The Brothers KaramazovCompleted only a few months before the author's death, The Brothers Karamazov is Dostoyevsky's largest, most expansive, most life-embracing work. Filled with human passions ― lust, greed, love, jealousy, sorrow, and humor ― the book is also infused with moral issues and the issue of collective guilt. As in many of Dostoyevsky's novels, the plot centers on a murder. Three brothers, different in character but bound by their ancestry, are drawn into the crime's vortex: Dmitri, a young officer utterly unrestrained in love, hatred, jealousy, and generosity; Ivan, an intellectual capable of delivering impromptu disquisitions about good and evil, God, and the devil; and Alyosha, the youngest brother, preternaturally patient, kind, and loving. Part mystery, part profound philosophical and theological debate, The Brothers Karamazov represents the culmination of Dostoyevsky's life's work and ranks among the greatest novels of all time. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
afraid Alexey Fyodorovich Alyosha answer asked began believe brother Brothers Karamazov course cried Mitya dear Dmitri Fyodorovich Dmitri Karamazov elder everything eyes face Father Païssy Father Zosima feeling felt Fenya Fetyukovich forgive Fyodor Pavlovich gentlemen give Grigory Grigory Vasilyevich Grushenka hand heard heart Ilyusha Ivan Fyodorovich Kalganov Karamazov Katerina Ivanovna Katya killed kiss knew Kolya Krasotkin lady laughed Lise Listen looked Madame Hohlakov Mavriky Maximov mind Miüsov Mokroye monastery monk Moscow mother murder never night Nikolay Parfenovich Obdorsk once peasant Perezvon perhaps prisoner prosecutor Pyotr Ilyich question Rakitin remember Russian scoundrel seemed shouted Siberia silent sitting Smerdyakov smile Smurov soul speak stood strange suddenly talk tears tell there's thing thou thought thousand rubles three thousand told tomorrow town turned understand versts voice wait what's whole woman words young