The Fyodor Dostoevsky BBC Radio Drama Collection

Including Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Devils & The Brothers Karamazov

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrated by: Roy Marsden, Alex Jennings, Roger Allam, Paul Rhys, Nicholas Boulton, Paul Hilton, David Suchet, full cast, Barnaby Kay, Lia Williams

Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

BBC radio productions of Dostoevsky's masterpieces, plus selected shorter fiction and bonus programmes exploring his life and work.

One of the most important and influential Russian writers of the 19th century, Fyodor Dostoevsky is admired worldwide for his great realist novels, exploring questions of morality, philosophy and the nature of existence. This compilation contains the BBC radio productions of his four most famous novels - as well as three lesser-known works and two bonus documentaries - collected together for the first time.

Crime and Punishment - When he tests out a horrific theory, young Raskolnikov finds himself pursued by the cunning Investigator Porfiry Petrovich. This thrilling tale of guilt and redemption stars Barnaby Kay and Jim Norton.

The Idiot - Arriving back in Russia after years spent abroad treating his epilepsy, Prince Mishkin learns the story of the woman who will dominate his life - the spoilt but captivating Nastasya.... Dostoevsky's most personal novel stars Paul Rhys, Roger Allam and Lia Williams.

Devils - Idealism curdles into murderous anarchy in this fresh, contemporary three-part adaptation of Dostoevsky's terrifying masterpiece, starring Gary Lilburn, Jane Whittenshaw, Joseph Arkley and Jonathan Forbes.

The Brothers Karamazov - The Karamazov family reunite for a meeting with their father to discuss Dmitry's inheritance. But the unpredictable Fyodor seems unwilling to play the game.... Stars Roy Marsden, Paul Hilton and Nicholas Boulton.

The Friend of the Family - Russia, 1859 and the manor of Stephanchikovo is thrown into chaos when a former sergeant sets himself up as an arbiter of morals and taste. David Suchet and Clive Merrison star in this farcical comedy.

'Bobok' - Loitering in the cemetery after a funeral, a drunken writer overhears the conversations of the recently deceased corpses.... This blackly comic short story is performed by Boris Isarov.

'The Dream of a Ridiculous Man' - A study in music and words of Dostoevsky's vision of an idyllic, prelapsarian world. Read by Ronald Pickup.

Dostoevsky and Dangerous Ideas - John Gray reflects on the lessons Dostoevsky's novels teach us about the perils of misguided idealism.

Dr Rowan Williams on Dostoevsky - The onetime Archbishop of Canterbury joins Susan Hitch to consider conflicting ideas about spiritual regeneration and existentialism, as embodied in Dostoevsky's characters.

First published 1859 (The Friend of the Family), 1866 (Crime and Punishment), 1869 (The Idiot), 1872 (Demons), 1873 ('Bobok'), 1877 ('The Dream of a Ridiculous Man'), 1880 (The Brothers Karamazov).

©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Awful. Just read/listen to the actual books

As far as I can tell, the people who dramatized these never actually read any of the books. I'm guessing they read Cliff's Notes or something. For example, the opening scene of the Idiot is just so inaccurate. It portrays Rogozhin and Lebedyev as totally different characters than they are in the books. Having Rogozhin not only apparently friends with Lebedyev but having Lebedyev speaking to him like an equal is utterly ridiculous.

Also, the way they have the first person POV just exposition dumping is pure cringe. The opening of Crime and Punishment made me laugh out loud. Rakolnivok literally says something like, "For people with a vision, there is no crime or punishment." That might be the worst writing I've ever encountered.

I had to return it because it was so bad.

Excellent

After reading the review, I started not to purchase this audiobook by Dostoyevsky. However, I am happy to have made this purchase. I haven’t finished listening to the entire audiobook, but I listen to crime and punishment and was spellbound. I felt like I was guided through a journey listening to the story and that I was there watching what was going on I was drawn in to the story and how well done it was by the actors. I do recommend purchasing this book. I don’t expect a dramatization to be the same as a whole book but after listening to the story, I do plan on reading the book because I know I must’ve missed some fascinating facets of a story; just like the title says: it was excellent!

Best Versions for all these books

My best audiobook buy yet, perfect 10/10
all the rest of dostoevsky books on this platform are not listenable due to bad quality sound recording, thank you bbc radio

Excellent adaptations of a great writer

Classic BBC radio dramatisations that I think work extremely well. Very thankful to have them permanently available on Audible. My only serious regret is that the BBC radio adaptation of "The Gambler" starring Patricia Routledge as the rich grandmother isn't included here. I shall have put up with my own cassette tape recording of it, off the hi fi tuner made years ago, for sometime to come I fear!

Fyodor Dostoyevsky at the BBC~☆

This has been a fantastic experience, listening too so many fantastic dramatisations, and narrative led stories, along with the documentaries~☆

Excellent Value.

I’d heard most of these dramas when first broadcast, so it was great to hear them again as part of this fine compilation. Dostoevsky of course always get 5/5! Excellent value.

Some characters are ridiculously miscast...

Teenage Miss Aglia in The Idiot has a very mature voice! Ruined it for me unfortunately. But other characters, particularly Prince seem effortlessly beautifully portrayed

Some issues with voice balances

I really enjoyed the adaptations of the four major novels: made the works of this great writer very much more accessible than wading through the books. My only complaint would be that the actress playing Katerina in The Brothers Karamazov kept speaking so quietly that I missed much of what she was saying. One minute she would be speaking passionately but then, irritatingly, she kept lowering her voice so much that she was inaudible. This spoiled what was otherwise a highly enjoyable dramatisation.