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The Brothers Karamazov Paperback – June 14, 2002
Winner of the Pen/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize
The award-winning translation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic novel of psychological realism.
The Brothers Karamasov is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry in a series of triangular love affairs involving the “wicked and sentimental” Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov and his three sons―the impulsive and sensual Dmitri; the coldly rational Ivan; and the healthy, red-cheeked young novice Alyosha. Through the gripping events of their story, Dostoevsky portrays the whole of Russian life, is social and spiritual striving, in what was both the golden age and a tragic turning point in Russian culture.
This award-winning translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky remains true to the verbal
inventiveness of Dostoevsky’s prose, preserving the multiple voices, the humor, and the surprising modernity of the original. It is an achievement worthy of Dostoevsky’s last and greatest novel.
- Print length824 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherFarrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication dateJune 14, 2002
- Dimensions5.73 x 1.43 x 8.29 inches
- ISBN-100374528373
- ISBN-13978-0374528379
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“[Dostoevsky is] at once the most literary and compulsively readable of novelists we continue to regard as great . . . The Brothers Karamazov stands as the culmination of his art--his last, longest, richest and most capacious book. [This] scrupulous rendition can only be welcomed. It returns to us a work we thought we knew, subtly altered and so made new again.” ―Donald Fanger, Washington Post Book World
“It may well be that Dostoevsky's [world], with all its resourceful energies of life and language, is only now--and through the medium of this translation--beginning to come home to the English-speaking reader.” ―John Bayley, The New York Review of Books
“Heartily recommended to any reader who wishes to come as close to Dostoevsky's Russian as it is possible.” ―Joseph Frank, Princeton University
“Far and away the best translation of Dostoevsky into English that I have seen . . . faithful . . . extremely readable . . . gripping.” ―Sidney Monas, University of Texas
About the Author
Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky were awarded the PEN/ Book-of-the-Month Translation Prize for The Brothers Karamazov and have also translated Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Notes from Underground, Demons, and The Idiot.
Product details
- Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 12th edition (June 14, 2002)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 824 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0374528373
- ISBN-13 : 978-0374528379
- Item Weight : 1.4 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.73 x 1.43 x 8.29 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #145,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,840 in Psychological Fiction (Books)
- #4,544 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #9,529 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (/ˌdɒstəˈjɛfski, ˌdʌs-/; Russian: Фёдор Миха́йлович Достое́вский; IPA: [ˈfʲɵdər mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪtɕ dəstɐˈjɛfskʲɪj]; 11 November 1821 – 9 February 1881), sometimes transliterated Dostoevsky, was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist and philosopher. Dostoyevsky's literary works explore human psychology in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmosphere of 19th-century Russia. Many of his works are marked by a preoccupation with Christianity, explored through the prism of the individual confronted with life's hardships and beauty.
He began writing in his 20s, and his first novel, Poor Folk, was published in 1846 when he was 25. His major works include Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), Demons (1872) and The Brothers Karamazov (1880). His output consists of 11 novels, three novellas, 17 short novels and numerous other works. Many literary critics rate him as one of the greatest psychologists in world literature. His 1864 novella Notes from Underground is considered to be one of the first works of existentialist literature.
Born in Moscow in 1821, Dostoyevsky was introduced to literature at an early age through fairy tales and legends, and through books by Russian and foreign authors. His mother died in 1837, when he was 15, and around the same time he left school to enter the Nikolayev Military Engineering Institute. After graduating, he worked as an engineer and briefly enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, translating books to earn extra money. In the mid-1840s he wrote his first novel, Poor Folk, which gained him entry into St. Petersburg's literary circles.
In the following years, Dostoyevsky worked as a journalist, publishing and editing several magazines of his own and later A Writer's Diary, a collection of his writings. He began to travel around western Europe and developed a gambling addiction, which led to financial hardship. For a time, he had to beg for money, but he eventually became one of the most widely read and highly regarded Russian writers. His books have been translated into more than 170 languages. Dostoyevsky influenced a multitude of writers and philosophers, from Anton Chekhov and Ernest Hemingway to Friedrich Nietzsche and Jean-Paul Sartre.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the well-written translation at a higher level than modern writers. The book is described as philosophical and psychological, with deep character development and complex characters that argue about morals and religion. However, some readers feel the book is too long with excessive wordiness and sentences that go on forever.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it engaging and praise the writing as excellent. Readers appreciate the rich storytelling and scholarly writing style.
