Product Description
Here is Dostoevsky's epic masterpiece--a story of patricide and family rivalry embodying the disintegration of a whole society, Russia in the 1870s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (121)

Not easy, but richly rewarding.
A note on the copy by Everyman's Library: It's hardbound, it's durable, it's got a classy dust jacket, and I love the built-in ribbon bookmark. It's very convenient for a book of this size.

Dostoevsky's not easy to read the way a conventionally skilled author would be. He is often heavy handed with drama, we must trust him to find his way out of the many paths he leads us down, and he just doesn't operate the way Tolstoy does, presenting an easily identifiable portrait of life. This unconventional quality is what makes him so appealing to we who enjoy a trip into the extreme. And in this book Dostoevsky fires on all cannons: the most significant issue in the book is the varying experiences (pros and cons, if you will) of Dostoevsky's three basic archetypes of men: the intellectual, the romantic, and the pious. This is an extremely strong foundation for a book such as this, and would certainly be deprived of a great deal without it, because Dostoevsky meanders frequently down paths we don't as readers see as logical or pertinent at first.

Yet everything logically and thematically holds up very well, and we were deprived of a great deal by the absence of the intended two sequels to this book by Dostoevsky's death two months after he published it. It's obvious that he poured his very soul into its pages. Whereas many authors can be called impressionists or realists depicting the world around them to mimic life itself, Dostoevsky is a true romantic as every character comes crashing through the thin fabric of reality with bold, unrealistic actions, yet they are extreme in a way that comments on humanity like few other authors have. Dostoevsky deals in drama, not real life, so read this book if you appreciate bold, forceful characters and a healthy jostling of the neatly rearranged innards of your psyche. I promise you'll find plenty of both.

severely abridged edition
I wish it had been made clear upfront that this is a severely abridged edition of this novel.In other words, most of the words are not here.Not what I expected or wanted.

Translations
Greetings to all
I am not going to review this book other than to say it is one of the best I have ever had the pleasure to read.My point is in the translations.There were a couple of translations recommended.I cannot comment on those because I have not read them.I can contribute the translations of Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.I have read reviews from Russian speaking ladies and gentleman and they all by far recommend the translations I mentioned.Just a few lines to try and make the reading as enjoyable as possible..

Great book with 2 comments
I can't add much to what was written about this great book. However I have 2 points to bring up. First of all this is a terrible edition. The introduction reminds me of a High School essay and the layout is horrible with small font and tiny margins. The other point is that this book is very (too much for my taste) heavy on Christian philosophy, redemption etc...

Greatest Translation of "The Brothers Karamazov" Ever!!!
I have read the Constance Garnett translation of "The Brothers Karamazov" three times since I was a sophomore in high school, and it is still far superior to the latest translation that I read recently. I know Constance Garnett has had her detractors (i.e. Vladimir Nabokov & Joseph Brodsky), but the passion and poetry of language seems much more unaffected in Ms. Garnett's translation.

Enough though about translations, when I read "The Brothers Karamazov" as a 15 year old, it changed my life. I could hardly hold onto the book with the adrenaline coursing through to nearly bursting my finger tips upon consuming pages of epiphany after epiphany.

Perhaps generations since are raised assuming their right to the freedom of questioning and pursuing an independent investigation of truth, but in the late '60s this was not necessarily understood by a good dogmatically religious boy in Chicago. I was so fortunate that this right was inured in me through my steadfast scrutiny of the 800 pages of "The Brothers Karamazov". And still to this day, some 40 years later, I feel it is the greatest novel ever written. Through the years it is the closest that I have ever had of the meaning of life and grace confided to me. ... Read more

Product Description
An excerpt:

ON the thirteenth of January of this present year, 1865, at half- past twelve in the day, Elena Ivanovna, the wife of my cultured friend Ivan Matveitch, who is a colleague in the same depart- ment, and may be said to be a distant relation of mine, too, expressed the desire to see the crocodile now on view at a fixed charge in the Arcade. As Ivan Matveitch had already in his pocket his ticket for a tour abroad (not so much for the sake of his health as for the improvement of his mind), and was consequently free from his official duties and had nothing whatever to do that morning, he offered no objection to his wife's irresistible fancy, but was positively aflame with curiosity himself.

