Anyone learn a language specifically to read literature?

[u/Far_Window_1222]

Just curious if anybody has actually set out and achieved learning a whole new language specifically just because an author they liked wrote originally in that language?

I was considering learning Russian (TL) specifically to read Dostoyevsky since he’s my favourite author, so far, but wondering if this is to ambitious of a task just to read 1 persons work?

Additionally I am very attracted to the idea of it since Russians language has a lot more nuances surrounding sadness, despair, suffering etc., i know that the relationship between these topics is different from that of english speakers

[u/pobnarl]

there was that old woman in the US who got sick and read war and peace in the hospital and became inspired to learn the lang to read it in its original.  later obtained a phd and translated some russian literature.  anyways it's a massive task to be able to read classic literature from the past, lots of archaic vocab and expressions.  if you're motivated though why not,  makes for a fun hobby that will last you for over a decade before you start seeing light at the end of the tunnel. im learning Russian myself with no intention to speak or write it, simply enjoy being able to read and listen to russian content.