"...required reading for students - it's so good and rich and just plain spellbinding...." Read more
"Most people know that The Brothers Karamazov is an amazing novel, so I will only be criticizing the translation; however, I haven't read any other..." Read more
"...and their stories, this translation adds depth and new insights to the story, turning it from Garnett's turn-of-the-last-century Brit-Lit style..." Read more
"...Last year I read the great novel Middlemarch, set in the English countryside of the 1830's , capturing the values and ambitions of an entire..." Read more
Customers appreciate the translation quality. They find the sentences well-written and the book more readable than older translations. The translation gives a truer sense of the Russian language while still being fluent. Readers also mention that the writing style is scholarly and expert.
"...authors in a variety of books, is presented here in a unique and "Russian" way. Highly recommend this book." Read more
"...and can't get enough of the characters and their stories, this translation adds depth and new insights to the story, turning it from Garnett's turn-..." Read more
"...Good print, good binding, and one of the 'best' translations available." Read more
"...It is still generally true to the sentence structure, but by taking a quarter step away from the purist version, he sheds much more light on the..." Read more
Customers find the book profound and moving. They appreciate its philosophical and psychological insights, true motivations, and exploration of the human spirit. The novel is described as rich and spellbinding, with timeless lessons.
"...Russian literature required reading for students - it's so good and rich and just plain spellbinding...." Read more
"...It is, quite simply, the most masterful examination of agape (active love), faith, and justice, and redemption that I have ever encountered in my..." Read more
"...cause of F.D.'s brilliance, he nevertheless created a groundbreaking philosophical perspective, one which humans will battle with for years to come." Read more
"...Every character has a mix of good and bad, and each one has such true motivations. Be prepared to be taken aback at what a genius Dostoevsky is...." Read more
Customers find the characters in the book complex and vivid. They appreciate the depth of the characters, who argue about morals, religion, and the existence of God. The characters are not stock characters, but real people with real ideas that shape their lives and characters.
"...inserting witty, non sequitur, sometomes in appropriate light-hearted commentary on characters and situations, and opinionated "side notes" that..." Read more
"...Dostoyevsky produces a wellspring of the richest, most authentic personalities: imagine being invited to a dinner party teeming with some really..." Read more
"The Brothers Karamazov is a transcendent novel filled with delectable characters, rich and vivid scenery, and inspirational prose...." Read more
"...In fact, the characters all remain true to themselves, and the ending isn't necessarily happy, yet the amount of truth revealed will make the reader..." Read more
Customers find the pacing of the book good. They say Dostoyevsky is amazing and his characters are worth knowing.
"This is called Dostoyevsky’s masterpiece, and I wholeheartedly concur with the critics...." Read more
"...In my opinion, it is Dostoevsky's best and has gained its place in history beside such other great novels such as Don Quixote, The Red and the Black..." Read more
"This is the best book I have ever read. Dostoevsky is amazing, the characters in his books are worth knowing in all their complexity." Read more
"The genius at his best!..." Read more
Customers find the book too long. They mention it's 776 pages, tiring, and awkward to read with long sentences and overuse of "as it" phrases. Some readers stopped reading after 100 pages due to difficulty and wasted space.
"...It is massive and intimidating, but once you experience it you won't be able to imagine world lit without it. Enjoy!" Read more
"It's a really tough read, due to several issues - the names, the myriad of characters each have close to 4 versions of long and difficult..." Read more
"Good for the price. Its a massive book, I don’t know how long the paper cover will hold or how good for traveling is but it seems alright." Read more
"...Hence the book is 776 tiring pages you have to slog through rather than, say, 500...." Read more
Reviews with images
The Brothers Karamazov is Still a Great Novel
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2024I got turned on to Russian literature by a friend who is in fact a well read, real Russian. Dostoyesky was one of his favorites and it's easy to see why after reading a few of his books. I still have to read Crime and Punishment but keep getting sidetracked by all the other great Russian authors out there. It's a shame and a sin that U.S. universities (or High Schools) do not make Russian literature required reading for students - it's so good and rich and just plain spellbinding. The Brothers Karamavoz is definitely one of those books with a lesson that, although it has been touched upon by other authors in a variety of books, is presented here in a unique and "Russian" way. Highly recommend this book.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2017Most people know that The Brothers Karamazov is an amazing novel, so I will only be criticizing the translation; however, I haven't read any other translations to verify my knowledge on the subject, and I would suggest going getting samples of different translations in order to best suit your needs.