"A capital idea!" he said, with the utmost satisfaction. "We'll have a look at the crocodile! On the eve of visiting Europe it is as well to acquaint ourselves on the spot with its indigenous inhabitants." And with these words, taking his wife's arm, he set off with her at once for the Arcade. I joined them, as I usually do, being an intimate friend of the family. I have never seen Ivan Matveitch in a more agreeable frame of mind than he was on that memorable morning-how true it is that we know not beforehand the fate that awaits us! On entering the Arcade he was at once full of admiration for the splendours of the building and, when we reached the shop in which the monster lately arrived in Petersburg was being exhibited, he volunteered to pay the quarter-rouble for me to the crocodile owner--a thing which had never happened before. Walking into a little room, we observed that besides the crocodile there were in it parrots of the species known as cockatoo, and also a group of monkeys in a special case in a recess. Near the entrance, along the left wall stood a big tin tank that looked like a bath covered with a thin iron grating, filled with water to the depth of two inches. In this shallow pool was kept a huge crocodile, which lay like a log absolutely motionless and apparently deprived of all its faculties by our damp climate, so inhospitable to foreign visitors. This monster at first aroused no special interest in any one of us. ... Read more

Product Description
Dostoevsky's last and greatest novel, The Karamazov Brothers (1880) is both a brilliantly told crime story and a passionate philosophical debate. The dissolute landowner Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov is murdered; his sons--the atheist intellectual Ivan, the hot-blooded Dmitry, and the saintly novice Alyosha--are all involved at some level. Brilliantly bound up with this psychological drama is Dostoevsky's intense and disturbing exploration of many deeply felt ideas about the existence of God, freedom of will, the collective nature of guilt, and the disastrous consequences of rationalism. Filled with eloquent voices, this new translation fully realizes the power and dramatic virtuosity of Dostoevsky's most brilliant work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

I occupy myself with this mystery because I want to be a man
Anyone interested in the central question facing mankind will find `The Brothers Karamazov' an essential guide. That question--on man's capacity for responsibility and the proper role of the state and religion--is posed throughout the story in dialogue and events, and is framed neatly in a 20-page section where Ivan presents a poem titled `The Grand Inquisitor' to his brother Alyosha. The chapter that bears that title (Book V, Chapter V) is a masterpiece in itself and should be studied for its narrative technique alone. But the ideas it presents are so immense, so mind-blowing and inspirational, that literary criticism is not sufficient.

Indeed, `The Brothers Karamazov' should not be classed merely as a novel--it is a book of philosophy, theology, and sociology as well that ranks with the greatest documents in those disciplines. There is a fictitious plot, of course, and the characters in the story are some of the most unique in all of literature, so it is rightly praised as a novel. But the modern reader looking for a plot of twists and romantic intrigues is bound to disappointment. Dostoevsky does not stir up drama through the placement of unexpected developments or improbable character traits. Instead, he relies on the inherent needs and wants of all men to make vivid his story.

The amount of dialogue may be shocking (tedious) to one accustomed to the modern show-don't-tell policy in storytelling. Today, novelists and screenwriters let a character's actions speak for them--it is quicker and provides a much more convincing impression. It also limits the kind of ideas that are posed in the story to simple, prosaic ones like `she likes him' or `he wants to defeat him.' By contrast, Dostoevsky allows the characters to speak for themselves, which creates a much longer and subtler exposition, but also frees the ideas to be vast and monumental.

What is the fundamental nature of socialism? What are the uses of the church in finding purpose? In finding salvation? Why is there suffering? What is the meaning of death? Read the brothers' dialogues and contemplate.

Dostoevsky's own philosophy is seen in the protagonist, Alyosha. This is so despite the fact that the author ably covers every perspective on every topic presented in the book, and one can hardly find a positive assertion throughout. If there is one, it rests in the overall effect of the words and actions, a concept Dostoevsky articulated in a personal correspondence--it is that "Man is a mystery; if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time."

A word about the translations: The title of Book IV has been translated differently in every version I have seen (other chapter titles are also inconsistent, but Book IV is seemingly the most difficult to agree on). The original Russian is `Nadryvy,' which literally translates to `Ruptures,' though no translations I have seen use `Ruptures.' The word is used throughout the book to convey the motif of `pressures' or `strained conditions about to break.' The various options I have seen for this title are `Lacerations' (Garnett), `Strains' (Pevear & Volkhonsky), `Torment' (MacAndrew), `Crises' (Avsey), and `Crack-Ups' (McDuff). Given this is a central theme, the potential reader might look into which translation he prefers before buying. Apropos, the Princess Alexandra Kropotkin print version bears the Garnett translation, as does the Frederick Davidson audio recording.

