03.02 Lizaveta

Literary Fiction

The Brothers Karamazov (version 3)

by Fyodor DOSTOYEVSKY (1821 - 1881)

Originally published in serial form in 1879-80, “The Brothers Karamazov” is recognized as one of the very greatest masterpieces of world literature. It is the last and finest novel of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who died before writing a planned sequel. The story is organized initially around the efforts of adult sons to deal with their cantankerous and exasperating father. More important, they also have to deal with the problem of how to live in a world where it is difficult to be sure of the truth — whether that be “truth” about others, about oneself, or about deep questions such as faith, doubt, free will, guilt, and responsibility. Dostoyevsky’s technique underlines the difficulty of attaining sure knowledge. The novel’s psychological and philosophical depth sets the stage for modern novelists such as Joyce, Kafka, and Woolf. “The Brothers Karamazov” has been a favorite book for readers as diverse as Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Putin, and Hillary Clinton. - Summary by Bruce Pirie

Listen next episodes of The Brothers Karamazov (version 3):
03.03 The confession of a passionate heart — in verse , 03.04 The confession of a passionate heart — in anecdote , 03.05 The confession of a passionate heart — ''Heels up'' , 03.06 Smerdyakov , 03.07 The controversy , 03.08 Over the brandy , 03.09 The sensualists , 03.10 Both together , 03.11 Another reputation ruined , 04.01 Father Ferapont , 04.02 At his father's , 04.03 A meeting with the schooboys , 04.04 At the Hohlakovs' , 04.05 A laceration in the drawing-room , 04.06 A laceration in the cottage , 04.07 And in the open air , 05.01 The engagement , 05.02 Smerdyakov with a guitar , 05.03 The bothers make friends , 05.04 Rebellion , 05.05 The Grand Inquisitor , 05.06 For awhile a very obscure one , 05.07 ''It's always worth while speaking to a clever man'' , 06.01 Father Zossima and his visitors , 06.02 The duel , 06.03 Conversations and exhortations of Father Zossima , 07.01 The breath of corruption , 07.02 A critical moment , 07.03 An onion , 07.04 Cana of Galilee , 08.01 Kuzma Samsonov , 08.02 Lyagavy , 08.03 Gold-mines , 08.04 In the dark , 08.05 A sudden resolution , 08.06 ''I am coming, too!'' , 08.07 The first and rightful lover , 08.08 Delirium , 09.01 The beginning of Perhotin's official career , 09.02 The alarm , 09.03 The sufferings of a soul, the first ordeal , 09.04 The second ordeal , 09.05 The third ordeal , 09.06 The prosecutor catches Mitya , 09.07 Mitya's great secret. Received with hisses , 09.08 The evidence of the witnesses. The babe , 09.09 They carry Mitya away , 10.01 Kolya Krassotkin , 10.02 Children , 10.03 The schoolboy , 10.04 The lost dog , 10.05 By Ilusha's bedside , 10.06 Precocity , 10.07 Ilusha , 11.01 At Grushenka's , 11.02 The injured foot , 11.03 A little demon , 11.04 A hymn and a secret , 11.05 Not you, not you! , 11.06 The first interview with Smerdyakov , 11.07 The second visit to Smeryakov , 11.08 The third and last interview with Smerdyakov , 11.09 The devil. Ivan's nightmare , 11.10 ''It was he who said that'' , 12.01 The fatal day , 12.02 Dangerous witnesses , 12.03 The medical experts and a pound of nuts , 12.04 Fortune smiles on Mitya , 12.05 A sudden catastrophe , 12.06 The prosecutor's speech. Sketches of character , 12.07 An historical survey , 12.08 A treatise on Smerdyakov , 12.09 The galloping troika. The end of the prosecutor's speech , 12.10 The speech for the defense. An argument that cuts both ways , 12.11 There was no money. There was no robbery , 12.12 And there was no murder either , 12.13 A corrupter of thought , 12.14 The peasants stand firm , Ep.1 Plans for Mitya's escape , Ep.2 For a moment the lie becomes truth , Ep.3 Ilusha's funeral. The speech at the stone