Crime and Punishment
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4.6 • 97 Ratings
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Publisher Description
Crime and Punishment tells the story of Rodion Raskolnikov, an ex-student who plans to murder a pawnbroker to test his theory of personality. Having accomplished the deed, Raskolnikov struggles with mental anguish while trying to both avoid the consequences and hide his guilt from his friends and family.
Dostoevsky’s original idea for the novel centered on the Marmeladov family and the impact of alcoholism in Russia, but inspired by a double murder in France he decided to rework it around the new character of Raskolnikov. The novel was first serialized in The Russian Messenger over the course of 1866, where it was an instant success. It was published in a single volume in 1867. Presented here is Constance Garnett’s 1914 translation.
Customer Reviews
Great character study, but the heist plot felt a bit loose.
I really enjoyed Crime and Punishment, and Dostoevsky's writing is undeniably powerful. However, I found the core reasoning and the plot surrounding the actual crime to be a bit broad. The idea of an educated man planning this major heist, only to brutally rob an old pawnbroker, completely mess up the execution, and walk away with just a few random pieces of gold felt a little shortsighted. That being said, once the crime is done, the psychological fallout and the intense guilt make for a fantastic story. A very good read, even if the logistics of the plot left me a bit skeptical.