NewCrime and Punishment
A Descent Into Guilt and Redemption
by Fyodor DostoevskyPsychological FictionNovel
Преступление и наказание
Originally in Russian1866
40 chapters811 pages15h read
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About This Book
Step into the fevered streets of 1860s St. Petersburg, where young ex-student Raskolnikov prowls the city, tormented by poverty and grand philosophical ideas. In a world teetering between desperate squalor and intellectual obsession, Raskolnikov’s inner turmoil propels him toward a shocking act that will shatter his life and force him to confront the darkest corners of his conscience. Fyodor Dostoevsky’s masterpiece, Crime and Punishment, is a gripping psychological drama—an intense exploration of guilt, morality, and the possibility of redemption. With its unforgettable characters and haunting atmosphere, this novel will grip you from the first page and linger in your thoughts long after the final sentence.
Characters
View all 76 charactersAbout the Author
Fyodor Dostoevsky
1821–1881
Fyodor Dostoevsky was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1821 to a physician father and a devoutly religious mother. He began his education at a private school and later attended the Nikolayev Military Engineering Institute in St. Petersburg. After a brief career as an engineer, Dostoevsky turned to writing, publishing his first novel in 1846. His life was marked by political turmoil; in 1849, he was arrested for involvement with a group of utopian socialists and spent several years in Siberian exile, an experience that profoundly influenced his later work. After his return, Dostoevsky struggled with financial hardship, health issues, and a tumultuous personal life, yet he remained a prolific writer until his death in 1881.
Places and Terms in this Book
Petersburg— Short for St. Petersburg, the capital of imperial Russia at the time and the primary setting of the novel.
Hay Market— A well-known market area in St. Petersburg, associated with poverty, working-class life, and various establishments.
Bakaleyev’s house— A lodging house near Raskolnikov’s residence, where Luzhin has found rooms for Raskolnikov’s mother and sister; Pulcheria Alexandrovna and Dounia are staying there.
Siberia— A vast region in Russia, historically used as a place of exile and punishment for criminals.
Vassilyevsky Island— A large island in Saint Petersburg, known for its residential neighborhoods and institutions.
Dmitri Prokofitch— The full name of Razumihin, using the Russian patronymic form.
Vocabulary
rouble— The basic unit of currency in Russia.
porter— A person employed to look after the entrance of a building and assist tenants or visitors.
landlady— A woman who owns and rents out rooms or apartments to tenants.
flat— A British/Russian term for an apartment or set of rooms within a building.
garret— A small, often cramped attic room, typically rented cheaply to poor tenants.
betrothed— A person to whom one is engaged to be married.