Hurrah for Ignat Avsey!
It would be presumptious of me to "review" Dostoevsky's great masterpiece "The Brothers Karamozov" or, as Avsey has convinced me it should be rendered, "The Karamazov Brothers."Yes, it is one of the greatest novels ever, yes, it is life-changing, and yes, it is on that short list of books that should be read before you die.More than a murder mystery of course, it concerns the existence of God, fraternal rivalry, the question of guilt, the condition of Russia and what it means to be Russian.
So, the main question is what translation to choose?As I don't read Russian, my only criteria was how it read in English.Did it flow well, did it maintain interest, was it "literary"?I had sampled the more popular Pevear-Volokhonsky translation, the current Penguin Classics version, and the older Garnett translation too, and while I did not get too far in any of these, Avsey's version gripped me from the start and I ripped right through it on vacation.The Oxford World's Classics edition has much to recommend, including a time chronology, an index of main characters (an absolute necessity, as the same characters are referred to four or five different ways sometimes), and extensive editorial notes.Also, a minor point, but kudos to the printers Clays Ltd. for a superb job of printing, the paperback is a wonderfully crafted work of art!

Never use one word when you can add 10.
I read as far as page 574 (of 974) and would have given up a lot sooner if I wasn't reading it for a bookgroup discussion. The concepts and plot of this book would be interesting but the writing style made me nauseous. There is just too much unnecessary detail and irrelevant addition to make it interesting. It also makes it confusing and interferes with the main themes and plot.

It would be a good exercise for someone learning English to take parts of this book and summarize them down into less words. (If someone did that with the whole book it might be an enjoyable read.)

This was my first attempt at reading Dostoevsky and probably my last.

The most magnificent novel ever written
I cannot take credit for the title of my review - apparently, Sigmund Freud said it first, and, while I cannot say that I would agree with Freud on every subject, I must say, unequivocally, that I agree with his statement about The Karamozov Brothers (with the caveat that, of course, I have not read every novel ever written, so, take the statement for what it's worth).

My only lament regarding this novel is that I cannot read Russian directly; however, as the other reviewers of this book have pointed out, the translation by Avsey is brilliant - there is simply no other way to describe it.I first read Dostoevsky in high school - Crime and Punishment, specifically - I devoured it in a few days, if that.I absolutely loved it.Since then, I have gone on to read other Dostoevsky novels, including The Idiot, and, of course, The Karamozov Brothers.Based upon reading these novels, and many others throughout the course of my life, I must say, truly, that The Karamozov Brothers is the most breathtaking novel I have ever had the pleasure to read in regards to scope, vision, and in capturing the human soul via the written word.When Crime and Punishment and The Idiot are warm up novels to something even greater, well, that's saying something.

As for the book itself, Dostoevsky understands humanity.And, more than that, he is able to somehow capture the essence of a person - their thoughts, desires, fears, in a way that, more than any author I have ever read, makes one feel as if one is not reading a novel, but rather, witnessing real events, and real people, struggle with the great mysteries of life.Reading it is like a peering through a window into the human soul.

Does God exist?Is science a complement to or repudiation of religion?Do we have souls?Is any action permitted, or are there fundamental truths about right and wrong that govern the human reality?Are we responsible for our own actions, and, if yes, then to what extent are we responsible?Are we responsible for the actions of others, and, if yes, then to what extent?Is religion a savior or destroyer of humanity?

While these all seem like pie in the sky questions, theoretical, and wishy-washy - they are in fact as relevant today (as evidenced by the furor over evolution vs. creationism/intelligent design, and the relationship of science and religion) as they were in Dostoevsky's time - and, I am sure, have always been and will always be pivotal questions surrounding the human experience.Further, while these questions are at the heart of the novel - the novel is not just about these questions, but about people, their journey, and how these questions impact and interweave with their, and our, daily lives...from how we treat strangers, to how we treat ourselves, and everyone and everything in between.

