Customer Reviews

The Karamazov Brothers (Oxford World's Classics)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After being thoroughly spoiled ROTTEN by Ignat Avsey's beautifully flowing translation of this work, I'm having trouble digging into the first few chapters of "Crime and Punishment", translated by Constance Garnett. It is incredible the stylistic difference between the two translators. Ignat claims to stay truer to the style and spirit of Dostoevsky rather than remain grammatical and structurally confined to perfectionistic "direct" translation, which seems to create clumsy and confusing sentences and phrases, often requiring constant rereading and scrutiny of awkward sentences which I'm sure flow wonderfully in Russian, yet translated "exactingly" into the English language create stumbling blocks to enjoyable comprehension of Dostoevsky's vision. I find Ignat's craft infinitely more engaging and clear, and having now begun a Garnett translation I am immeadiately struck by how stiff and in my opinion, unnecessarily confusing the phrasing and grammar is. I came online hoping Ignat may have translated other Dostoevsky novels, but alas, I can't find any.
At the bookstore, intrigued by the rewording of the title, I read about 3 pages of his version, and then a few of Garnett's. I knew right away which one to buy. I can't recommend his version enough, the novel is astounding and well worth the trouble of taking on, and is sure to be especially delightful if you're reading the Ignat Avsey version.

Perhaps I shouldn't have said "BEST," but Avsey's translation is by far the most approachable. This new translation might not be as representative of Dostoevsky's style as the lauded Garnett translation is, but Ignat Avsey's new translation is certainly more pleasurable to read

Dear translator Ignat Avsey,
My friend Jenny Coates was astute enough to steer me to your translation of The Karamazov Brothers. I have just finished reading it and derived enormous pleasure from the experience. As I had never read any Dostoevsky before and know no Russian, I'm on shakey ground in claiming that the pleasure is due to your translation, but I feel sure that it is. I almost never read long books and I feared that I would never finish a 900 page book, but that was before I heard Avsey speak out loud and bold. I could not put it down, I smiled and laughed and wept and loved it and I thank you very much. I wrote to the classics editor at OUP and told her how much I liked it and asked her to bring it out in hardback in which case I guaranteed to buy at least one copy. i also told her that I have bought 10 copies of the paper back to give to my family and friends. I also suggested that I would buy any other books that you translated for OUP.
I am certain that its your translation that reveals the real dostoevsky because people who read other translations tell me that the book is very good, but they never say that it is extremely wonderful and so exciting that you can't put it down. I should explain that I don't often write to authors praising their work, I wrote to Arthur Koestler, Louis Begley and to Oriana Fallaci and yourself, I don't know how you feel belonging to such a group. I also wrote to Jeremy Isaacs thanking him for putting Tony Harrison's V on Channel 4.
Again many many thanks,
Ian shine
New York

Many modern readers are intimidated by books like this. Yes, it's long compared with most modern fiction; and yes, there are some (to Western ears) tongue-twisting Russian names to keep straight. But at its center, The Brothers Karamazov is a riveting murder mystery and social commentary, surprisingly modern (the section about doctors and specialists, particularly)and very readable. It would have been interesting to read this for the first time in the midst of the O.J. Simpson trial, since the trial in the book shares some similarities with that most famous of murder trials. A classic novel, and not to be missed.

I cannot take credit for the title of my review - apparently, Sigmund Freud said it first, and, while I cannot say that I would agree with Freud on every subject, I must say, unequivocally, that I agree with his statement about The Karamozov Brothers (with the caveat that, of course, I have not read every novel ever written, so, take the statement for what it's worth).

My only lament regarding this novel is that I cannot read Russian directly; however, as the other reviewers of this book have pointed out, the translation by Avsey is brilliant - there is simply no other way to describe it. I first read Dostoevsky in high school - Crime and Punishment, specifically - I devoured it in a few days, if that. I absolutely loved it. Since then, I have gone on to read other Dostoevsky novels, including The Idiot, and, of course, The Karamozov Brothers. Based upon reading these novels, and many others throughout the course of my life, I must say, truly, that The Karamozov Brothers is the most breathtaking novel I have ever had the pleasure to read in regards to scope, vision, and in capturing the human soul via the written word. When Crime and Punishment and The Idiot are warm up novels to something even greater, well, that's saying something.

