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.
About Fyodor Dostoevsky
A towering figure in Russian literature, Fyodor Dostoevsky explored profound philosophical and psychological themes in his novels, such as Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. His works delve into the complexities of human morality, faith, guilt, and redemption with intense psychological depth and compelling characters grappling with existential questions. Dostoevsky's profound insights into the human condition have had a lasting impact on literature and philosophy.
Other Books by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment is a psychological and philosophical novel that follows Raskolnikov, a destitute student in St. Petersburg who murders a pawnbroker. Haunted by guilt and moral conflict, he undergoes a mental and spiritual descent, questioning the nature of justice, free will, and redemption. The novel probes the consequences of rationalizing crime and challenges utilitarian ethics. With intense character study and existential depth, it remains a cornerstone of Russian literature and a profound meditation on conscience and punishment.
Notes from Underground
Fyodor Dostoevsky’s 'Notes from Underground' is a profound exploration of the human psyche through the eyes of its bitter and introverted narrator, a retired official who chooses to isolate himself from society. Set in 19th-century St. Petersburg, this seminal work splits into two parts: the narrator's philosophical monologue critiquing the rationalist approach to life and society, followed by his complex interactions and sometimes anger-fueled alienation from others. This novella digs deep into themes of free will, existentialism, and the contradiction inherent in human nature, paving the way for existentialist thought. Dostoevsky crafts an unsettling, yet introspective narrative that resonates deeply with readers confronting the paradoxes and irrationalities of the human condition.
Similar Books
The Great Gatsby
Set in the decadent summer of 1922, this masterpiece follows mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby's obsessive pursuit of his former love, Daisy Buchanan. Through the eyes of narrator Nick Carraway, the story unfolds in a world of lavish parties and empty morality, exploring themes of wealth, love, and the corruption of the American Dream. As Gatsby's facade crumbles, the novel reveals the hollow heart of the Jazz Age.
To the Lighthouse
The serene and maternal Mrs. Ramsay, the tragic yet absurd Mr. Ramsay, and their children and assorted guests are on holiday on the Isle of Skye. From the seemingly trivial postponement of a visit to a nearby lighthouse, Woolf constructs a remarkable, moving examination of the complex tensions and allegiances of family life and the conflict between men and women. As time winds its way through their lives, the Ramsays face, alone and simultaneously, the greatest of human challenges and its greatest triumph—the human capacity for change.
Utopia
by Thomas More
Utopia is Thomas More's work of philosophical fiction, imagining the island of the title, on which thousands live in peace and harmony. Through dialogue and correspondence between Raphael Hythloday and his friends and contemporaries, More explores the theories behind war, political disagreements, social quarrels and wealth distribution, and goes into the day to day lives of those citizens enjoying freedom from fear, oppression, violence and suffering. This vision of an ideal world is also a scathing satire of Europe in the sixteenth century which has been hugely influential since publication, shaping utopian fiction even to the present day.
Middlemarch
by George Eliot
George Eliot’s Middlemarch is a deeply layered novel exploring the lives of residents in a fictional English town during the early 19th century. It centers on Dorothea Brooke, an idealistic woman seeking intellectual and spiritual fulfillment, and Tertius Lydgate, a reform-minded doctor. The novel examines marriage, ambition, politics, and the limitations of social convention. Renowned for its psychological realism and philosophical depth, Middlemarch is often hailed as one of the greatest English novels, offering a rich portrait of provincial life and moral complexity.