Listen free for 30 days
-
The Brothers Karamazov [Naxos AudioBooks Edition]
- Narrated by: Constantine Gregory
- Length: 37 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Audible Membership
$14.95 a month
Buy Now for $79.03
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Buy it with
-
Crime and Punishment (Recorded Books Edition)
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Constance Garnett - translator
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 25 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is universally regarded as one of literature's finest achievements, as the great Russian novelist explores the inner workings of a troubled intellectual. Raskolnikov, a nihilistic young man in the midst of a spiritual crisis, makes the fateful decision to murder a cruel pawnbroker, justifying his actions by relying on science and reason, and creating his own morality system. Dehumanized yet sympathetic, exhausted yet hopeful, Raskolnikov represents the best and worst elements of modern intellectualism. The aftermath of his crime and Petrovich's murder investigation result in an utterly compelling, truly unforgettable cat-and-mouse game. This stunning dramatization of Dostoevsky's magnum opus brings the slums of St. Petersburg and the demons of Raskolnikov's tortured mind vividly to life.
-
-
Great story, amazing narrator
- By Christophe Hotte on 2018-12-19
Written by: Fyodor Dostoevsky, and others
-
The Idiot
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Narrated by: Constantine Gregory
- Length: 24 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Prince Lyov Nikolayevitch Myshkin is one of the great characters in Russian literature. Is he a saint or just naïve? Is he an idealist or, as many in General Epanchin's society feel, an "idiot"? Certainly his return to St. Petersburg after years in a Swiss clinic has a dramatic effect on the beautiful Aglaia, youngest of the Epanchin daughters, and on the charismatic but willful Nastasya Filippovna. As he paints a vivid picture of Russian society, Dostoyevsky shows how principles conflict with emotions - with tragic results.
-
-
Great book and a great performance!
- By Nelu on 2020-11-08
Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
-
Crime and Punishment
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Narrated by: Constantine Gregory
- Length: 22 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A century after it first appeared, Crime and Punishment remains one of the most gripping psychological thrillers. A poverty-stricken young man, seeing his family making sacrifices for him, is faced with an opportunity to solve his financial problems with one simple but horrifying act: the murder of a pawnbroker. She is, he feels, just a parasite on society. But does the end justify the means? Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov makes his decision and then has to live with it.
-
-
The best narrator for the best author
- By Tade on 2019-03-07
Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
-
War and Peace
- Written by: Leo Tolstoy
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 61 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is clearly seen in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle, all of them fully realized and equally memorable.
-
-
It's not just Big, it's awesome!
- By Trent DeJong on 2018-09-13
Written by: Leo Tolstoy
-
The Odyssey
- Written by: Homer, Emily Wilson - translator
- Narrated by: Claire Danes
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Acclaimed actress Claire Danes burnishes an epic story of heroes, gods, and monsters in a groundbreaking translation of The Odyssey, the first great adventure story in the Western literary tradition. When the wily warrior-king Odysseus sets off for home after the Trojan War, he doesn’t realize this simple undertaking will become a perilous journey of 10 years. Beset at every turn, he encounters obstacles, detours, and temptations—both supernatural and human—while his wife Penelope fends off would-be suitors desperate to take the throne.
-
-
An epic will always be an epic!
- By JohnS on 2019-06-02
Written by: Homer, and others
-
The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
-
Pretentious, Inaccurate, and Self-Absorbed.
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-03
Written by: John McWhorter, and others
-
Crime and Punishment (Recorded Books Edition)
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Constance Garnett - translator
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 25 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is universally regarded as one of literature's finest achievements, as the great Russian novelist explores the inner workings of a troubled intellectual. Raskolnikov, a nihilistic young man in the midst of a spiritual crisis, makes the fateful decision to murder a cruel pawnbroker, justifying his actions by relying on science and reason, and creating his own morality system. Dehumanized yet sympathetic, exhausted yet hopeful, Raskolnikov represents the best and worst elements of modern intellectualism. The aftermath of his crime and Petrovich's murder investigation result in an utterly compelling, truly unforgettable cat-and-mouse game. This stunning dramatization of Dostoevsky's magnum opus brings the slums of St. Petersburg and the demons of Raskolnikov's tortured mind vividly to life.
