Which novel by a Russian author was first published in the literary journal "The Russian Messenger" and was used by  American educational web series Thug Notes, which had their pilot episode centered on it?
Thug Notes Thug Notes is an American educational web series that summarizes and analyzes various literary works in a comedic manner. "Thug Notes" first aired on June 3, 2013, on YouTube, with the pilot episode centered on "Crime and Punishment". The host of the series is Sparky Sweets, Ph.D., portrayed by actor and comedian Greg Edwards.
Under Western Eyes (novel) Under Western Eyes (1911) is a novel by Joseph Conrad. The novel takes place in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Geneva, Switzerland, and is viewed as Conrad's response to the themes explored in "Crime and Punishment"; Conrad was reputed to have detested Dostoevsky. It is also, some say, Conrad's response to his own early life; his father was a famous revolutionary imprisoned by the Russians, but, instead of following in his father's footsteps, at the age of sixteen Conrad left his native land forever. Indeed, while writing "Under Western Eyes", Conrad suffered a weeks-long breakdown during which he conversed with the novel's characters in Polish.