature. In 1849, he was sentenced to death for participating in a progressive group; just moments before the execution, his sentence was commuted to exile in Siberia. This experience profoundly influenced his later works. Dostoevsky excels at probing the depths of the human soul. His masterpieces—Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, The Possessed, The Brothers Karamazov, among others—reveal the intense struggle between light and darkness within the human heart. His characters often teeter on the brink of madness, pathology, and faith, earning him the title “a cruel genius.”

【Illustrator】Mikhail Bychkov
One of Russia’s most distinguished contemporary illustrators and artists, renowned for his exquisite artwork, particularly his outstanding contributions to book illustration. He has received numerous prestigious national and international awards.
He has participated many times in the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) and has served as chairman of the IBBY jury for the St. Petersburg section of the BIB International Children’s Illustration Biennial for over a decade.
His works are regularly exhibited in museums and libraries and are held in the collections of the Russian Museum, the Dostoevsky Museum, the Tolstoy Museum, other Russian museums, private collections, as well as overseas institutions.
In 2020, the renowned Russian documentary filmmaker Evgeny Gorinkin produced the film Return to Childhood, which focuses on creators of children’s books, with Mikhail Bychkov as one of its central figures.
In 2021, Mikhail Bychkov was awarded the Gold Medal—the highest honor for book illustration—by the Union of Artists of Russia.
In 2020 and 2021, he was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an accolade considered equivalent to the Hans Christian Andersen Award in the field of children’s literature.
From April 12 to May 20, 2023, the exhibition “Mikhail Bechikov: Illustration and Books” was grandly held at the National Children’s Library of Russia. The event featured several leading Russian artists, including Igor Oleynikov, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration.

Mikhail Bechikov was born in 1951 and graduated from the Secondary Art School affiliated with the I.E. Repin Academy of Arts in 1969. From 1970 to 1973, he studied in the mural painting workshop of the I.E. Repin Academy under Professor A.A. Mylnikov. In 1975, he completed his studies in Book Graphics at the Leningrad Branch of the Moscow Polygraph Institute. Since 1982, he has been a member of the Union of Artists of Russia. Beginning in 2011, he has chaired the IBBY jury for the St. Petersburg section of the BIB International Children’s Illustration Biennial.
Mikhail Bychkov’s illustrative style is typically characterized by meticulous detail and vivid expressiveness, bringing the narratives and characters of literary texts to life for readers. Having grown up reading classic works, he approaches their visual interpretation with both reverence and trepidation, creating page after page of artistic masterpieces. Before embarking on any project, he carefully immerses himself in the original text, delves into the historical and cultural contexts embedded within the literature, and scrutinizes even the smallest details before picking up his brush. Balancing respect for tradition with innovative spirit, Mikhail Bychkov’s illustrations are refined, exquisite, and beautiful. His oil paintings evoke a timeless, exotic atmosphere, seamlessly blending art and literature. This not only enriches the reader’s sensory experience but also deepens their understanding of the emotional, cultural, and historical dimensions of the literary work, thereby significantly enhancing their overall comprehension and appreciation of it. Mikhail Bechikov is dedicated to producing illustrations of literary value. He believes that, in children’s books, an artist’s mission is to create a world filled with kindness, love, and hope; to showcase the beauty of the material world crafted by human hands; and to nurture in young readers a love of books, as well as an admiration for beauty and the diversity of nature.

Mikhail Bychkov’s work extends beyond book illustration. He has also contributed to various art projects and exhibitions, theatrical productions, museum displays, educational initiatives, and cultural events. His artistic style and technique have earned him widespread acclaim and recognition both at home and abroad, making a significant contribution to contemporary Russian art. Several of his works, including Diving•Rescue Dog•Shark, The Sea, Childhood, and The Silver-Hoofed Goat, have already been licensed for publication in China.

【Awards and Honors】
1997 — Silver Medal for Illustration at the Moscow International Book Fair.
2002 — Honorary Certificate from the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
2002 — Included in IBBY’s list of the World’s Best Illustrators.
2003 — Winner of the “Book of the Year” award at the All-Russian Illustrators’ Competition.
2004 — Annual Book Award from the Russian Publishers Association.
2004 — Honorary Medal at the Second Independent Graphic Biennial in St. Petersburg.
2005 — Honorary Certificate from the Russian Academy of Arts.
2006 — Winner of the “Best Book of the Year” competition organized by the Russian Publishers Association.
2006 — First Prize in the International Art Competition for Books Among CIS Countries.
2008 — Literary and Artistic Award presented by the Government of St. Petersburg.
2013 — First Prize in the “Image of the Book” category (“Best Illustration for Children and Adolescents”) at the Russian International Contest for Illustration and Book Design.
2013 — Certificate of “Best Book of the Year” from the jury of the Leningrad Children’s Reading Club.
2014 — Marshak Literary Award—“Artist of the Decade.”
2015 — Certificate of “Best Book of the Year” from the jury of the Leningrad Children’s Reading Club.
2015 — Solemn recognition by the State Academic Institute of Art in St. Petersburg.
2016 — Certificate of “Best Book of the Year” from the jury of the Leningrad Children’s Reading Club.
2020 — Nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award—one of the world’s largest awards in children’s and young adult literature.
2021 — Gold Medal for Achievement in Book Illustration from the Union of Artists of Russia.
2022 — Nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an honor in children’s literature considered comparable to the Hans Christian Andersen Award.