The Brothers Karamazov
Publisher Description
The Brothers Karamazov (Russian: Братья Карамазовы, Brat'ya Karamazovy), pronounced [ˈbratʲjə kərɐˈmazəvɨ]) 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 less than four months after its publication.
The Brothers Karamazov is a passionate philosophical novel set in 19th century Russia, that enters deeply into the ethical debates of God, free will, and morality. It is a spiritual drama of moral struggles concerning faith, doubt, and reason, set against a modernizing Russia. Dostoyevsky composed much of the novel in Staraya Russa, which inspired the main setting. Since its publication, it has been acclaimed all over the world by intellectuals as one of the supreme achievements in literature.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The depth, complexity, and length of what many consider to be Dostoyevski's best work make it one of the hardest classic novels to bring to audio. The philosophical novel/murder mystery set in 19th-century Russia requires a strong and versatile narrator to keep listeners going for the day-and-a-half-plus duration. Thankfully, narrator Constantine Gregory masters the challenge. In doing so, he manages the omniscient third-person narration by using a pleasant mellifluous tone that invites the listener to relax and approach the text patiently and carefully. The novel also features first-person voices from the large cast of characters, such as Father Zosima, who, naturally enough, argues for the existence of a higher power and Gregory is able to imbue those sections with enough individuality to make them as distinct as the author intended.
Customer Reviews
One of the best books ever written
Story about love,forgiveness,ethics and family.About differences between humans-weak,strong,sometimes evil humans.Dostoevsky created a world of 19th century small town as he wanted to see it.Actions and feelings are real-dialogs are not but it does not matter for a reader.I want to believe they are real.I want them to be smart and thoughtful.I want them to break that curse of Russian peasants and land owners.Want them to talk about philosophy and morals-morals not coming from orthodox priest but from within them.Great book,great writer and thinker.If Aloysha Karamazov would exist-He would save the world.My world anyway.