Crime and Punishment

By: Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Narrated by: Constantine Gregory

Length: 22 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

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. Dostoyevsky, in masterly fashion, contrasts the comedy and tragedy of life in St. Petersburg with the anguish and turmoil of Raskolnikov's inner life.

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Public Domain (P)2013 Naxos AudioBooks

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Crime and Punishment is a Great Book with characters that delve into profound psychological, spiritual, social and political themes, revealing Dostoevsky’s insight into the human condition.

Mr. Gregory places his extraordinary depth of understanding and artistry at our service as he leads us on Raskolnikov’s journey through the neighborhoods of St. Petersburg and his psyche. Gregory’s Russian background lends a cultural accuracy to his pronunciation and enhances the experience of the story’s environment and atmosphere. I got more out of the novel by listening to this reader than I would have if I’d only read the book myself. I promise that you will be thrilled by moments when you realize that not only have you completely entered into the story but Mr. Gregory has, too.

He portrays the excruciating conflict of Rodia's madness and philosophy; Razumikhin’s optimism; the delicacy and nobility of Raskolnikov's mother and sister; Svidrigailov’s complexity; Porfiry Petrovich’s patience – and he makes it seem effortless – the true mark of a master.

Outstanding passages include:
Raskolnikov’s interior monologue at end of Part III
Porfiry Petrovich Part VI, Chapter II
Dmitry Prokofyich Vrazumikhin - Part II, Chapter IV (Anywhere, actually!)
Arkady Ivanovich Svidrigaïlov - Part VI, Chapter VI (I was most impressed by the portrayal of this most complicated character.

I predict that in 50 years this recording of Crime and Punishment will be considered a classic and a lasting legacy of Constantine Gregory.

I didn't expect to like it this much

Up there with Anna Karenina.
I expected this to be a fairly dry, dreary experience; I was happy to discover myself laughing several times throughout the book. Incisive and intelligent, this book is a classic for a reason... The amount of insight into the psychology of the main character is really wonderful; I'd put it on par with Lolita.

Wonderful book, great performance on the part of the narrator, great value for the length of the book in relation to the number of credits. Can't recommend enough.

unexpected treasure!!

This book is gold!! I throughly enjoyed the story and the narrator!!! double thumbs up 👍👍

Outstanding

I haven't read this book so nice high school. I remember living it in school and it was everything I remembered and so much more. A classic of classics.

Narrator made it

I had to read this book in high school and thought it was pretty good. I absolutely loved it with this narrator. Terrific work.

Thoroughly enjoyed. Very dark

Crime and Punishment was the next on my list of classic novels. After finally finishing Monte Cristo, I felt bored and burnt out. I expected only the beginning to be entertaining, but I was hooked the whole way through. Fyodor Dostoyevsky is so successful, for his time, in capturing paranoia, psychology, and frustration. I was going to get back to the self help books, but I have to take one more shot of Dostoyevsky’s smooth nihilism.

What a great listen!!

Constantine Gregory made this hard read, amazing and fun!.
I enjoyed listening to his dramatic and comic performance while not missing the beautiful story.
Wow. A must!

I know it's a classic, but...

so is Les Miserables, and I wanted to tell Hugo to "get on with it!" repeatedly. Same here. interesting premise, good character development, wonderful introduction of Grace at the end, but, good heavens! Get on with it! Blah, blah, blu-blah!

One of the best books I've read.

Absolutely terrific story, and furthermore the narrator was top-notch. I was recommended this book through a Jordan B. Peterson lecture, and I'm infinitely glad that I took up the suggestion.

a must read

This book is all about poverty, cruelty, compassion and forgiveness. The book shows that everyone has the right to be given second chances in life, a chance to renew yourself and be the better version of who you are. Poverty is still one social issue that is very hard to solve, as long as people are always hungry for power and control, it will always be a cycle.