Life is rarely black and white, if ever, and it is the dichotomy between right and wrong, good and evil, guilt and innocent, taking responsibility vs. abdicating responsibility - that drives all of us, and that makes each of us who and what we are, for better or ill.It is those same forces that drive The Karamozov Brothers as a novel, and make it a crowning achievement and testimonial to the very essence of humanity itself.

Read it.

Emanates a magnififcent spiritual glow
How do i rate the brothers karamazov? Well, Crime and Punishment is my favorite novel, and so being a true dostoevsky fan, i had high expectations. Crime is still my favorite novel.

To me, Karamazov is a more uneven novel, in that its narrative is more sprawling and less intensly focused as Crime and Punishment, and the opening 200 pages, while very good, where not quite up to the standard this great genius set in his previous novel.However, once the Grand Inquisior chapters comes (to me the greatest literary passage I've ever read), the spiritual and emotional intensity is turned up dramatically.From this point on, the greater plan of the whole novel comes into focus, and never lets up.

Let me emphasize, Brothers Karamazov is a maginificent novel!The experience after finishing it, not only left me supremely happy, it also gave me a feeling of a new love for humanity.

If the narrative is less focused than Crime and P, the characters are just as expertly realized and intense in their behavior.Finally, the terrain of the book is vast, Dostoevsky deals with a number of key spiritual, political, and legal ideas, all in truly masterful fashion. ... Read more

Product Description
A psychological novel in the great Russian tradition, Crime and Punishmentasks the question: What is the nature of punishment for a person who commits a crime without remorse?

The title, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics.This collection of criticism also features a short biography on Fyodor Dostoevsky, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University. ... Read more

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ReadHowYouWant publishes a wide variety of best selling books in Large and Super Large fonts in partnership with leading publishers. EasyRead books are available in 11pt and 13pt. type. EasyRead Large books are available in 16pt, 16pt Bold, and 18pt Bold type. EasyRead Super Large books are available in 20pt. Bold and 24pt. Bold Type. You choose the format that is right for you.

This is Volume Volume 3 of 3-Volume Set.To purchase the complete set, you will need to order the other volumes separately: to find them, search for the following ISBNs: 9781427003249, 9781427004192

A remarkable masterpiece of Dostoevsky in the world of Russian's fiction. It captivates the crime and psychological tensions of life. It is a tragic tale of a protagonist Raskolnikov, who puts his philosophical theories to the trial of murder eventually. He is incapable to understand the feelings of love and commiseration because he regards himself as a pariah. Mesmerizing!

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This series generally consists of two parts: 1) Providing a survey of the critical reception and context of the work and 2) Presenting the author's own close reading or commentary. A full bibliography is included. ... Read more

Product Description
The Brothers Karamazov tells the stirring tale of four brothers who unite in the murder of one of literatures most despicable characterstheir father. This was Dostoevskys final and best work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

deadly voice, doubtful translatioin
It is perhaps a personal matter, but the reader on this version is nearly unbearable. He speaks in a compressed faux-British accent (I think the reader is American) and in so doing, loses any sense of tone and nuance besides that ofdried out irony. As for the translation, it is the thoroughly discounted Garnett version. However, it gives the complete book, and for that alone I give an extra star.

I occupy myself with this mystery because I want to be a man
Anyone interested in the central question facing mankind will find `The Brothers Karamazov' an essential guide. That question--on man's capacity for responsibility and the proper role of the state and religion--is posed throughout the story in dialogue and events, and is framed neatly in a 20-page section where Ivan presents a poem titled `The Grand Inquisitor' to his brother Alyosha. The chapter that bears that title (Book V, Chapter V) is a masterpiece in itself and should be studied for its narrative technique alone. But the ideas it presents are so immense, so mind-blowing and inspirational, that literary criticism is not sufficient.

Indeed, `The Brothers Karamazov' should not be classed merely as a novel--it is a book of philosophy, theology, and sociology as well that ranks with the greatest documents in those disciplines. There is a fictitious plot, of course, and the characters in the story are some of the most unique in all of literature, so it is rightly praised as a novel. But the modern reader looking for a plot of twists and romantic intrigues is bound to disappointment. Dostoevsky does not stir up drama through the placement of unexpected developments or improbable character traits. Instead, he relies on the inherent needs and wants of all men to make vivid his story.