As for the book itself, Dostoevsky understands humanity. And, more than that, he is able to somehow capture the essence of a person - their thoughts, desires, fears, in a way that, more than any author I have ever read, makes one feel as if one is not reading a novel, but rather, witnessing real events, and real people, struggle with the great mysteries of life. Reading it is like a peering through a window into the human soul.

Does God exist? Is science a complement to or repudiation of religion? Do we have souls? Is any action permitted, or are there fundamental truths about right and wrong that govern the human reality? Are we responsible for our own actions, and, if yes, then to what extent are we responsible? Are we responsible for the actions of others, and, if yes, then to what extent? Is religion a savior or destroyer of humanity?

While these all seem like pie in the sky questions, theoretical, and wishy-washy - they are in fact as relevant today (as evidenced by the furor over evolution vs. creationism/intelligent design, and the relationship of science and religion) as they were in Dostoevsky's time - and, I am sure, have always been and will always be pivotal questions surrounding the human experience. Further, while these questions are at the heart of the novel - the novel is not just about these questions, but about people, their journey, and how these questions impact and interweave with their, and our, daily lives...from how we treat strangers, to how we treat ourselves, and everyone and everything in between.

Life is rarely black and white, if ever, and it is the dichotomy between right and wrong, good and evil, guilt and innocent, taking responsibility vs. abdicating responsibility - that drives all of us, and that makes each of us who and what we are, for better or ill. It is those same forces that drive The Karamozov Brothers as a novel, and make it a crowning achievement and testimonial to the very essence of humanity itself.

Read it.

Anyone interested in the central question facing mankind will find `The Brothers Karamazov' an essential guide. That question--on man's capacity for responsibility and the proper role of the state and religion--is posed throughout the story in dialogue and events, and is framed neatly in a 20-page section where Ivan presents a poem titled `The Grand Inquisitor' to his brother Alyosha. The chapter that bears that title (Book V, Chapter V) is a masterpiece in itself and should be studied for its narrative technique alone. But the ideas it presents are so immense, so mind-blowing and inspirational, that literary criticism is not sufficient.

Indeed, `The Brothers Karamazov' should not be classed merely as a novel--it is a book of philosophy, theology, and sociology as well that ranks with the greatest documents in those disciplines. There is a fictitious plot, of course, and the characters in the story are some of the most unique in all of literature, so it is rightly praised as a novel. But the modern reader looking for a plot of twists and romantic intrigues is bound to disappointment. Dostoevsky does not stir up drama through the placement of unexpected developments or improbable character traits. Instead, he relies on the inherent needs and wants of all men to make vivid his story.

The amount of dialogue may be shocking (tedious) to one accustomed to the modern show-don't-tell policy in storytelling. Today, novelists and screenwriters let a character's actions speak for them--it is quicker and provides a much more convincing impression. It also limits the kind of ideas that are posed in the story to simple, prosaic ones like `she likes him' or `he wants to defeat him.' By contrast, Dostoevsky allows the characters to speak for themselves, which creates a much longer and subtler exposition, but also frees the ideas to be vast and monumental.

What is the fundamental nature of socialism? What are the uses of the church in finding purpose? In finding salvation? Why is there suffering? What is the meaning of death? Read the brothers' dialogues and contemplate.

Dostoevsky's own philosophy is seen in the protagonist, Alyosha. This is so despite the fact that the author ably covers every perspective on every topic presented in the book, and one can hardly find a positive assertion throughout. If there is one, it rests in the overall effect of the words and actions, a concept Dostoevsky articulated in a personal correspondence--it is that "Man is a mystery; if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time."

