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Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky - 2020
By: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Narrated by: Will Poulter
Length: 22 hrs and 27 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 04-23-20
Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Format: mp3 64/48 stereo
Often considered one of the first ever psychological thrillers, Crime and Punishment is a gripping tale of a poverty-stricken young man in Saint Petersburg, Russia, who hatches a plan to kill someone for money. Once the deed is done, he finds himself racked with guilt, confusion and disgust for his act.
In this new recording, Will Poulter (Detroit, Midsommar, The Maze Runner) gives new life to the troubled protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov, in a performance that will have you questioning where we draw the line between right and wrong.
Public Domain (P)2020 Audible, Ltd
Editorial review
By Mysia Haight, Audible Editor
FAN OF PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS? THANK DOSTOYEVSKY FOR HIS GROUNDBREAKING CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
In Crime and Punishment, there’s no mystery about the identity of the murderer—it’s Rodion Raskolnikov, the protagonist, and the novel, while using a third-person narrative, focuses primarily on his perspective. The real mystery is his motive, and the tension comes from whether he’ll continue to justify his actions and struggle with his guilt—or confess to murdering two women.
Part one ends with the crime. The rest of the book—parts two through six—deals with the punishment. The detective tasked with solving the murders, Porfiry Petrovich soon suspects Raskolnikov but lacks evidence. As Raskolnikov becomes increasingly racked with guilt, Petrovich uses psychological means, escalating his suspect’s dazed and unhinged state in the hopes of goading him into a confession. But Crime and Punishment is about much more than a cat-and-mouse game. Through Raskolnikov’s internal torment and his relationships with other characters—the vulnerable and empathetic young prostitute, Sonya; his beautiful, strong-willed sister, Dunya, and the two reprehensible men determined to claim her; and his loyal friend, the honorable and resourceful Razumikhin—Dostoyevsky raises questions about what makes a person "good" (morally) or "extraordinary," and whether even the most noble humanitarian ends ever justify cruel and evil means. In our current political climate and social media landscape, such thorny questions—and our answers—matter.
Crime and Punishment is definitely an epic, and the audiobook runs just over 22 hours. With talented actor Will Poulter at the mic, however, you’ll find it hard to stop listening. And afterwards, you’re bound to keep thinking about Dostoyevsky’s take on immorality, the danger of both desperation and hubris, and the power of a guilty conscience.
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