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The Brothers Karamazov cover art

The Brothers Karamazov

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky, David Magarshack - translator
Narrated by: Gabriel Woolf
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Summary

The Brothers Karamazov is the final novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky and is generally considered the culmination of his life's work. Published in November 1880, Dostoevsky spent nearly two years writing the novel set in 19th-century Russia.

Fydor Karamazov, a mean and disreputable landowner, has three sons, Dmitry, a profligate army officer; Ivan, a writer with revolutionary ideas; and Alexey, a religious novice. A drama of patricide and fraternal jealousy unfolds, involving the questions of anarchism and atheism, and giving a portrait of Russian society in the turbulent 1870s.

Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevsky (1821 - 1881) was a Russian fiction writer, essayist, and philosopher whose works have been acclaimed all over the world by thinkers as diverse as Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein.

Please note: This is a vintage recording. The audio quality may not be up to modern day standards.

Translated by David Magarshack

Public Domain (P)2009 RNIB

What listeners say about The Brothers Karamazov

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A choice of translations -

This audiobook is a recording of David Magarshack's translation of Brothers Karamazov.

This gives us a welcome choice - we can opt now either for this quite modern translation or the readings of the classic translation by Constance Garnett.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Good translation and excellent reading, good pace!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant study of human nature in difficult times

I read the unabridged version and was quite gripped by the story most of the time. Speaking to some Russian PhD students at the University where I work they had not had the same response when they read it during their schooling in Russia. They had found it quite dark and depressing. Perhaps age makes a difference in one’s perception of books. From my perspective I think Dostoevsky’s understanding of human nature is brilliant and I loved the way that he wove the teachings of Christianity in and out of his stories.

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5 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

unlistenable narration

strange pacing and emphasis and tone. very distracting. shame because I wanted to listen to this translation.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Our political and social ills minutely described

Patriarchy's limitations are eviscerated in detail. Solace for those who ask why the violence today lie eloquently between the 2 covers. To call this a masterpiece is an understatement. Just about every type of male relationship is represented here. This inspired translation by Magarshack flows and feels culturally valid. The narration unfolds in a friendly yet authoritive manner. Any contre-temps in speaking lend a realistic flow of manner, creating a sense of a master story - teller at my beck and call. Unabridged this work unfolds like the best of our TV series. Please, PLEASE take the time for this excursion into human issues. The great D. created the polyphonic voice in narration, where each character is serves themselves and not the author. Even D. struggles and knows not what is Right, but he knows 'What' is plaguing us.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars

Love Dostoevsky, cant get on with this

The delivery is very flat. Several hours in I'm not getting on with the languor at all. I'll try a different version. Hopefully I can send this one back...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

awful narration best to look for another version

Great story but it was mostly ruined by the performance,
if you enjoy eating, chewing, drinking and what sounded like the tv was on in the background you will love the narration....

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed this long and weighty time !

I don't think I could have read this but Audible has made it accessible. It was sometimes biblical and ponderous but no matter, there is so much in this book on the human condition.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • LC
  • 04-03-21

Amazing story with many dimensions

I found this story to be completed engaging from start to finish, as well as being thought provoking and interesting in many ways, exploring some fundamental challenges of human life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing read

Highly recommended, I had to get used to pace and lector's voice but loved it. There were few quite a few philosophical, theological and spiritual passages but it is all needed to make this book such a masterpiece.

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