The Idiot

By: Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Narrated by: Constantine Gregory

Length: 24 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Prince Lyov Nikolayevitch Myshkin is one of the great characters in Russian literature. Is he a saint or just naïve? Is he an idealist or, as many in General Epanchin's society feel, an "idiot"? Certainly his return to St. Petersburg after years in a Swiss clinic has a dramatic effect on the beautiful Aglaia, youngest of the Epanchin daughters, and on the charismatic but willful Nastasya Filippovna. As he paints a vivid picture of Russian society, Dostoyevsky shows how principles conflict with emotions - with tragic results.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

Public Domain (P)2017 Naxos AudioBooks

deep book

I will be thinking about this one for a while. not a simple book by no means

We need more narrators like this

The book itself is a work of art and the narrator did an amazing job bringing it to life

A Long Story!!

This is a classic, of course, and with good reason! Quite an epic that says so much, I’m afraid I was only able to grasp a fraction of it! Not to mention all the Russian names to keep track of (I couldn’t!). Nonetheless, obviously written by a Master wielding a mighty pen.

Bears listening to more than once and reading it in print would probably be most helpful toward gaining a deeper understanding. One could spend a lifetime studying this tomb!!

Fine, fine performance by Constantine Gregory!!

The Idiot

Expertly read. A great story I read many many moons ago. But it still has the power and force of words and place. I'd give it 100 stars if I could. Magnificent!

incredible

very appropriate reader with an impressive
varied skillset of impersonations. his fluidity in reading is excellent too.
the novel is top notch too

Worth it; so worth listening to.

Dostoyevsky is classic. I have to go now and either read or listen to the rest of his works. So much coming from one's own mind and observations in life. Well worth it.

personal but ...

this was my first meeting with the idiot. since english is not my native lang it was hard to comprehend the value end whole of the story. sometimes i got lost in the plot due to it hectic? nature. Nevertheless it was very personal on one side with epilepsy descriptions and dostoyevskis beliefs impersonated in myshkin and strangely symbolic as well, f e the main protagonist is Lion Mouse (Lev Mushkin) and should be(?) interpreted as holy , Christ ...
i have more to say but i need to read this book once more

Dostoyevsky fan!

First of all Constantine Gregory is one of the best narrator . His voice and ability to do multiple characters and accent is admirable. I am huge fan of Dostoyevsky and this is my 3rd book. One can not help to fall in love with Prince Myshkin! Drama, symbolism, virtue and tragedy are the important keys in this lovely story. Well done!!

Great story and performance

The story line was unique and the performance was outstanding. We rated it a 4 overall because there were many characters, each with multiple Russian names, and it was hard to keep track if them. Also, the story line dragged at times. We would recommend this unique book that gives the reader a glimpse of the fading Russian monarchy.

Ending a little disappointing

After listening to hours of build up to the climax and conclusions, after struggling to understand the intracacies of relations in the Russian aristocracy, how a certain posture or accent of a word could lead to an hour of examination of intent………, I feel the same as I did after devoting six seasons of my time to LOST, the journey was fascinating, but the conclusion was, oh so lacking, nowhere near to being equal to the buildup. I am no expert of Russian literature. No doubt someone will remark that I failed to appreciate the intricacies of the intertwined relations, navel gazing, the realities of life in the Russian Aristocracy in the pre-Lenin days, and discard my comments as those of a newbie. I did enjoy the Brothers Karamazov and Anna Karenina.

Exactly like LOST, the Idiot had such a build up of unanswered questions one hoped the conclusion would answer them. Both failed on that mark. Maybe I am supposed to say, oh how brilliant of Dostoyevsky to come up with an unsatisfying ending. I can’t. As a hayseed country boy, I was left wondering if the author was in a hurry to complete the work and just threw together a quick semi-satisfactory.

Sorry Dostoyevsky. I know you are dead and all, and I am supposed to respect you as a literary genius, but something is lost in the translation of your work in language and after 130 years.

I still rate the story fairly high. I just think it could have been better.