- Crime and Punishment (Deluxe Hardbound Edition)

Good book

Everything was fine but due to packaging it was lit bit damaged because i bought a hardcover...

A month back when I started reading this intense psychological thriller by the famous Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) little did I know that this work will recast my notions about crime as well as punishment. As the name suggests, the novel revolves around the very concept of crime and the consequent punishment imparted for it. Without superfluous tracks in typical Dostoyevskian style, it questions a very basic thing- if one kills an epitome of the evil, a vile vermin to save hundreds of innocents, how can it be called a crime and who can decide the befitting punishment for the same? The protagonist Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov is a tall and handsome 23 year old former university student who lives in a suffocating cupboard-like rented room in St. Petersberg, Russia. He publishes an article describing his theory on crime along with a hypothesis relating crime and a high fever. Months later, he shockingly finds himself compelled to brutally murder an old pawnbroker who he considers to be a den of iniquity and a venomous insect. Despite poverty, fever and dilemmas, he comes out unscathed and manages to duck everyone. From police to his intellectual best friend, Razhumihin and from his shrewd landlady to his over-analytical doctor, everyone believes him to be innocent. However, it is his own conscience that he relentlessly grapples with. One day at a cheap tavern, his path entwines with that of a bankrupt alcoholic clerk Marmeladov and later with his dignified but consumptive second wife Katrina Ivanovna (she has three children from a previous defunct marriage) and his religious and timid twenty year old daughter Sonia from his late first wife. When Sonia destroys herself in providing for her starving step-siblings, he bows at her feet, much to the shock of everyone. The novel also has other important characters like Svidrigailov, a 50 year old pedophile all set to marry a 15 year old, Luzhin, a devious narcissist and Dounia, the erudite and charming older sister of the protagonist, fighting her own demons. Raskiolnikov, till the end stays clear and unsuspected yet it is his inner voice that constantly bothers him and he ends up taking odd decisions in order to run away from his own crumbling self. His way of perceiving things is complex yet he manages to convince the reader into agreeing with him. Twists and turns keep the reader on the edge and the ending gives a nice closure to this powerful work. This novel also throws much light on the then Russian society and culture. Not just another run-of-the-mill fiction, ‘Crime and Punishment’ requires contemplation on the reader’s part. It takes one inside the frenzied but brilliant mind of Raskolnikov and argues upon the fundamentals such as of crime, what defines it, who can be called a criminal, what the meaning of punishment is, who actually deserves how much of it in any society, in an era and who deserves to rule the masses. This book breaks old moulds of notions and makes one reflect, that too profoundly. It undoubtedly is a timeless classic. PS- I found this translation to be a bit confusing and messed up at many places hence it is better to get another one from the many available ones. -The scene of Katrina Ivanovna’s depressing death later in the story, literally shook me up and made me cry.

Paperback quality is pretty good and sturdy. Good for my personal library.

Very well quality, fully satisfied.

Excellent Book for Avid Readers. Must be Displayed in Frontline of Bookshelf.

I have no qualms against the seller, as the book arrived in perfect condition and had the same cover as in the listing, but the writing is not so great. Fyodor Dostoevsky is a well known author and so it was quite disappointing to find out just how messy his most popular book was. There is no new, revolutionary plot points or any interesting and unique characters in this book. Reading it feels less like an experience and more like extra chores; it’s impossible to get lost in. The writing also makes it feel as if the translator is trying too hard to sound intellectual. It has been two years since I’ve got this book and I’ve yet to complete it. It feels way easier to just drop and start other new ones.

