One of the greatest works of fiction ever written, Crime and Punishment is at once an intense psychological study, a terrifying murder mystery, and a fascinating detective thriller instilled with philosophical, religious, and social commentary.
Dostoevsky studies the psychological impact upon a desperate and impoverished student when he murders a despicable pawnbroker, transgressing moral law to ultimately “benefit humanity.” After killing the old woman, haunted by guilt and terror, the young man must decide whether to assuage his conscience by confessing or attempt to get away with the perfect crime.
Crime and Punishment takes the listener on a journey into the darkest recesses of the criminal and depraved mind and exposes the soul of a man possessed by both good and evil who cannot escape his own conscience.
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"A book of very rare depth, portraying the dual nature of the human condition in one single character, Raskolnikov: compassion, irrationality, logical thinking, hubris, cruelty, sophomoric, in self-denial, egoistic yet altruistic, suffering yet reborn. Life cannot be lived in theory. One can choose to look at the book with modern, social democratic, Western and even atheist eyes, but the core of the story remains the same. We are all Raskolnikov and struggle with the same Faustian demons within ourselves. If life were only rational, we would not be human."
— Melusina (5 out of 5 stars)
“Anthony Heald grippingly portrays Raskolnikov’s turbulent struggle of transgression and redemption.”
— Audible.com (audio review)“Anthony Heald shows remarkable versatility in this production…He delivers the dialogue as a stage actor would, with exaggerated emotion and even with laughter, coughing, stammering, and other adornments indicated in the text…Heald’s pacing and rich characterizations keep the story moving.”
— AudioFile“A stunning psychological portrait, a thriller, and a profound meditation on guilt and retribution.”
— Amazon.com“Dostoevsky’s first masterpiece…The narrative’s feverish, compelling tone follows the twists and turns of Raskolnikov’s emotions and elaborates his struggle with his conscience…A moving depiction of the recovery of a man’s diseased spirit.”
— Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature" I LOVED Crime and Punishment when I read back in mid-school, was one of my favorite classics. I feel like time to read it again. "
— sel, 2/19/2014" One of the best books I've ever read. The way Dostoevsky describes the mental disorders of his main character is brilliant. "
— Ann, 2/18/2014" As far as I can tell, flawless. "
— Jeffrey, 2/16/2014" It took me awhile to get through this book but it was so entertaining. And the story has stuck with me even a few weeks after reading it. This is a book ill reread "
— Natasha, 2/16/2014" I loved this book. I thought that I would have to make a big effort to read it but found it very readable. I found reading it as an adult that I definitely saw things in this book that I would not have understood if I read it in school like a lot of my friends did. Give it a try. "
— Louise, 2/15/2014" Fascinating story, however difficult to remember who's who with all the similar names. "
— Hilda, 2/14/2014" One of my favorite books. A, at times, chilling and harrowing tale of self-deception, sin, and redemption. "
— Clifford, 2/9/2014" This is one of the few books of which I can truly say: it changed my life. Others can discuss the quality of the story, but for me its greatest power was that it held up a mirror and showed me what I was and what I could be. When it did that, I knew why I could not remain as I was. "
— Ben, 2/6/2014" Possibly my favourite book. So well-written, and I really loved Dostoyevsky's incorporation of a philosophical examination within his story. "
— Caroline, 1/31/2014" Fascinating story, however difficult to remember who's who with all the similar names. "
— Hilda, 1/24/2014" This book was dire. I couldn't get into it, though I struggled through a third of the book before giving up. On my 'try again in 10 years' list, but I doubt I'll be able to manage it even then. I've read extracts of other Dostoyevsky works, and enjoyed them, so this really was an unexpected disappointment. "
— Alice, 1/23/2014" I'm sure that Fyodor had as hard a time writing it as I had reading it. "