The amount of dialogue may be shocking (tedious) to one accustomed to the modern show-don't-tell policy in storytelling. Today, novelists and screenwriters let a character's actions speak for them--it is quicker and provides a much more convincing impression. It also limits the kind of ideas that are posed in the story to simple, prosaic ones like `she likes him' or `he wants to defeat him.' By contrast, Dostoevsky allows the characters to speak for themselves, which creates a much longer and subtler exposition, but also frees the ideas to be vast and monumental.

What is the fundamental nature of socialism? What are the uses of the church in finding purpose? In finding salvation? Why is there suffering? What is the meaning of death? Read the brothers' dialogues and contemplate.

Dostoevsky's own philosophy is seen in the protagonist, Alyosha. This is so despite the fact that the author ably covers every perspective on every topic presented in the book, and one can hardly find a positive assertion throughout. If there is one, it rests in the overall effect of the words and actions, a concept Dostoevsky articulated in a personal correspondence--it is that "Man is a mystery; if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time."

A word about the translations: The title of Book IV has been translated differently in every version I have seen (other chapter titles are also inconsistent, but Book IV is seemingly the most difficult to agree on). The original Russian is `Nadryvy,' which literally translates to `Ruptures,' though no translations I have seen use `Ruptures.' The word is used throughout the book to convey the motif of `pressures' or `strained conditions about to break.' The various options I have seen for this title are `Lacerations' (Garnett), `Strains' (Pevear & Volkhonsky), `Torment' (MacAndrew), `Crises' (Avsey), and `Crack-Ups' (McDuff). Given this is a central theme, the potential reader might look into which translation he prefers before buying. Apropos, the Princess Alexandra Kropotkin print version bears the Garnett translation, as does the Frederick Davidson audio recording.

Outstanding
I must admit that when I first began listening to this audiobook I did not care for the narrator's voice.After I made it to the second disk I began to more fully realize what a talented voice actor he actually was, and the remaining 28 disks or so were a great joy.His narration is delivered in a clear and warm manner and each character is given an unique voice and inflection.I will never be able to imagine Fyodor Pavlovitch Karamazov sounding any other way (Father Zossima as well).As far as the content of the book is concerned, The Brothers Karamazov is hands down one of the finest novels ever written.If you have never read it, this audiobook is well worth your time. ... Read more

Product Description
The Brothers Karamazov is the final novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Dostoyevsky spent nearly two years writing The Brothers Karamazov, which was published as a serial in The Russian Messenger and completed in November 1880. Dostoyevsky intended it to be the first part in an epic story titled The Life of a Great Sinner, but he died fewer than four months after its publication.
The Brothers Karamazov is a passionate philosophical novel that explores deep into the ethical debates of God, free will, and morality. It is a spiritual drama of moral struggles concerning faith, doubt, reason, and modern Russia. Dostoyevsky composed much of the novel in Staraya Russa, which is also the main setting of the novel. Since its publication, it has been acclaimed all over the world by thinkers as diverse as Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein,, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Martin Heidegger, and Pope Benedict XVI as one of the supreme achievements in literature. ... Read more

Product Description
An Approach to Fyodor Dostoevsky's Novels-Three-The Idiot


Students' Academy


About Fyodor Dostoevsky 6
Family Background 7
Childhood and Early Life 8
Early Literary Career 12
Exile in Siberia 14
As a Mature Writer 16
Later Literary Career 19
Works 23
Dostoyevsky’s Views on Jews in Russia 29
Existentialism 33
About “The Idiot” 34
Summary in Brief 37
Characters 43
About Major Characters 49
Themes 54
Motifs 58
Symbols 60
Summary and Analysis 62
Part I63
Part II
Part III
Part IV182

..........................

PrintISBN: 978-0-557-67449-7 ... Read more

Product Description
The Gambler is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky about a young tutor in the employment of a formerly wealthy Russian General. The novella reflects Dostoevsky's own addiction to roulette, which was in more ways than one the inspiration for the book: Dostoevsky completed the novella under a strict deadline so he could pay off gambling debts.Amazon.com Review
The Gambler brilliantly captures the strangely powerfulcompulsion to bet that Dostoyevsky, himself a compulsive gambler, knewso well. The hero rides an emotional roller coaster betweenexhilaration and despair, and secondary characters such as theGrandmother, who throws much of her fortune away at the gaming tables,are unforgettable. The book's publishing history is equally so: Underthe pressure of a deadline from an unscrupulous publisher, and withrights to his entire oeuvre at stake, Dostoyevsky dictated the book inless than a month to the star pupil of Russia's first shorthandschool. Then he married her. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Excellent Minor Work
Constance Garnett was an early translator of Russian classics to English, and her editions were long standard. They are still widely read - and very readable -, but some now think her Victorian English an impediment and prefer more recent translations. All must decide what fits their needs, but anyone wanting an adequate translation who comes across this should get it.

