The Brothers Karamazov

Penguin Classics

By: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, David McDuff - translator

Narrated by: Luke Thompson

Length: 43 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Luke Thompson, best known for his role in the hit Netflix drama Bridgerton. This definitive recording includes an introduction by David McDuff.

The murder of brutal landowner Fyodor Karamazov changes the lives of his sons irrevocably: Mitya, the sensualist, whose bitter rivalry with his father immediately places him under suspicion for parricide; Ivan, the intellectual, driven to breakdown; the spiritual Alyosha, who tries to heal the family's rifts; and the shadowy figure of their bastard half-brother, Smerdyakov. Dostoyevsky's dark masterwork evokes a world where the lines between innocence and corruption, good and evil, blur and everyone's faith in humanity is tested.

Translated with an introduction and notes by David McDuff.

©2003 David McDuff (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"The most magnificent novel ever written." (Sigmund Freud)

Brilliant Performance

I expected the book to be astounding, else why would we still be reading it a century and a half after it’s publication, and it was utterly magnificent. A work of genius. What I didn’t expect and was delighted to discover was Luke Thompson’s masterful performance. His delivery of Dostoyevsky’s labyrinthine prose is captivating and his distinct portrayal of every character is utterly believable. His reading sweeps you into the story and holds you there for the entire telling, even during the lengthy philosophical detours. It was a pleasure worth far more than the one credit I paid. Bravo Luke Thompson!

Absolutely Worth It

I have picked up and put down unfinished the Brothers Karamazov multiple times in my life. This audiobook version is the only reason I (finally) finished it. Together, Luke Thompson's voice and David McDuff's translation, have turned this into something magical. I finally get that this novel is to be savored rather than consumed. Cannot recommend it enough!

Just 'WOW'; Fantastic translation and narration!

This was a novel that took me years to get through. But once I found the right translation and audio book, I was able to not only plow through this novel with quick assertion, but I enjoyed it to a level I didn't think would be possible.
Much thanks to All Involved! Just WOW!

Amazing book and excellent performance

I’m new to Russian literature. Now I see what the big deal is. This journey is so worth the time. Nothing gratuitous. Every rabbit trail informing the overall story. Love, love, love.

Fantastic narration

I've read _Brothers Karamazov_ before, in a different translation. It is, of course, a masterpiece of literature, but the characters' dialogues/monologues always struck me as artificial. No one, despite the novel's "realism", talks like these characters do, in 3-page paragraphs.

I now have a 10-month old son and take him for a walk every day, so I decided to read/listen to _Brothers Karamazov_ again, and chose this audiobook. Luke Thompson's narration brings the novel's characters and settings to life. These characters jumped off the page and became living, thinking beings. He brings an expert voice to the "polyphony" of Dostoevsky's novel, and really changed the way I read (and hear) this novel. The powerful emotions of the Dmitri and Grushenka the night of the murder are delivered with such sincerity I was nearly brought to tears by his arrest; the character of the devil, in his conversation with Ivan, comes across exactly how I imagine Dostoevsky imagined it, but with even more "gentlemanly smarminess."

I recommend this performance to anyone reading the novel, for its extra insight into the world of these characters.

Can we determine who is guilty ever?

This is quite a beautiful book. There are moments of extreme beauty and revelation and many more moments of personal reflection on the goodness of God (or if there is one) and the reality of man (and a wonderful visit from the devil). These brothers are each unique and interesting in their own right. The father is a bit worthless and perhaps one of the few characters who has few visible virtues. The book however for me was an ongoing dialog and question about love, God, forgiveness and the frailty of people and life. I enjoyed the parts with Father Zossima and Alyosha is amazing. Women in this book get shortchanged a bit as they are quite frivolous in their endeavors and intentions. The men, however, are shown in all their nobility and cruelty, beauty and stupidity. They are all "little doves" as Ivan likes to say. The chapter on the conversation with the devil is incredible. This book should be studied and read and reread to capture its ideas, philosophies and beauty.

Fantastic

Luke Thompson is a fantastic guide through this work. He gives life to these characters, very precisely voices them so you always know who is speaking regardless of if you are reminded by name or not. What a great way to experience a classic.

Combines My Favorite Novel and Performer

I already knew the novel was extraordinary having previously read it but I wasn't expected such a brilliant performance by narrator Luke Thompson. Somehow Mr. Thompson is able to give each of dozens of characters a unique and engaging voice helping to address a common compliant of the novel that it is too difficult to keep track of characters. Bravo dude!

Life changing

Read it. You’ll be challenged and excited by the intensity and sophistication of the book.

So so great

So i’m still pretty early in the book, which is still pretty deep in given the length. Love the story - so far. The narrator deserves an oscar or whatever they get for performances in this medium. Off the charts great. A new benchmark for audio books that is so high that i’m afraid most won’t live up to it ever again for me. Yes i’m being dramatic but he is that good. I’ll update if I change my mind by hour 30 but I find it hard to believe that could happen on the book or the narration.