— Robert, 1/20/2014" When I tried to take this book out of the school library in fourth year, my English teacher told me that.. 'the day that you read Crime and Punishment is the day that I die.' I read it last week and I'm not sure how she's getting on but I am a whole lot better after reading this! I have never read a book that deals with so many aspects of modern life as this does. Poverty/Wealth, Sanity/Insanity, Love/Hate, Life/Death, Morality/Immorality. Philosophy, Psychology, Culture, Religion, Science, Humanity! "
— Connor, 1/20/2014" If i had all the time in the world , I would read this book again - at least twice ! "
— Ramona, 1/19/2014" Perhaps the greatest novel of them all and the first to overwhelm me when I was a teenager with how brilliant a book could be... "
— Steven, 1/16/2014" Spoiler: This book is 5% Crime , 95% Punishment "
— John, 1/15/2014" hooks u till d end... amazing by Dostoyevsky. "
— Priya, 1/14/2014" takes a bit to get through but well worth the effort "
— Denise, 1/7/2014" For a book with that many descriptions, lots of pages and lots of characters, it's actually not bad. if you kinda get into the story it wakes over you and you want to read it. it takes time to read it, but i would say its worth it "
— Maca_48, 12/30/2013" It's a really long book but it's really worth reading! "
— Lisa, 12/28/2013" Of all the book we have to read for school, this is my favorite!!! It was so GOOD! And the ending was a so cute and just plain GREAT!!! I loved it!!!! "
— Doopie, 12/22/2013" What a depiction of a descent into madness and destruction! Every possible detail of the overpowering of guilt is described minutely. "
— Sambuddha, 11/30/2013" I thought overall this was a great book. It incorparated many deep facts about life and it dug deep into your conceince. It made you think about life and its devilish and depressing ways. That is, of course, if you survive all 600 pages of it and the hard to understand russian phrases. "
— Sam8cn, 11/30/2013" Loved getting back to the classics. Thought provoking, a great study of the effects of carrying a secret around with you, and how it can effect your life choices! "
— Kim, 11/29/2013" Whew! Hard read (for me at least). This book delves into the very strange mind of a killer in some very intriguing ways. Would not want to read it again ( ever), but I am glad I did read. "
— Denise, 11/27/2013" Can't believe I read this! "
— Em, 11/26/2013" I love books that get inside people's heads. Especially when what you find is really twisted and complex. This one of my favorite books. "
— Debbie, 11/19/2013" VERY russian... also VERY hard to get through... also a VERY good book "
— Treceratops, 11/17/2013" I'm not going to lie....this one was kind of boring... "
— Jen, 11/7/2013" Read this for AP english in 1999. Really, really enjoyed it. "
— Raina, 11/5/2013" One of the best books I have read. "
— Kathy, 11/3/2013" Mozzafiato e angosciosa discesa agli inferi! "
— Federica, 10/31/2013" Another of my favorites from Russian literature. A must read! "
— Gina, 10/24/2013" Good thing I'm not suicidal... "
— Hester, 10/10/2013" This was a hard book to read, but I'm glad I did. I give 4 stars. "
— Crystal, 6/17/2013" I can't even say, I am still thinking about it and will be for a long time. I think I am going to have to read it again!! "
— Alyssa, 4/28/2013" This is definitely on my "never reading again" list. Dostoyevsky has his merits. I must say it, but this book is beyond boring. It has a lesson, yeah, a message, yeah, but it's deadly boring. "
— Jessica, 4/20/2013" If you have the time and patience, this is a great book to absorb. Its a great story! "
— Tony, 3/23/2013" More challenging than any thriller book or movie I have read / seen in years. Vivid descriptions, dramatic turns of situation, a very refined analysis of human mind. "
— Andra, 2/21/2013" See review for Wuthering Heights. The only reason this got a second star is because it wasn't as sappy in its content as Wuthering Heights. This was a crime novel that depressed me, which is still preferable to a romance novel that depresses me. "
— David, 1/29/2013" I loved this book. I thought that I would have to make a big effort to read it but found it very readable. I found reading it as an adult that I definitely saw things in this book that I would not have understood if I read it in school like a lot of my friends did. Give it a try. "