-
-
Great story, amazing narrator
- By Christophe Hotte on 2018-12-19
Written by: Fyodor Dostoevsky, and others
-
The Idiot
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Narrated by: Constantine Gregory
- Length: 24 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Prince Lyov Nikolayevitch Myshkin is one of the great characters in Russian literature. Is he a saint or just naïve? Is he an idealist or, as many in General Epanchin's society feel, an "idiot"? Certainly his return to St. Petersburg after years in a Swiss clinic has a dramatic effect on the beautiful Aglaia, youngest of the Epanchin daughters, and on the charismatic but willful Nastasya Filippovna. As he paints a vivid picture of Russian society, Dostoyevsky shows how principles conflict with emotions - with tragic results.
-
-
Great book and a great performance!
- By Nelu on 2020-11-08
Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
-
Crime and Punishment
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
- Narrated by: Constantine Gregory
- Length: 22 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A century after it first appeared, Crime and Punishment remains one of the most gripping psychological thrillers. A poverty-stricken young man, seeing his family making sacrifices for him, is faced with an opportunity to solve his financial problems with one simple but horrifying act: the murder of a pawnbroker. She is, he feels, just a parasite on society. But does the end justify the means? Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov makes his decision and then has to live with it.
-
-
The best narrator for the best author
- By Tade on 2019-03-07
Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky
-
War and Peace
- Written by: Leo Tolstoy
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 61 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is clearly seen in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle, all of them fully realized and equally memorable.
-
-
It's not just Big, it's awesome!
- By Trent DeJong on 2018-09-13
Written by: Leo Tolstoy
-
The Odyssey
- Written by: Homer, Emily Wilson - translator
- Narrated by: Claire Danes
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Acclaimed actress Claire Danes burnishes an epic story of heroes, gods, and monsters in a groundbreaking translation of The Odyssey, the first great adventure story in the Western literary tradition. When the wily warrior-king Odysseus sets off for home after the Trojan War, he doesn’t realize this simple undertaking will become a perilous journey of 10 years. Beset at every turn, he encounters obstacles, detours, and temptations—both supernatural and human—while his wife Penelope fends off would-be suitors desperate to take the throne.
-
-
An epic will always be an epic!
- By JohnS on 2019-06-02
Written by: Homer, and others
-
The Story of Human Language
- Written by: John McWhorter, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language defines us as a species, placing humans head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators. But it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries, allowing us to ponder why different languages emerged, why there isn't simply a single language, how languages change over time and whether that's good or bad, and how languages die out and become extinct.
-
-
Pretentious, Inaccurate, and Self-Absorbed.
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-03
Written by: John McWhorter, and others
-
Don Quixote
- Translated by Edith Grossman
- Written by: Edith Grossman - translator, Miguel de Cervantes
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 39 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteenth-century Spanish gentleman Don Quixote, fed by his own delusional fantasies, takes to the road in search of chivalrous adventures. But his quest leads to more trouble than triumph. At once humorous, romantic, and sad, Don Quixote is a literary landmark. This fresh edition, by award-winning translator Edith Grossman, brings the tale to life as never before.
-
-
Funny and fast paced
- By Pouria on 2017-12-19
Written by: Edith Grossman - translator, and others
-
Anna Karenina
- Written by: Leo Tolstoy
- Narrated by: Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Length: 35 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Leo Tolstoy's classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky.
-
-
Thank you Maggie Gyllenhaal
- By Neil LaChapelle on 2019-06-18
Written by: Leo Tolstoy
-
Notes from the Underground (AmazonClassics Edition)
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Narrated by: Pete Simonelli
- Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Isolated from society in a tenement basement in St. Petersburg, a malicious former civil servant vents his resentments. In the rambling notes that follow, we are exposed to the inner turmoil of the Underground Man, who represents the voice of his generation. An emotional, paranoid knot of contradictions, the spiteful narrator is also desperate to join a society he loathes, if only to prove his superiority to it.
-
-
The darkest of Dostoevsky
- By Anonymous User on 2021-04-17
Written by: Fyodor Dostoevsky
-
Slaughterhouse-Five
- Written by: Kurt Vonnegut
- Narrated by: James Franco
- Length: 5 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Traumatized by the bombing of Dresden at the time he had been imprisoned, Pilgrim drifts through all events and history, sometimes deeply implicated, sometimes a witness. He is surrounded by Vonnegut's usual large cast of continuing characters (notably here the hack science fiction writer Kilgore Trout and the alien Tralfamadorians, who oversee his life and remind him constantly that there is no causation, no order, no motive to existence).
