Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

There is no denying the power of this remarkable novel by M. Dostoieffsky, which has created a profound sensation in Russia and is now beginning to attract attention in this country. The story of Raskolnikov, a young student who commits a murder from motives which are half-philosophical, half-pathological, is told with a depth of psychological analysis which is altogether new in fiction. The author penetrates into the darkest recesses of the human soul, and lays bare the workings of a conscience tormented by guilt with a remorseless realism that is at once fascinating and appalling. The scenes in the Russian taverns and the wretched lodging-houses of St Petersburg are painted with a vividness that is almost painful. It is not a book for the weak-minded or the nervous, but for those who can appreciate a work of genuine power it will prove an extraordinary experience.

The translation of M. Dostoieffsky's famous novel, which has already won a European reputation, is an event of some importance in the literary world. "Crime and Punishment" is a work of extraordinary power, though it is a power that is often painful and sometimes repulsive. The central idea — that of a man who persuades himself that he is above the ordinary laws of morality, and who commits a murder to prove his theory — is worked out with a subtlety and a consistency that are truly marvellous. The character of Raskolnikov is one of the most remarkable in modern fiction — a compound of intellect and weakness, of nobility and baseness, which the author has drawn with an unflinching hand.

It is impossible to read this book without being profoundly impressed by the genius of its author. M. Dostoieffsky possesses a power of psychological analysis which is almost unparalleled; he dissects the human soul with the precision of a surgeon and lays bare its most secret workings. But it is a book which, for all its power, we cannot read without a certain feeling of oppression. The atmosphere is stifling; the scenes of vice and misery are accumulated with a remorselessness that weighs upon the spirit. The reader who persists to the end will be rewarded by glimpses of a profound understanding of human nature, but he will have paid dearly for his reward.

I wanted to like this classic but man does Dostoevsky love having his characters think about things for 50 pages. I get it, Raskolnikov feels guilty. MOVE ON. Also the names are rediculus — every character has like 5 different names. I had to keep flipping back to check who was who. The actual story when things happen is gripping though. Maybe try a abridged version?

This book changed the way I think. Raskolnikov is one of the most complex characters ever written — you hate him and feel sorry for him at the same time. The scene where he confesses to Sonya is devastating. Its long and there are parts that drag (the funeral dinner scene goes on forever) but the payoff is worth it. The Garnett translation is the one to get.