The Richard Peaver & Larissa Volokhonsky translation of The Brothers Karamazov is good. It's being marketed as the best, but it really isn't. There is not a 'best' translation of Dostoyevsky, or really, any other Russian author I've researched; no, there isn't a 'best' translation of a book that I know of. To my understanding the Peaver translations usually stick incredibly close to the original source material, which is a double edged sword; most people want a translation that doesn't loose something or other in translation. This one is very close to doing so, but as I said it's a double edged sword; they leave in the syntax, and a very foreign syntax at that. This can cause problems for a casual reader, but it wasn't a problem for me. What really matters is the readers personal preference. I will add the first sentence of the P&V, McDuff, and Garnett translations to see which one you'd most like:
"Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov was the third son of a land owner from our district, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, well known is his own day (and still remembered among us) because of his dark and tragic death, which happened exactly thirteen years ago and which I shall speak of in its proper place." - P&V
"Aleksey Fyodorovich Karamazov was the third son of a landowner in our district, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, so noted in his time (and even now still recollected among us) for his tragic and fishy death, which occurred just thirteen years ago and which I shall report in its proper context." - McDuff
"Alexey Fyodorovich Karamazov was the third son of Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, a landowner well known in our district in his own day, and still remembered among us owing to his gloomy and tragic death, which happened thirteen years ago, and which I shall describe in its proper place." - Garnett
Moving on to the edition I have. It's ISBN is 978-0374528379, but it is the best selling edition as of 8/1/2017; you probably won't have any trouble finding it. This paperback is a great durable edition. I kept it in my backpack for school each day for basically the entire second semester without too much serious wear (check the photos to judge yourself). The font is big enough to read well without straining your eyes... or at least it was for me. It's still holding together nicely is what I'm trying to say. The binding is glued, too; if you didn't know. This edition has a cover in which I will describe as rough-soft feeling; I enjoyed holding it in my hands.
Finally, sorry for the poor camera quality. The soda can piece is there to show how big the text is in comparison. The torn piece on the back is from a mishap I am accountable for not the book, although it says something about the books durability; it happened near the end of my usage with it.
5.0 out of 5 stars The Brothers Karamazov is Still a Great NovelMost people know that The Brothers Karamazov is an amazing novel, so I will only be criticizing the translation; however, I haven't read any other translations to verify my knowledge on the subject, and I would suggest going getting samples of different translations in order to best suit your needs.
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2017
The Richard Peaver & Larissa Volokhonsky translation of The Brothers Karamazov is good. It's being marketed as the best, but it really isn't. There is not a 'best' translation of Dostoyevsky, or really, any other Russian author I've researched; no, there isn't a 'best' translation of a book that I know of. To my understanding the Peaver translations usually stick incredibly close to the original source material, which is a double edged sword; most people want a translation that doesn't loose something or other in translation. This one is very close to doing so, but as I said it's a double edged sword; they leave in the syntax, and a very foreign syntax at that. This can cause problems for a casual reader, but it wasn't a problem for me. What really matters is the readers personal preference. I will add the first sentence of the P&V, McDuff, and Garnett translations to see which one you'd most like:
"Alexei Fyodorovich Karamazov was the third son of a land owner from our district, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, well known is his own day (and still remembered among us) because of his dark and tragic death, which happened exactly thirteen years ago and which I shall speak of in its proper place." - P&V
"Aleksey Fyodorovich Karamazov was the third son of a landowner in our district, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, so noted in his time (and even now still recollected among us) for his tragic and fishy death, which occurred just thirteen years ago and which I shall report in its proper context." - McDuff
"Alexey Fyodorovich Karamazov was the third son of Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, a landowner well known in our district in his own day, and still remembered among us owing to his gloomy and tragic death, which happened thirteen years ago, and which I shall describe in its proper place." - Garnett
Moving on to the edition I have. It's ISBN is 978-0374528379, but it is the best selling edition as of 8/1/2017; you probably won't have any trouble finding it. This paperback is a great durable edition. I kept it in my backpack for school each day for basically the entire second semester without too much serious wear (check the photos to judge yourself). The font is big enough to read well without straining your eyes... or at least it was for me. It's still holding together nicely is what I'm trying to say. The binding is glued, too; if you didn't know. This edition has a cover in which I will describe as rough-soft feeling; I enjoyed holding it in my hands.