-
-
Weird But Enjoyable. Bad Narration
- By Langer on 2020-06-11
Written by: Kurt Vonnegut
-
The Possessed
- Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Constance Garnett - translator
- Narrated by: Constantine Gregory
- Length: 27 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Also known as Demons, The Possessed is a powerful socio-political novel about revolutionary ideas and the radicals behind them. It follows the career of Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky, a political terrorist who leads a group of nihilists on a demonic quest for societal breakdown. They are consumed by their desires and ideals, and have surrendered themselves fully to the darkness of their "demons". This possession leads them to engulf a quiet provincial town and subject it to a storm of violence.
-
-
review for The Possessed
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-08-10
Written by: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and others
-
Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills
- Written by: Steven Novella, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Steven Novella
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No skill is more important in today's world than being able to think about, understand, and act on information in an effective and responsible way. What's more, at no point in human history have we had access to so much information, with such relative ease, as we do in the 21st century. But because misinformation out there has increased as well, critical thinking is more important than ever. These 24 rewarding lectures equip you with the knowledge and techniques you need to become a savvier, sharper critical thinker in your professional and personal life.
-
-
Great book worth a listen but maybe I'm bias.
- By Martin on 2018-01-15
Written by: Steven Novella, and others
-
Black Holes, Tides, and Curved Spacetime
- Written by: Benjamin Schumacher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Benjamin Schumacher
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gravity controls everything from the falling of an apple to the rising of ocean’s tides to the motions of the heavens above. If you’ve ever wondered how this most puzzling force works across our entire universe, you will be delighted by this 24-part course that is accessible to any curious person, regardless of your science education. No other product on the market presents the subject of gravity in as much detail as this course, which will follow the past 400 years of research and experimentation in the field.
-
-
Fascinating. Better than I expected.
- By Anonymous User on 2022-07-29
Written by: Benjamin Schumacher, and others
-
The History of Ancient Egypt
- Written by: Bob Brier, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Bob Brier
- Length: 24 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ancient Egyptian civilization is so grand our minds sometimes have difficulty adjusting to it. It lasted 3,000 years, longer than any other on the planet. Its Great Pyramid of Cheops was the tallest building in the world until well into the 19th century and remains the only Ancient Wonder still standing. And it was the most technologically advanced of the ancient civilizations, with the medical knowledge that made Egyptian physicians the most famous in the world.
-
-
A Moderately Entertaining Dive
- By 101 on 2018-10-03
Written by: Bob Brier, and others
-
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
- Written by: Jack Weatherford
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Jack Weatherford
- Length: 14 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Mongol army led by Genghis Khan subjugated more lands and people in 25 years than the Romans did in 400. In nearly every country the Mongols conquered, they brought an unprecedented rise in cultural communication, expanded trade, and a blossoming of civilization.
-
-
Great story, annoying music
- By Rob Smith on 2020-07-18
Written by: Jack Weatherford
-
The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956
- An Experiment in Literary Investigation
- Written by: Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
- Narrated by: Ignat Solzhenitsyn
- Length: 21 hrs and 53 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Nobel Prize winner’s towering masterpiece of world literature, the searing record of four decades of terror and oppression, in one abridged volume (authorized by the author). Features a new foreword by Anne Applebaum.
-
-
Important context, narrator lacks flow
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-11-13
Written by: Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
-
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
- Written by: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn’s startling book led, almost 30 years later, to Glasnost, Perestroika, and the "Fall of the Wall". One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich brilliantly portrays a single day, any day, in the life of a single Russian soldier who was captured by the Germans in 1945 and who managed to escape a few days later. Along with millions of others, this soldier was charged with some sort of political crime, and since it was easier to confess than deny it and die, Ivan Denisovich "confessed" to "high treason" and received a sentence of 10 years in a Siberian labor camp.
-
-
A survival story
- By erinn c white on 2018-09-18
Written by: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
-
A Christmas Carol
- Written by: Charles Dickens, R. D. Carstairs - adaptation
- Narrated by: Sir Derek Jacobi, Kenneth Cranham, Miriam Margolyes, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
'If I had my way, every idiot who goes around with Merry Christmas on his lips, would be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. Merry Christmas? Bah humbug!' Charles Dickens’ ghostly tale of sour and stingy miser Ebenezer Scrooge has captivated readers, listeners and audiences for over 150 years. This Christmas, Audible Studios brings this story to life in an audio drama featuring an all-star cast.
-
-
A True Delight!