Crime and Punishment is a beautiful but a grim story of Rodion Romanovitch Raskalnikov, an impoverished student who had to interrupt his studies for poverty. Young Raskalnikov is a man of philosophic temper and thinks there are ordinary people who are (to be) governed by law and extraordinary people, like Napoleon, who have a right to transgress, at least for the good of the humanity. He writes a brilliant article delineating his philosophy. But he is living in rags and can't continue giving lessons in such wretched condition. He kills Alyova Ivanovna, an old pawnbroker who charges extortionary interest, and her sister Lisaveta who incidentally and unexpectedly arrives at the scene of crime, because he thinks it is good for humanity. The rest of the story is a psychological study of his conduct as he tries to hide his crime from police who have a strong suspicion of his crime. He is almost out of his mind after the murder. His friend and doctor both think he has gone mad. He fails to collect cash from his victim's room after the murder. He faints at the mere mention of the murder when he is summoned to police office for recovery of room rent on which he has defaulted. He comes in contact with some of the police personnel who happen to be acquaintances of his friend Razumihin and almost betrays his secrets included how he hid the few valueables he looted. He remains tense and alternates between clear faculties and insanity. Finally when it is clear that police is likely to arrest him anytime, he confesses even though he knows that police doesn't have enough proof to get a court conviction, particularly because another suspect has already confessed. He is convicted and sent to prison in Siberia where Sonya follows him. His charcter is enigmatic like Monalisa smile and it is difficult to conclude if he has truly repented or continues to justify his theory and his entitlement to transgress law. There are some sub plots. He is benevolent and helps the family of a poor acquaintance who has died in road accident by giving all the money he received from his mother for funeral arrangements. He rescues his sister from two middle aged rich suitors, one (Petrovich) whose matrimonial proposal she has accepted to help her mother and brother and the second (Svidrigailov) who had evil designs on her when she was his house governess and later again when his wife died. He encourages his sister into relationship and marriage with his friend Razumihin. The novel easily counts among the all-time best.

I’m still a new to reading novels, so my opinion may change in the future, but I have say that for one of my first novels to read I feel like I’ve read a master piece! How the characters in the novel are written, makes them feel real and connectable to. The description of the characters, their personalities and the places where events happened is very likable as well. The way I can hear the characters’ thoughts made me sometime feel like I was the person living and thinking that way, as if I were them! onetime I even felt almost going crazy as one of the characters was going crazy! It is in the psychological genre and it does a great job at it, but I would advise to stay away from it if you’re not fond of that genre. As a last note, as a non English native speaker the novel was a little hard to read(I needed to use the translator a couple of times). TLDR; I felt like I read a master piece. It was enjoyable, makes you feel like you are the character him/her self, the way the characters and their thoughts are presented is fantastic and makes them connectable to and makes the reader able to understand them. I liked it a lot, I definitely recommend it to anyone into the psychological genre.

Great book Nice print

This deluxe hardbound edition of "Crime and Punishment" is absolutely beautiful - gold-embossed cover, thick cream pages, and a ribbon bookmark. It's the kind of edition that makes you want to slow down and savor every page, which is exactly what Dostoevsky deserves. And what a novel this is. I'd read it years ago in college and remember finding it heavy going, but returning to it as an adult was a completely different experience. Raskolnikov's psychological unraveling after committing murder is one of the most intense character studies I've ever encountered. The guilt, the fever dreams, the cat-and-mouse game with Porfiry - it's absolutely gripping. What surprised me most was how modern it feels. The existential questions Dostoevsky wrestles with - about morality, suffering, redemption, and what makes us human - are as relevant today as they were in 1866. And despite the darkness, there's genuine compassion throughout, especially in the character of Sonia. The translation in this edition is excellent and very readable. The binding is solid and the typesetting is clean and generous, making it easy on the eyes for such a substantial read. If you're going to read this masterpiece, do it right with this edition. It's an heirloom-quality book that does justice to one of literature's greatest psychological thrillers. Absolutely worth every penny.

Great reading A classic

中学生の時に翻訳版を読んでいます。当時は主人公の「1つの罪は100の善行によって償われる」という考えに唸りました。主人公を応援する心情で読んだものでしたが、今再び読んでみて主人公の傲慢さ、というかただの精神病じゃないかと……。主人公には嫌悪を感じました。大体、綿密に計画し信念のもとに行っているはずなのに肝心のお金はとってこれず、思い切り体調まで崩して情緒すら不安定で。実行前の雄々しさはどこに？まあ主人公がめちゃくちゃな反面、ラズミーヒンの献身が目を引きヒーローとして見守れたのは良かったです。