Finally, sorry for the poor camera quality. The soda can piece is there to show how big the text is in comparison. The torn piece on the back is from a mishap I am accountable for not the book, although it says something about the books durability; it happened near the end of my usage with it.
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024Was able to get this overnighted as a birthday gift for family. Great quality for a used book.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2019I've read and listened to the Dickens-esque Garnett translation several tines over. As a Ort Christian, I wish everyone woukd read this book. This particular translation might be easier for someone who already knows the story and is more familiar with Russian language - it's not quite what I would call literal per se, just less "cleaned up." This novel is one with themes that surapss time and culture but also paints us picture of the pre-revolution period in Russia. Dostoevsky writes himself in as the narrator, inserting witty, non sequitur, sometomes in appropriate light-hearted commentary on characters and situations, and opinionated "side notes" that results in a polyphonic, awkwardly narrated tale, but leaves you feeling like you are curled uo with a cup of tea listening to a man with an interesting story tell it all while two drinks deep. His comments keep the story amusing and make it feel as though you're acquainted with these people. Below the surface of a gossipy tale from an acquaintance about the neighbors lies a philosophical and theological description of the Characters' major existential and minor, petty personal crises into a deeply intimate description of the war within every man and woman between intellectualism and faith, cynicism and hope, expectations and reality. After some 900 pages my first read thru, I set the kindle down, turned on the Audible version and started looking for another translation to ruminate on. After Rea all of the good, bad and ugly reviews I settled on this ons and so far I'm not disappointed. However, if you want the story, try another translation first. If you're like me and can't get enough of the characters and their stories, this translation adds depth and new insights to the story, turning it from Garnett's turn-of-the-last-century Brit-Lit style narrative, into a candid story story being told to you by the old Russian man next door.
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on January 26, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Not light reading
I'm struggling to get through this ebook. Perhaps it was not a good selection to try to read on a device vs paper books. It's a long book, unless you're interested in Christianity it's a very dry read, and I would have killed off the idiotic jerk father myself far earlier, making for a much shorter book!
annaReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Best translation
I have four versions of the Brothers Karamazov. During our deep dive a few of us discussed any problems with the translation from Russian and finding Dosetovsky’s real voice rather than the translator. I know that sounds pretentious but when reading philosophy and prose it was important. For me this was the best version.
Easy to read text with good annotations for explanation and research. Let’s just say hardly anyone reads this book for fun but for a challenge so it was great to have a good translation.
Book review wise it is one of the best books ever wrote get a student guide to get the most from your reading. A masterpiece and well worth the time and effort
Shashwat PandeyReviewed in India on April 26, 20235.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful edition
Beautiful cover and strong spine! Good font size with plenty of notes and character lists! It’s award winning translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky themselves! No complaints from the book whatsoever, its as good as paperbacks come & it’s also floppy!
I think we all can collectively agree that there’s no need to review the contents, its the best book ever!
Get this edition if you want to start TBK, doesn’t get better than vintage classics!
Beautiful cover and strong spine! Good font size with plenty of notes and character lists! It’s award winning translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky themselves! No complaints from the book whatsoever, its as good as paperbacks come & it’s also floppy!5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful edition
Shashwat Pandey
Reviewed in India on April 26, 2023
I think we all can collectively agree that there’s no need to review the contents, its the best book ever!
Get this edition if you want to start TBK, doesn’t get better than vintage classics!
Images in this review
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Rodolfo OlmosReviewed in Mexico on February 15, 20215.0 out of 5 stars Gran Traducción
La traducción de Richard Pevar es muy buena. Logra contar la historia manteniendo el sentido original, sin simplificar el texto original.
MReviewed in Germany on March 30, 20195.0 out of 5 stars Great book in great condition!
Great book in great condition!

