The Brothers Karamazov (AmazonClassics Edition)

By: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Constance Garnett - translator

Narrated by: James Anderson Foster

Length: 34 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The Karamazov brothers are as different as mind, body, and spirit. Ivan, an atheist and brooding intellectual; Dmitri, a volatile sensualist and his father's rival for the beautiful Grushenka; and Alexey, driven by unshakeable piety. In their shadow is their rejected half-brother, humiliated into servitude. Together they act to rid themselves of the dissolute Karamazov patriarch. Then, in a single shocking act, the fates of the brothers are inexorably altered.

Delving into debates about God, free will, faith, doubt, and moral responsibility, The Brothers Karamazov is Fyodor Dostoyevsky's profound pioneering masterpiece of psychological realism.

Revised edition: Previously published as The Brothers Karamazov, this edition of The Brothers Karamazov (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Public Domain (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Didn’t download completely.

The book is a wonder superb book, sadly it only download half of it. There is no instructions to correct the problem.

Excellent narration of a classic translation.

Excellent narration of a complex work of world literature in a classic translation.
Foster performs with nuance, emotion, swiftness, and energy.
Garnett’s devotion to Russian literature and its authors was a gift to the English speaking world.

Excellent narration

I carefully picked out the audio version of this book because I knew the Russian names are always an issue. I took a chance on this one even though it had zero reviews because I liked the sample. I'm glad I took the chance. The names were clear and easy to understand. The inflections were perfect. I enjoyed it very much while painting my bedroom. The story? I know it's a classic and at heart its a good book. I just felt it was like listening to someone with dementia veering off the subject into some philosophical rabbit hole ad nauseam.

Wow! I can’t believe I waited until age 56 to read this.

In some ways, this novel is an extended essay on the development of progressive thought in culture, law, psychology, and religion in 19th century, Europe, and especially Russia. It’s fascinating to learn about how Russia viewed itself in comparison, and contrast with the rest of Europe. The philosophical musings regarding the changing role of the church in Russian society are fascinating. Wonderful to see that some of the things people were wondering about then or not that different than what they are wondering about now in many ways. Also, a fascinating and astonishingly modern snapshot of the classic guru disciple relationship in the context of the orthodox church.

I can understand why this is the definitive translation of this work. It is truly excellent however, it is also 100 years old, and it could use a light editing pass to update some of the language that is now no longer sensible to modern readers of English. Some examples include overuse of the word “should” when we would say “would” and many other similar examples.

The narrator’s performance is truly excellent, however, has a few glaring problems. First: there are many passages in this book which are in French. They chose a narrator who doesn’t speak French, and it is very awkward to listen to him bumbling through these French phrases. Additionally, there seemed to be no proofing of the audio recording, because there are many words mispronounced, or pronounced without understanding. Just two examples, among dozens: “brooch”, and “casuistry”. An attentive Director should (both meanings intended :-)) have caught these and had them re-recorded.

The latter points are quibbles on the whole, and I would have to classify this as one of the most approachable of the classic masterworks of the 19th century. If you have any interest in catching up on the world literature you may have missed in college, this is your perfect opportunity and one that will richly reward your investment in time.

Too much in a book

Dostoyevsky should’ve made at least two separate books or books inside a book out of the contents of The Brothers Karamazov. This was my third try and I finally made it to the end.
Superb reading, though.

A novel of repetitive psychopaths

This is my 3rd and final Dostoyevsky book I have read/listen to, I would rather be put through 80+ hours of Chinese water torcher than read another of his works. (At least the Chinese water torcher makes more sense as a good use of my time.)
The reason I put myself through 80+ hours of dreary psychopathic nonsense is because so many people and authors that I admire and respect consider Dostoyevsky as one of the greatest authors in history.
All I can say is that all the characters in his story’s obviously suffer from narcissistic, psychological and histrionic personality disorders. All the characters in all his books have one way oratorical rants that no rational listener would sit silently for soooo long and listening to uninterrupted. It’s as if these crazy people are perpetually saying their inner dialogues out loud in VERY uncomfortable, nonsensical and repetitive ways.
All I can say is I feel like the reason so many people say such good things about Dostoyevsky because they are ashamed to have wasted so many hours of their lives in vein reading him. (Don’t join this shame filled club)

So yes. I don’t care for his book.

BORING AF!

Gawd! I got about 3.5 hours into it. Realized it wasn't going to get any better. I didn't care anything about the characters or storyline.