The Karamazov Brothers (The World's Classics) [Paperback]

Fyodor Dostoevsky (Author), Ignat Avsey (Translator)

Book Description

Series: The World's Classics | Publication Date: August 18, 1994

Dostoevsky's last and greatest novel, The Karamazov Brothers (1880) is both a brilliantly told crime story and a passionate philosophical debate. The dissolute landowner Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov is murdered; his sons--the atheist intellectual Ivan, the hot-blooded Dmitry, and the saintly novice Alyosha--are all involved at some level. Brilliantly bound up with this psychological drama is Dostoevsky's intense and disturbing exploration of many deeply felt ideas about the existence of God, freedom of will, the collective nature of guilt, and the disastrous consequences of rationalism. Filled with eloquent voices, this new translation fully realizes the power and dramatic virtuosity of Dostoevsky's most brilliant work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fine translation."--Sr. Anna M. Conklin, Spalding University

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1056 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 18, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192826646
• ISBN-13: 978-0192826640
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,124,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Translation of an Astounding Classic, December 1, 2002

By 

S. Fraser (OLYMPIA, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Karamazov Brothers (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

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.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST TRANSLATION TO DATE, February 9, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Karamazov Brothers (The World's Classics) (Paperback)

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

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars letter to Ignat Avsey, January 29, 2003

By 

Ian Shine (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Karamazov Brothers (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

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