As for the book itself, though largely famous for long novels, Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote a number of notable novellas, of which The Gambler is last. It is not on par with longer works, but their fans will like it, as it has much of their greatness on a small scale. Also, along with Notes from Underground, it is a good place to start for those curious about Dostoevsky but intimidated by his thick masterpieces.

Dostoevsky is world renowned for psychological insight, and this is a consummate example. The first-person narrative gives a fascinating peek into a gambling addict's mind; we learn much about what causes such behavior and, more importantly, what perpetuates it, often against better judgment. A large part of Dostoevsky's greatness is that his character studies have great verisimilitude no matter what the subject, but something extra here makes it even more piercing. This is doubtless to a great extent because it has the kind of realism that only experience can bring; Dostoevsky certainly knew a lot about gambling addicts, being one himself. In fact, the book was written at near-superhuman speed to pay off gambling debts - a process so legendary that it was even made into a film. Many gambling addicts have said this is the most realistic and compelling portrayal that exists, and it certainly brings their world vividly to life. However, there is also more to it. Gambling may be the focus, but the insight holds for all addiction forms and, by extension, all types of self-destructive behavior. This last is a particular Dostoevsky specialty, especially in regard to the Russian character, which all of his work in a sense tried to define and analyze. Here he zeroes in on its self-abnegating impulse as symbolized by Alexei's passionate love. Many lovers in literature and reality have claimed they would do anything for their beloved, but few have gone to such literal extremes. This and the gambling show him on the verge not only of self-destruction but of madness, which may make him seem too extreme to be identifiable even as his actions lead to much of Dostoevsky's characteristic black humor. However, the fact that he loses love, wealth, and thus happiness because of an inability to overcome his dark forces makes him a truly tragic figure - widely sympathetic and unfortunately widely relatable. It also unflinchingly shows the futility Dostoevsky saw as central to the Russian character; as an English character unforgettably says to Alexei at the end, "your life is now over. I am not blaming you for this--in my view all Russians resemble you, or are inclined to do so. If it is not roulette, then it is something else. The exceptions are very rare." This shows a very dark view of humanity, particularly Russians - all the more so in that, unlike some of Dostoevsky's more famous works, there is no hint of spiritual redemption at the end. Some may cringe, but the realism and perspicuity ensure we cannot ignore the very important point.

The book is also notable for bringing late nineteenth century European resort towns to life. Most Dostoevsky works are of course set in Russia, but he spent much time in Europe - including Germany, where this is set -, and uses his wide knowledge and experience to make the casinos, healing waters, and other aspects seem real. This makes the book of some historical interest to those interested in the time or place, but the sociological value is even more important. The Gambler is in many ways a comedy of manners showing how Russians behaved - and were supposed to behave, often a very different thing - abroad among themselves and with other groups. This unsurprisingly leads to much conflict, which Dostoevsky plays up for all its psychological, dramatica, and comedic worth. As all this suggests, the book is not quite as serious as his major works, lacking their epic sweep, unparalleled dramatization of dense philosophical themes, and heavy dialogue. This may disappoint those looking for a masterpiece but may even be a relief to some. It must also be noted that while even the best Dostoevsky is rough around the edges of finer artistic points - he was never a prose stylist or perfectionist, his greatness being unmatched psychological and philosophical dramatization -, this is unsurprisingly even more so because of its composition's circumstances.

In the end, those not fond of more characteristic Dostoevsky may well be pleasantly surprised, and anyone who likes him should of course read this, whether early or late. An important question is what edition to buy; various translations aside, it is available in many versions from standalones to collections. Most will be better off with the latter because of the greater value, but the important thing is to read the book in some form.