- By KittyMcMow on 2020-12-24
Written by: Charles Dickens, and others
Publisher's Summary
Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a titanic figure among the world's great authors, and The Brothers Karamazov is often hailed as his finest novel. A masterpiece on many levels, it transcends the boundaries of a gripping murder mystery to become a moving account of the battle between love and hate, faith and despair, compassion and cruelty, good and evil.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
More from the same
Narrator:
What listeners say about The Brothers Karamazov [Naxos AudioBooks Edition]
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tade
- 2019-03-07
Best narrator for the best author
My evaluation is for the narrator only because it know already that Theodor Diotoyosky is one of the best author in the history.
The narrator did an incredible job! 10/10 or A+++
Better than watching movies
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-01-20
Superb voice acting, masterful
I had read FD’s three other great novels in book form and was a bit apprehensive about spending the $$ on audible version and then not liking the experience. Constantine Gregory took care of that concern. Outstanding. From the different character voicings reflecting gender and social class, to getting the pronunciations dead on including difficult names like Хохлакова, he utterly nailed it. Bravo! If you’re going to listen to this masterpiece and not read it, this is the one to get.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Maxime
- 2018-07-15
To stare into the Abyss
The author perfected the art of understanding human nature. A must read for sensible people.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ami
- 2021-01-03
Tell the truth & find joy in suffering
Read this classic more than five years ago after a loss of a loved one, and it's been a joy to now revisit it in audio format. Still my favourite book. Its amazing how a man who died before the 19th century saw and foresaw so much. Every chapter is filled with rich insights and lessons for living. The story doesnt feel dated because of the focus on timeless character flaws and challenges. This is true even when its, at face value, a very long analysis of faith and Christianity. As someone who is non-religious, I love this book. Will you choose a life of meaning or nihilism and cynicism? In what ways are you being dishonest? You may find out by relating to one of this story's timeless characters. You may find a hero of decency in the protagonist, Aloshya/Alexi. Highly recommended, particularly if you are going through hard times.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2022-07-12
35 hours of Dostoevsky greatest work
find attached link to Professor Irwin Weil lectures on Dostoevsky..
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxBcpgR5O2YUSyxBlTf7D06lGqnVWG9E_
narration is easy to listen to.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Blake
- 2022-01-25
Takes a bit
The first quarter to a third of the book was fairly dull but I'm quite pleased I stuck with it.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anastasia Beaverhausen
- 2021-09-19
Amazing
I have previously read The Brothers Karamazov and although this is not my favourite translation (the one by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is the best in my opinion) it is still a very good translation. Constantine Gregory does an astounding job narrating. His voice is smooth and engaging, and it is easy to believe that he is the actual narrator whom Dostoevsky used to tell the story.
The novel itself has always been among my favourites. Somehow, even after 37 hours and 5 minutes, you still want more when it ends and that, to me, is a sign of an excellent story written by an excellent writer.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Adam Dee
- 2021-09-18
Classic literature
Worth listening to, a true classic. While a majority is a standard Russian literature slog there are moments in this book that are Truely enlightening.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2021-08-04
BEST BOOK EVER
Dostoyevsky is a god! The book itself if one of the best and the author did a good job reading it!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rae Hankens
- 2021-07-25
An absolutely brilliant narration of an incredibly beautiful book.
Every moment of the analysis of human nature was exquisitely portrayed and relentlessly delivered. Stunning!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rich
- 2016-02-27
A Spiritual and Philosophical Tour-de-Force
At 39 years old, this is my first reading of "Brothers K". From the first chapter, this title was nearly impossible to put down. Upon completion, this book immediately rocketed to the top of my all-time favorite reads. Glorious!
"How did one person write this book?" is the question I ask myself over and over. And to think that this title was only HALF of what Dostoyevsky really wanted to finish: just outrageous! The absence of this second volume due to his death is perhaps one of the greatest losses in the history of world literature. To consider the circumstances of the author's life (the death of his real-life epileptic son Allyosha, the murder of his real-life father, etc.) and how they intertwine with this title is near overwhelming.
I can't even begin to offer a degree of plot summary that does this title justice. Perhaps the best advice to the new reader is to not worry over memorizing the convoluted Karamozov family tree (ex-wives, distant relatives, etc.). Stick to the father (Fydor), the three brothers (Mitya, Ivan and Allyosha), the four women (Katya, Grusha, Madame Hoklakov, Lise), the servant family (Grigory, Marfa and Smerdyakov) and the four monks (Zossima, Rakitin, Ferapont and Paissy). By the time other characters are introduced later in the book (the children, the captain's family, the courtroom, etc.), you'll be ready for them.
This translation (Garnett) is indeed great for first-timers and Gregory's narration is knockout. Every minute of this title is meant to be savored--relax, be prepared for brilliance around every corner and enjoy what surely must be one of the best rational, spiritual and philosophical reads I'll ever experience in my life. "Hurrah for Karamozov"--then, now, and for generations to come!
