What is the author's style in The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky?

The Idiot is a translation from Russian to English, and it is difficult to know how much of the novel's meaning is lost. For example, the Ivolgin family, General Yephanchin and Keller are from poorer backgrounds than the other characters, but this is only told to the reader within the story and the translator does not reflect this difference in the dialogue. In general, though, the characters are from high society and the formal language reflects their position. In particular, the characters talk about philosophical ideas that show them to be highly educated. At times, though, their formal and highbrow language does not feel natural to the characters and instead show them to be repressing their true selves.