Apollinaria Suslova became the prototype for many mysterious women in Dostoevsky's works: Polina in "The Gambler", Katerina in "The Brothers Karamazov", Lisa in "Demons", and Nastasya Filippovna in "The Idiot". Coming from a peasant background, she was emancipated and held nihilistic views, inspiring the great Russian writer for a long time. Her father became wealthy before the abolition of serfdom and sent his daughter to study at the capital's university. However, Apollinaria showed no interest in her studies, preferring to absorb new revolutionary ideas. She did not want to be limited to the role of a "keeper of the hearth".

The exact circumstances of the meeting between 40-year-old Fyodor Dostoevsky and 21-year-old Suslova are unknown. The young writer and publisher began to date. "I gave myself to him out of love, asking nothing in return," Suslova recalled. However, their romance was overshadowed: Dostoevsky was married. Polina gave him an ultimatum: either her or his wife.

In March 1863, Suslova left for Paris and began a romance with a local doctor, even writing to Dostoevsky: "You are coming too late. Everything has changed. I have given my heart away." However, Fyodor Mikhailovich still came to Paris and persuaded her not to end their relationship. They traveled around Europe, stayed in the same room, swore eternal love, but the next morning would argue so fiercely that other guests asked to be shielded from their scandals. Ultimately, their union fell apart. "You write that you are very sad. I do not know your life over the past year and what was in your heart, but judging by everything I know about you, it is hard for you to be happy," Dostoevsky wrote in his last letter.

Dostoevsky had already thought he would spend the rest of his life alone when he unexpectedly met Anna Snitkina. However, his romance with Suslova left a mark on his work. Apollinaria, unknowingly, helped him create immortal images. Suslova passed away at the age of 78 in 1918, the same year as Snitkina. By a strange coincidence, both died in the same province, in Crimea.