A word about the translations: The title of Book IV has been translated differently in every version I have seen (other chapter titles are also inconsistent, but Book IV is seemingly the most difficult to agree on). The original Russian is `Nadryvy,' which literally translates to `Ruptures,' though no translations I have seen use `Ruptures.' The word is used throughout the book to convey the motif of `pressures' or `strained conditions about to break.' The various options I have seen for this title are `Lacerations' (Garnett), `Strains' (Pevear & Volkhonsky), `Torment' (MacAndrew), `Crises' (Avsey), and `Crack-Ups' (McDuff). Given this is a central theme, the potential reader might look into which translation he prefers before buying. Apropos, the Princess Alexandra Kropotkin print version bears the Garnett translation, as does the Frederick Davidson audio recording.

It would be presumptious of me to "review" Dostoevsky's great masterpiece "The Brothers Karamozov" or, as Avsey has convinced me it should be rendered, "The Karamazov Brothers." Yes, it is one of the greatest novels ever, yes, it is life-changing, and yes, it is on that short list of books that should be read before you die. More than a murder mystery of course, it concerns the existence of God, fraternal rivalry, the question of guilt, the condition of Russia and what it means to be Russian.
So, the main question is what translation to choose? As I don't read Russian, my only criteria was how it read in English. Did it flow well, did it maintain interest, was it "literary"? I had sampled the more popular Pevear-Volokhonsky translation, the current Penguin Classics version, and the older Garnett translation too, and while I did not get too far in any of these, Avsey's version gripped me from the start and I ripped right through it on vacation. The Oxford World's Classics edition has much to recommend, including a time chronology, an index of main characters (an absolute necessity, as the same characters are referred to four or five different ways sometimes), and extensive editorial notes. Also, a minor point, but kudos to the printers Clays Ltd. for a superb job of printing, the paperback is a wonderfully crafted work of art!

I had the impression that reading The Brothers Karamazov would be stodgy philosophical heavy slogging, but it's actually a cracking good read that feels surprisingly modern.

I've read that Dostoyevsky's style is not something that would be considered "elegant" - The Brothers Karamazov certainly shows that. It's sarcastic, melodramatic, bombastic, windbaggy, comical, anything but boring, but neither is it pretty.

There are a few tedious, repetitious, windbaggy monologues, but I get the feeling that some of them were meant to be tedious and pompous.

I read MacAndrew's (The Brothers Karamazov (Bantam Classics)) and Avsey's (The Karamazov Brothers (Oxford World's Classics)) translations.

Avsey's is the more spicy, extra-crunch of the two (Avsey notes that he aimed to be faithful to Dostoyevsky's style). It retains some original Russian terms using bookend notes to explain their meaning/context. Like other Oxford World Classics titles, it is accompanied with some supplementary materials including time chart, brief sketch of the author, etc.

Some of the bookend notes provide insightful contextual info, but many were superfluous biblical citations and their like, and looking them up were often more annoying than rewarding.

MacAndrew's is slightly more mellow but also bit clearer, and translated in such a manner that it does away with bookend notes. It's produced as an affordable edition, so does not include much extra materials, but you're not missing much. In a way, it makes the reading bit more enjoyable by letting me focus on the story itself.

Both are highly readable with good bit of style, and I hardly remember any awkward passage in either of them. I recommend them both highly.

This is my first, and I guarantee to myself and to anyone who asks me not the last, Dostoyevsky novel. Dostoevsky brilliantly weaves philosophical debates into a truly dynamic plot, while commenting on his contemporanious world. Despite the social commentary, this story is universal and timeless and has that rare quality that sets it apart from other literature and shoots it up to the rank of the novel, of the kind of book that will last centuries and still shine brightly over the top of entirety of the literary form. The Karamazov Brothers is what the novel should be. I cannot word precisely enough how much I enjoyed this novel.

I recommend this book, the one published by Oxford University Press who writes the clearest and most readable and refreshing translation I have seen (I have looked through many different translations to find one that is not awkwardly worded and explains the text well), and somehow, keeps the prose nuanced and delicate.

There are serious formatting problems with the Kindle version of this otherwise fine book, evident from the very first page.