[2][3] She is considered to be the prototype of several female characters in Dostoyevsky's novels, such as Polina in The Gambler, Nastasya Filipovna in The Idiot, Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladova in Crime and Punishment,[4] Lizaveta Nikolaevna in The Possessed, and both Katerina and Grushenka in The Brothers Karamazov.

He decided to provide proper education for his daughters, Polina (a diminutive form of the given name Apollinaria) and Nadezhda.

[7][11] Lyubov Dostoyevskaya in Dostoyevsky as Portrayed by His Daughter described her as a young provincial woman, whose "rich relatives were able to send her enough money to live comfortably in Saint Petersburg.

However, she attended lectures, flirted with the students, … made them sign petitions, participated in all political demonstrations, … sang La Marseillaise, scolded the Cossacks and behaved provocatively.

"[12] In 1861, Suslova attended the classes taught by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, already a renowned writer, whose lectures were very popular among young people.

Her story was bad, but Dostoyevsky was attracted to a beautiful young girl and promised to teach her writing.

[15] Suslova was imperious, manipulative, jealous,[7][16] and she constantly demanded that he divorce his "consumptive wife" Maria Isayeva.

[17] Unlike Dostoyevsky's second wife Anna Snitkina, Polina Suslova rarely read his books, did not respect his work, and regarded him as a simple admirer.

Rozanov's daughter, Tatyana, stated in her memoirs: "Suslova mocked him, saying that what he was writing were just some stupid books, she insulted him, and finally dumped him".

After they finally parted, Rozanov admitted: "There was something brilliant (in her temperament) that made me love her blindly and timidly despite all the suffering.