284 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dan Harlow
- 2014-09-13
How can we judge what is in a person's heart?
Any additional comments?
I wonder what inspired Dostoyevsky to write this novel? During the trial it is mentioned that there was a woman in St. Petersburg who had given birth and then killed the infant, hiding the little body and then later it was discovered she had done this numerous times. I wonder if, assuming that story is true, Dostoyevsky began to wonder about how difficult it would be to forgive someone like that, to see into their heart and find something good. This novel is, after all, about that very idea, the idea of never being able to know what goodness really lies in another persons heart and how difficult it is, or even how inappropriate it is, to judge anyone, no matter how evil they have been.
The novel ends with a promise, a promise that all the boys and Aloysha will never forget each other, never forget little Ilyusha, and never forget the goodness of their childhood memory together. Even, if later, they grow cynical or do many terrible things, Aloysha asks them to always remember this one good moment in their life because it may save them someday, just as an onion almost saved another sinner. Those small moments of goodness could, at least in the eyes of God, be the one link to salvation for even the most terrible sinner.
The novel also deals with the questions of faith and belief and it is these parts I found most fascinating because Dostoyevsky makes the strongest case I've yet heard that counters the scientific arguments of logic and reason. And while I think Dostoyevsky was too hard on science and too opposed to the good science can do for humanity, he does show how logic and reason can absolutely condemn an innocent person. At times I wondered if Dostoyevsky was trying to tell us it would be better just to forgive all criminals and then let God figure it all out later.
And that's the real issue here: forgiveness. How difficult is it really to forgive someone. Not just any regular sinner either, but a person who has done something horribly terrible. And what sort of world would we live in if we did, in fact, forgive everyone easily? A world where we forgive a terrorist or the rapist of a child? Can we even imagine such things? In the character Smerdyakov we have someone who is cunning and ruthless and who takes advantage of the people around him, but we never really know why he does what he does. Smerdyakov is the closest character to the 'main villain', but we never get his own thoughts, we only see him through the eyes of others. He is difficult to forgive because we don't know him, yet this is exactly they point Dostoyevsky is trying to make: we MUST forgive Smerdyakov, he is in the greatest need of it as Father Zosima alluded to earlier in the novel.
Dostoyevsky is not foolish enough to think that we can always forgive, however. He knows we will always be carried away by our emotions and passions. He knows those passions will lead us to do terrible things and to also condemn others, too. He quite clearly sees the onion layers that make up human interactions, the dual nature of all people who can be both good and bad at the same time. He knows how complicated people really are. But he also plants that seed of doubt in our mind while reading this novel as to if we really are qualified to pass judgment on any person. He wants us to know that nothing is what it seems and even when we are positive we know a person we might very well be wrong about them. He's showing us the danger of gossip, of judgment, of not walking in another person's shoes. And he's also showing us how we are all conflicted, how we ebb and flow between goodness and sin and even how what we perceive in others as sin might actually be virtue as in the case of little Ilyusha and his father, Captain Snegiryov, or even the Grand Inquisitor who though his actions go against God he is actually doing so because he is for God.
Then there is the faith question, the tricky nature of how faith works. Here he shows us that if God himself showed up at our doorstep and said "I am God, here I am", we would actually doubt the existence of God even more. But the lack of any proof of God, the absence of proof is the very thing that is needed for their to be faith. If we know for certain there is the possibility of salvation at the end of life then what point would life have since that would take away our own free will? We would already know beforehand if we are saved or doomed so why bother going through the motions?
The book even goes so far as to make me want to be a better person. I found myself questioning my own opinions and judgments of others while at work and out and about town. I started wondering what sort of life each person I saw was really living, how good or how bad, what tragedy or joy they were dealing with. I started to wonder if perhaps you could just do away with all the different religions in the world and have everyone read this novel instead.
And even as I write this it does sound rather absurd and I can imagine anyone reading this saying "Well clearly this person has a religious agenda", but that's not the case. In fact there is no way I could convince you that I don't have an agenda because you can't see into my own heart and know how I really feel about this subject. All I can say is that I was sincerely moved by this novel and that it makes me want to look at the world differently and that I had a better understanding of belief and faith than when I began the novel.