The Gambler is the Best
The Gambler is my favourite book by Dostoyevsky. (My personal Top3 would be The Gambler, The Idiot, Crime and Punishment). This is also the best place to start with Dostoyevsky before moving on to heavier stuff. The novel is crisp and lighthearted, and is fun to read even in the 21st century. If you liked it make sure to check out The Hero of Our Time by Lermontov.

"You're a lost man"
The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoevsky is one of those books that reminds you how good fiction can get, how many layers of experience can be neatly laid into 180 pages, how many artistic bells and whistles can be availed in a seamless narrative.Character, theme, setting, voice, perspective, action are tightly woven together for an engrossing story about the gamblers who gather in the fictional city of Roulettenburg, Germany.

The Gambler is told from the first-person point of view of Alexei, a tutor in his twenties, who like his Russian employer, the General and his extended family, gambles.Alexei observes that there are two kinds of people who gamble, those who are wealthy and do it for sport, and those who do it in hopes of making money.However much he poses as the authority, it becomes increasingly obvious that he and the General's family are caught in the snare of addiction, in that frame of mind that sends someone with incredible debts, back to the table believing that this time, they'll not only recoup the debts, they'll come out ahead.Dostoevsky takes a long look at how love becomes twisted in the fist of gambling. The big surprise of the book is how spritely it is despite the topic, how much it entertains with its sharp irony and character sketches, especially that of the Grandmother on whose presumed eminent death and will the General is placing as much belief and hope as he spends at the gambling tables. What makes the story all that more impressive is 1) that the author produced this clear-eyed critical account while himself not yet free of gambling addiction, and 2) he did it in exactly thirty days to meet a publishing schedule that would yield money to cover his debts.Its psychological vision is very modern, and Freud cited it as informing his theory about addiction.

The Norton paperback edition has an introduction by the novel's translator.It provides some interesting historical notes.The literary analysis has just enough spoilers that I suggest reading it after finishing the novel.Not having read any other translation and not familiar with the original Russian to judge the quality, I can't really comment on the quality of the translation other than to say that it rings authentic and is pleasurable to read.

Place your bets
Written in narrative style, Alexey Ivanovitch is a young tutor working for a minor Russian aristocrat, aka the General. The book takes us back to a bygone time when the aristocrats of Europe never worked a day in their life, but rather journey about in an endless cycle of idle amusements - often including gambling. As the rich and titled enjoy their favorite pastime at a Germancasino, we watch the dysfunctional Russian family, either love sick or somewhat mentally unstable and sometimes both, testing their luck on the gaming tables - often with amazing consequences. An unusual, slightly demented and always amusing tale of a time period that is gone forever.

Fast!!!!!!!!!
I bought from Brazil and it got 3 days to arrive - AWESOME!!!! Thanks buddy! ... Read more

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1915. Dostoevsky, Russian novelist, is considered one of the most outstanding and influential writers of modern literature. In The Insulted and Injured he first explores one of his major themes, the beneficial effects of suffering. The novel begins: Last year, on the evening of March 22, I had a very strange adventure. All that day I had been walking about the town trying to find a lodging. My old one was very damp, and I had begun to have an ominous cough. Ever since the autumn I had been meaning to move, but I had hung on till the spring. I had not been able to find anything decent all day. In the first place I wanted a separate tenement, not a room in other people's lodgings; secondly, though I could do with one room, it must be a large one, and, of course, it had at the same time to be as cheap as possible. I have observed that in a confined space even thought is cramped. When I was brooding over a future novel I liked to walk up and down the room. By the way, I always like better brooding over my works and dreaming how they should be written than actually writing them. And this really is not from laziness. Why is it? See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Shocking editing for a reasonable text
Disregarding the literary merits of Dostoevsky's novel, the editing of this book is dreadful, to say the least. From the bizarre blurb ("Vanya has a crush on Natasha"..."probably literally an homage to Dickens"..."Anyway, Vanya saves from an abusive household") the editors demonstrate a disconnected grasp of grammatical and linguistic structure, which disintegrates further throughout the text.
A typical example of this blatant lack of proofreading reads as follows:
"How is Natalya Nikolaevna? Is she at home I inquired of the anxious lady.
(The quotation never reaches a conclusion). Similarly, there are several instances of typographical punctuation errors ("I less than any,.") as well as a general lack of grammatical syntax.
For a so-called classic, the editors of this book have either lazily failed to do the text justice by omitting neccessary linguistic features, or the editing has in fact been completed by a panel of inebriated armadillos.