— Louise, 11/27/2012" This makes me what to poke my eyes out. I must not be cut out for the Russian classics. "
— Charles, 11/8/2012" The worst book I've ever read? Maybe not, but it wins the prizes for Most Annoying Book, Book Most Like Nails on a Chalkboard, Most Histrionic Book, and Book I'd Most Like to Throw Across the Room. "
— Kirsten, 10/2/2012" amazing very deep story. Very intense and hard to read, but also hard to put down. "
— A, 9/2/2012" I've read this twice. It completely sucks you in. The scene where the horse is flogged particularly sticks in my mind. "
— Jane, 7/16/2012" I read this one for as an assignment for school and it is a bit slow at the the beggining but it tends to get more interesting as the story continues. "
— Laurenthestar, 4/30/2011" A brilliant study of the human psyche. A great book. "
— Deborah, 3/8/2011" It was a really good book, but I didn't really get into reading it until I got an audio book because it was slow from time to time. Every now and again I had issues keeping up on who was who. "
— Ashley, 11/10/2010" Time to give this another go. Having read it many years ago (high school?), I remember only the general outlines and the trouble I had keeping all the characters straight because they each had so many different names! This particular translation is highly regarded. "
— Vince, 8/24/2010" I have read this book twice. I am looking forward to listening to the audiobook. "
— Betzy, 7/11/2010" I must revisit this novel as I read it oh so long ago. It would be interesting to see how I feel about it now, 25 or so years later. "
— Lisa, 4/17/2010" One of my favourites, I have reread it about 3 times and will probably rearead it again "
— Emelyanova, 10/26/2009" A long complicated read, as most Russian authors are, but a really great book. "
— KR, 5/9/2009" It took me awhile to get through this book but it was so entertaining. And the story has stuck with me even a few weeks after reading it. This is a book ill reread "
— Natasha, 4/18/2009" It is a marvellous and impressive novel but it needs very very deep understanding and pure mind...like it alot "
— Amani, 3/22/2009" Too good in describing details upto the micro-level, details the thought process of human minds in a creative way ... "
— Shebin, 2/28/2009" I'm sure that Fyodor had as hard a time writing it as I had reading it. "
— Robert, 1/23/2009" Desde el inicio sabes el desenlace de libro sin embargo no puedes dejar de leer "
— Bko, 11/12/2008" Loved in 10th grade and got in a fight with my English teacher about the meaning of the ending. I really must read it again to see whether my perspective has changed. "
— Elena, 9/26/2008" This book takes about 400 pages to build up to any action. A lot of it is spent with the brooding main character who ponders whether or not murder makes him a superior person. If you're into psychoanalysis, this is the book for you. "
— Cee, 9/2/2008" Always a project, always an awakening ! "
— Sue, 7/22/2008" Russian politicians may be ham fisted and tone deaf, but their top writers pursue psychological drama to its fullest. The crime is committed early and the rest of the book is dedicated to the detective "wearing down" the perp who's not in custody. Sound boring - not on your life! "
— Robert, 2/27/2007" not as good as Lonesome Dove. "
— Jcshumate, 5/21/2006Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821–1881) was a Russian novelist, journalist, and short-story writer whose psychological penetration into the darkest recesses of the human heart had a profound and universal influence on the twentieth-century novel. He was born in Moscow, the son of a surgeon. Leaving the study of engineering for literature, he published Poor Folk in 1846. As a member of revolutionary circles in St. Petersburg, he was condemned to death in 1849. A last-minute reprieve sent him to Siberia for hard labor. Returning to St. Petersburg in 1859, he worked as a journalist and completed his masterpiece, Crime and Punishment, as well as other works, including The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov.
Anthony Heald, an Audie Award–winning narrator, has earned Tony nominations and an Obie Award for his theater work; appeared in television’s Law & Order, The X-Files, Miami Vice, and Boston Public; and starred as Dr. Frederick Chilton in the 1991 Oscar-winning film The Silence of the Lambs. He has also won numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narrations.