- Title
- The Brothers Karamazov
- Author
- Fyodor Doestoevsky
- Translator
- Richard Pevear
- Larissa Volokhonsk
I have heard a lot of people refer to The Brothers Karamazov [worldcat.org] as Dostoevsky’s crowning work his magnum opus. And while it is a great book, I liked Crime and Punishment [confusion.cc] more.
The Brothers Karamazov is a massive book. It’s filled with Dostoevsky insight into human nature, and family and religion and much more. Dostoevsky uses the novel to attack. He attacks everything from utilitarianism to Christianity and, especially, all things “Russian” or at least those “Russian” things that Dostoevsky takes issue with.
Ivan, Dmitri and Alyosha, the titular brothers Karamazov are some of the most complex characters I’ve ever encountered. The three of them form a kind of id, ego and super ego of Dostoevsky’s Russian any man.
The Brothers Karamazov is a must read. As far as Dostoevsky’s canon, I would says it’s second only to Crime and Punishment and one of the best books ever written. It helps cement Dostoevsky’s place as one of the best novelist of all time. However, the sheer expansiveness of the Brothers K works against it for me. It’s a slog. I think the focus and length of Crime and Punishment works better, and is Dostoevsky’s best novel.
2 replies on “The Brothers Karamazov”
THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV IS A UNIVERSAL BOOK.WE DO COME ACROSS CERTAIN PEOPLE EVEN TODAY,IN ALL COUNTRIES LIKE THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK.ITS RELIGIOUS ASPECT IS ALSO THOUGHT PROVOKING AS TODAY IN THE NAME OF RELIGION SUCH CRUEL THINGS ARE DONE.WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHAT IS RELIGION AND I THINK DOSTOEVSKY DID THE SAME.
THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV IS A UNIVERSAL BOOK.WE COME ACROSS SUCH PEOPLE IN ALL COUNTRIES EVEN TODAY.ITS RELIGIOUS ASPECT IS THOUGHT PROVOKING AS IN THE NAME OF RELIGION SO MANY CRUEL DEEDS HAVE BEEN DONE.WE NEED TO ASK WHAT IS RELIGION AND I THINK DOSTOEVSKY DID THE SAME.