Crime and Punishment

by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Constance Garnett (Translator)

The two years before he wrote Crime and Punishment (1866) had been bad ones for Dostoyevsky. His wife and brother had died; the magazine he and his brother had started, Epoch, collapsed under its load of debt; and he was threatened with debtor's prison. With an advance that he managed to wangle for an unwritten novel, he fled to Wiesbaden, hoping to win enough at the roulette table to get himself out of debt. Instead, he lost all his money; he had to pawn his clothes and beg friends for loans to pay his hotel bill and get back to Russia. One of his begging letters went to a magazine editor, asking for an advance on yet another unwritten novel — which he described as Crime and Punishment.

One of the supreme masterpieces of world literature, Crime and Punishment catapulted Dostoyevsky to the forefront of Russian writers and into the ranks of the world's greatest novelists. Drawing upon experiences from his own prison days, the author recounts in feverish, compelling tones the story of Raskolnikov, an impoverished student tormented by his own nihilism, and the struggle between good and evil. Believing that he is above the law, and convinced that humanitarian ends justify vile means, he brutally murders an old woman — a pawnbroker whom he regards as "stupid, ailing, greedy…good for nothing." Overwhelmed afterwards by feelings of guilt and terror, Raskolnikov confesses to the crime and goes to prison. There he realizes that happiness and redemption can only be achieved through suffering. Infused with forceful religious, social, and philosophical elements, the novel was an immediate success. This extraordinary, unforgettable work is reprinted here in the authoritative Constance Garnett translation.

A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Philosophy, Audiobook

714 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2012

About the author

Alternate spelling, see main profile Fyodor Dostoevsky

Reviews

[Jake Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must’ve been something in the water in Russia in the 19th century because just banger after banger. Tolstoys GOAT status might be in trouble tbh. But I could not put this down, so unbelievably gripping. Setting the story itself aside, it was really interesting to see how many psychological thrillers in the modern day lean heavily on this book (big one being American Psycho).

My biggest complaint though - this MFer is sick A LOT like half the book I’m like go outside and touch some grass my guy.

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, I get why it’s a classic. Just a little (lot?) melancholy for what I really enjoy reading. I also felt that almost none of the characters were relatable. Raskolnikov is a frustrating dude even taking his crime out of the equation.

But I gave this book four stars for a reason. It really is a captivating, if gloomy, cat and mouse story and interesting to see how the different characters interact with one another. I thought Dostoyesky’s parody of socialism in the character of Lebeziatnikov was cheeky and kind of fun. Who doesn’t love the trajectory of Sonia’s story?

And I like happy endings so the epilogue was a nice way to end.

[Arpi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got me out of my reading slump, I couldn't put it down for four hours before I finished it...it's an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, perspectives, actions, behaviors but it allows you to appreciate all of the good and all of the bad that this world has to offer. Literal psychological back-and-forth, definitely recommend.

[Mario Trasnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book honestly, I love it. Just goes so deep, with excellent characters and character development, also the plot is really well written imo. This book is structured in 6 Parts, in the 1st being the crime and the other The Punishment. I can’t begin to explain in words the complexity of Dostoyevsky’s analogy on the human psyche. DELIRIUM!

[Albert Myburgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am convinced that there is nothing I can say about this perfect piece of literature that has not been said before. it does not need my review. It only needs to exist. Maybe someday I will say something about it anyway, but not today.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to live myself or else better not to live at all

[Charlotte Lepage · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Could this be the punishment already beginning?” - what a freaking whirlwind.

[Tenika Fontana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this specifically because I was curious about Will Poulter narrating it. He did a very good job, I applaud him for the different voices he gave all the characters, even the one-off single liners and drunken slurs lol. He made this book even more enjoyable.

Book is of course a classic and a great insight to the human condition.