This book is not some "depressing Russian tome", but aside from its philosophical and theological nature it is a well plotted family novel and murder mystery. Like all of Dostoyevsky's other works it's wordy and characters seem to speak in long speeches, but it's never boring - even when it is. Dostoyevsky also makes a great counter to Tolstoy in that Tolstoy allowed you to see into a character's mind where Dostoyevsky is always more interested in looking into his heart.
This is a novel of great compassion and is one of my favorite reading experiences I've ever had.
184 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Robert
- 2013-10-20
Best "Karamazov" yet.
Constantine Gregory decided to give a reading of the Constance Garnett translation of "The Brothers Karamazov". Constance Garnett is no longer considered the best translator of Dostoevsky. She goes to great length to "pretty up" the rather rough and bumpy language of the original. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky’s new translation of "The Brothers Karamazov" is now regarded by most critics to be definitive as it does not try to mask Dostoyevskys idiosyncratic prose.
Gregory gives a rather calm and relaxed rendering of the work, which is nice in the long run.
My dream "audio" Karamazov would be David Horovitch narrating the Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation.
However as it stands now, this version by Constantine Gregory is the best "Karamazov" available.
215 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Reademandweep
- 2018-01-23
Wowee Zowee!
Do yourself a favor and listen to this rendition. I had to buy three different versions before I found this one. Don’t bother with the abridged version. That’s like reading an abridged version of “Gone with the Wind “- She didn’t love him. She did love him. He didn’t give a damn.”
You know how when you were a kid you wondered what was so great about the “classics”? Was it just old people thinking their stuff is the best? LOL
Then you grow up and realize that some books go beyond explanation. I read Brothers Karamazov when I was young but not much if it stuck. I’ve always been a vociferous reader and still am but a great narrator like Constantine Gregory brings a long book like this to life. He could not have done a better job.
As for the book, I do not understand why I liked it so much. I shouldn’t. Its wordy yet wordy is the very reason I don’t enjoy Dylan Thomas. Sometimes he goes off on a seemingly unrelated tangents But I don’t mind that either. I can’t say I’m crazy about the ending but it didn’t bother me like some do. Maybe because it was honest. All I know is, with so much mediocrity, thank god for classics, old and new.
Maybe you can’t explain a classic. Maybe, classics last because regardless of technology or fashion, the basic humanity that connects us, remains. The need to be loved, sadness when we are not, shame when we are at our worst and the complicated nature of human relationships are as true today as they were 200 or 2,000 years ago.
46 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 2015-10-07
great reader
read it and heard audio, too. recommend that kindle book be downloaded at same time.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- George
- 2013-11-28
Worth The Effort
Would you consider the audio edition of The Brothers Karamazov to be better than the print version?
Yes. I need the momentum of the audio version, during some of those long Russian monologues. I like alternating between audio and text. This audio is the Constance Garnett translation which sounds good on audio.
What did you like best about this story?
I liked that the characters surprised me. I liked the world of the story, the sense of sacredness, the way that big questions were brought up in conversation. It's a lot different from the everyday world of today.
What does Constantine Gregory bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
He was very subtle in his character work. I could distinguish characters most of the time. Sometimes I could not. He did a wonderful job overall.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. It took a few weeks.
Any additional comments?
I'm glad I listened to it. It was a difficult book, but it was ambitious.
49 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- B. Rhoads
- 2018-11-10
Chapters out of order and incomplete.
Sadly, I can’t properly rate this audio version this classic because the chapters are out of order and incomplete. Waste of a credit. Narrator sounds nice though.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John Gallagher
- 2018-10-10
abridged
it starts in the middle of the book, it leaves out book one which I feel is important to the story, book one is short I recommend reading it online for free (can knock it out in an hour or so) then coming back and beginning the audio book
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Justin J. Jackson
- 2015-04-20
Great Story; Great Narrator
If you're going to listen to someone for 36 hours, they better be just right, and this guy was amazing. He was able to give the different characters the subtlest of vocal differentiation so that the story and its many plots and and subplots did not get too confusing in an an audiobook format.
The story was very long, but rewarding. There is a reason this book is a much loved classic. If you have a couple if long road trips, this is the book for you.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Char Stanton
- 2018-04-14
Slow start, long, gets better
Hard to get past the beginning but eventally all the chapters tie together. Long book but good.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- sue z
- 2019-08-23
Wonderfully crazy novel
One empathizes with all characters despite their contrasting personalities, a deep lesson on fatherhood and brotherhood. A little disappointing issue was the feminine voices of the narrator which spoiled the magic of Katia and Grushenka. I recommend to all lovers of great fiction with a little rational mysticism on the side. Will never forget this magnificent piece of art.