A moving tale of suffering and forgiveness
It's really a shame that The Insulted and Injured is as hard to find as it is; though it's not on as grand a scale as most of Dostoevsky's betterknown novels, it may be as touching as anything he wrote. Narrated by ayoung author, Vanya, who has just released his first novel (which bears anobvious resemblance to Dostoevsky's own first novel, Poor Folk, making mewonder how much of the story might be autobiographical), it consists of twogradually converging subplots.One deals with Vanya's close friend andformer love object, Natasha, who has left her family to live with her newlover, Alyosha.Alyosha is the saintly but dimwitted son of PrinceValkovsky, who hopes to gain financially by marrying Alyosha off to anheiress, Katya.Valkovsky's cruel machinations to break up Alyosha andNatasha make him one of the most memorable "predatory types" (ala Stavrogin in The Possessed) that Dostoevsky created.The other branchof the plot deals with the approximately 13-year old orphan Nellie, whomVanya saves from an abusive household by taking her into his apartment, andwhose deceased mother's story in some ways parallels that of Natasha.It'sunusual to see a well-developed character as young as Nellie in aDostoevsky novel, but Nellie may be one of his most moving creations, andshe in particular shows the influence of Dickens (whom Dostoevsky is knownto have read during the Siberian exile near the end of which this novel wasconceived).

The Insulted and Injured could justly be criticized formelodrama, as the characters' behavior is a bit too extreme to be believed. There's not even a hint of jealousy anywhere in the love quadrilateralbetween Vanya, Natasha, Alyosha, and Katya, as none of them want anythingother than the happiness of their beloved--whether that happiness is withsomeone else is utterly (and unrealistically) immaterial to them.Also, atthe other end of the spectrum, Prince Valkovsky is rather implausibly evil,especially toward his own son, who though not exactly brilliant has donenothing to justify Valkovsky's cruelty. However, these extreme charctersmake the novel very emotionally involving and didn't realy bother me whileI was reading it, though of course your mileage may vary.

One of themost important themes throughout Dostoevsky's work is the expiative valueof suffering, and The Insulted and Injured, with its tragically moving plotand characters, develops that theme splendidly.At this writing,unfortunately, Amazon lists it as unavailable; hopefully that will changesoon. (Also, although at present the out-of-print search service isn'toffered for this translation, it is available for a translation under thetitle "The Insulted and Humiliated," so you might try searchingunder that title.) ... Read more

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General Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1917Original Publisher: Chatto ... Read more

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Crime and Punishment is a novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Crime and Punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, an impoverished St. Petersburg ex-student who formulates and executes a plan to kill a hated, unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money, thereby solving his financial problems and at the same time, he argues, ridding the world of an evil, worthless parasite. ... Read more

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Publisher: London, M. SeckerPublication date: 1923Subjects: Dostoyevsky, Fyodor, 1821-1881Notes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

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About Fyodor Dostoevsky 5
Family Background 6
Childhood and Early Life 7
Early Literary Career 11
Exile in Siberia 13
As a Mature Writer 15
Later Literary Career 18
Works 22
Dostoyevsky’s Views on Jews in Russia 28
Existentialism 32
THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE WEDDING 34
A FAINT HEART 53
WHITE NIGHTS 170
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man 263
Gentle Spirit 298
Part I 298
Chapter I 298
Chapter II 309
Chapter III 316
Chapter IV 321
Chapter V 327
Chapter VI 337
Part II 342
Chapter I 342
Chapter II 352
Chapter III 361
Chapter IV 369
Bobok 375
The Crocodile 408
The Thief 475
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Harold Bloom suggests the narrative of Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment "drives itself onward with the remorseless strength . . . truly a shot out of hell and into hell again." Examine the novel through some of the best criticism available on the piece. Essays discuss the novel's narrative poles, Christianity and existentialism, theory and life, and more. This series is edited by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University; Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Professor of English, New York University Graduate School. These texts presents critical essays that reflect a variety of schools of criticism on the most important 20th-century criticism on major works from The Odyssey through modern literature. Each volume also contains an introductory essay by Harold Bloom, critical biographies, notes on the contributing critics, a chronology of the author's life, and an index. ... Read more