The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky
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The Brothers Karamazov

Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrator: Geoffrey Giuliano, The Bell

Unabridged: 39 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/11/2024

Categories: Fiction, Classic, Family Life


Synopsis

In Fyodor Dostoevsky's magnum opus, "The Brothers Karamazov," the vast expanse of the human soul is laid bare, explored through the complex lives and intertwining destinies of the Karamazov family. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russia, the novel delves into themes of faith, morality, and the nature of existence with unparalleled depth and intensity. At its heart are the three brothers: Dmitri, Ivan, and Alyosha, each embodying different facets of the human experience. Their struggles, conflicts, and inner turmoil are mirrored in the larger societal upheavals of their time, creating a tapestry of existential angst and moral ambiguity that captivates readers with its raw emotional power and philosophical complexity.
As the brothers navigate their relationships with each other and with their enigmatic father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, they grapple with questions of identity, responsibility, and the search for meaning in a world marked by suffering and uncertainty. Dostoevsky's narrative is a masterful exploration of the human condition, probing the depths of the psyche and exposing the contradictions inherent in human nature. Through the vividly drawn characters and intricate plotlines, "The Brothers Karamazov" offers not only a profound meditation on the nature of good and evil but also a timeless reflection on the eternal struggle between faith and doubt, reason and passion. This seminal work stands as a testament to Dostoevsky's unparalleled insight into the complexities of the human soul, leaving an indelible mark on literature and inviting readers to ponder the mysteries of existence long after the final page is turned.

About Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), born in Moscow, lived much of his childhood distanced from his frail mother and officious father. During these formative years, he formed a close bond with his elder brother Mikhail. When they were teenagers, however, Fyodor and Mikhail were enrolled in separate boarding schools, Fyodor matriculating at an engineering school in St. Petersburg. Even as he was studying the trade of government, Dostoevsky was honing his skills as a writer, inking drafts of what would become his first novel-Poor Folk. In 1846, it was published to warm critical response. Something of a literary figure at the age of twenty-five, Dostoevsky began attending the discussion group that would result in his imprisonment. His sentence was commuted to four years in prison and four years of army service. His prison experiences, as well as his life after prison among the urban poor of Russia, provided a vivid backdrop for much of his later work. Released from his imprisonment and service by 1858, he began a fourteen-year period of furious writing, in which he published many significant texts, including The House of the Dead, Notes from the Underground, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, and Devils. During this period, Dostoevsky's life was in upheaval, as he lost both his first wife and his brother. On February 15, 1867, he married his stenographer Anna Grigorevna Snitkina, who managed his affairs until his death. Two months before he died, Dostoevsky completed the epilogue to The Brothers Karamazov, which was published in serial form in the Russian Messenger.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jeffrey on August 10, 2019

If you like your books to move in a linear fashion this book is not for you. It hops around and attention must be paid or you will find yourself flipping back a few pages to reestablish the thread of the story. I took this on a plane flight, crazy right? Not exactly the normal "light" reading I......more

Goodreads review by Michael on December 23, 2018

I'm writing this review as I read. Frankly, I'm astounded by how good this is and how compelling I'm finding it. Astounded? Why should that be? This is a classic, after all. True, but it breaks just about every "rule" of fiction. The plot so far is virtually nonexistent: three brothers get together......more

Goodreads review by Rawley on September 07, 2008

If there was still any doubt, let me confirm that this actually is the greatest book ever written. But be warned that you need to set aside a solid month to get through it. And it's not light reading--this is a dense work of philosophy disguised as a simple murder mystery. But it's well worth the ef......more

Goodreads review by Vit on August 19, 2020

The Brothers Karamazov is the greatest novel… The Brothers Karamazov is the greatest grotesque novel. And I’m afraid my interpretations of it will hardly be very popular. What is God? What is man? And what are their relationships? “You see, I close my eyes and think: if everyone has faith, where does......more

Goodreads review by Kevin on June 07, 2024

"Reading Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov is comparable to pushing a beautiful grand piano up a very steep hill." —Kevin Ansbro Why, oh why, in a world filled with endless opportunities to enjoy oneself, did I think it was a good idea to embark on a 19th-century book that's almost the size of an el......more