The Brothers Karamazov: (Bicentennial Edition)

The Brothers KaramazovIt is discussed in the novel whether there is God, or there is not .The novel seems to feature the theme of contents of the philosophy of religion.The theme is noble, but the contents are like the mystery.It draws the human evil and ugliness.Specifically, a father contends with his son for money and a woman .Former first lieutenant of the eldest son called Dmitry is going to murder the father who is going to take his son's lover.He does not perform the crime at the last moment.The servant Smerdyakov detects the psychology of this former first lieutenant and murders the father of lewd Karamazov.However, the criminal is considered to be Dmitry of the son.In court, Ivan of the second eldest brother shouts that the criminal is Smerdyakov.He claims that himself who seduced it has a crime.Ivan shouts that Dmitry is innocent.Many people see his crazy figure and judge that he wants to save his older brother.In any case the murdered father was rich, but he loves only money and a woman.In addition, he does not believe in God.In this respect, the lewd father is at opposite poles in his third son, Alyosha who is pure seeker after truth.As Nietzsche foretold it, the times of the nihilism come.The life theater of Dostoevsky who felt uneasy about it was full of disturbance.Will there be God?There is God if I speak by an Oriental Zen-like viewpoint.God sometimes may appear as a figure of God to create the cosmos.However God sees a person and transforms oneself in various ways.With the lapse of time science develops,and God often become the nature and appear as god of Spinoza.Buddha discovered god called the Buddha-nature in human being itself, and in a word God appeares before us as Buddha-nature like the beautiful tower in the Orient.God changes a beautiful figure like a kaleidoscope and appears before us.An invisible person cannot see it.One who endeavors to see can see God.I think that this is God of the Orient style.I imagine that Dostoevsky might think about such a thing.

A rare book.There are not too many books that transcend time. It is difficult for a story to stay relevant hundreds of years later, not just because of changing times but due to changing life styles, personal interactions and issues that tend to bother people of different eras. Karamazov is a rare exception.Dostoyevsky's first big triumph is his ability to weave a highly complex intrigue in the simplest of fashion. His characters play mind games that are difficult to further evolve for writers a century later with all the modern day machinations and progress in writing styles based on experiences of generations of authors that have come before. Unlike most other classics of the nineteenth century or before, Karamazov characters are as vile, crafty, intelligent or thoughtful as any created by the best of present time novelists.The second triumph is in clearly portraying so many characters in their own unique, non-compromising ways. Few of his characters are completely good or bad. Almost no interactions between them are predictable. The story moves as unpredictably as real life, even if one was to be aware of its eventual end through spoilers or copycat reproductions by others in the following 130 years.A minor triumph must have been setting the tone for all courtroom based novels ever since. The lawyer debates, the jury reactions, the judgement, the crowd sentiments would keep the most critical action book readers glued.And the deeper purpose of the book is none of the above. It is no wonder that The Grand Inquisition chapter is considered about the best book section ever written and is separately published. Zoshima's backstory and Ivan's devil would have gone down as memorable as any in his history if not trumed within the book itself by the Inquisition. The author has a clear bias in the views he prefers, but anyone holding any other views on life, religion or morality is unlikely to feel the counterviews less explained.Apart from the five Karamazovs (including the Father and the illegitimate son), their philosophies, and interactions, one is unlikely to even forget so many other lesser characters and sub-plots. This is a must read classic, of a kind that is certainly worthy of the highest accolades from even people like Tolstoy, Einstein and Freud.

I never thought I'd be able to get through 800 pages but this translation made it so easy. It's a wonderful book and a fantastic translation.

I have to admit I was astounded by how groundbreaking Dostoevsky is as an author , way ahead of his and even our time. But it is definitely a tough read but an important one , for me who love to read books. But sometimes it gets overly philosophical and extremely dramatical. However it presents within a family of three brothers and their uncaring father , a detailed and exquisite portrait of Russian people, religious beliefs, customs , dramas and it is a magnificent novel nonetheless.

What a book and what a journey it provides for those who are willing to embark upon it. I won’t say too much here so as not to spoil the story (no, the stories!) which are contained within this wonderful volume. But I will say that reading this novel has been a journey and one with many plots and discoveries. But of the plots and discoveries contained herein (which were many and unexpected), I would venture to say (and I’m speaking personally here) that they had the ability not only to reveal ‘something’ unexpected to me, but also revealed something unexpected about myself to me.Whenever one finally finishes a long and satisfying story, it follows with some regret - a regret for the ability of not being able to linger longer with those whom you have come to know and care for. This is what I have found to be true of the book The Brothers Karamazov. I can always make their acquaintance again by simply picking up this book once more (and I intend to do just that!), but this story ends with the beginning of another story (No! Dozens of other stories!). It end’s just as it began - that is with a story still yet to be told.

The media could not be loaded.  The book arrived perfectly and before expected which is always exciting! If I'm being picky I'd point out the dent on the top right corner but everything else looks neat. Extremely thrilled to finally dive into this masterpiece after waiting for some time. This is my second Pevear and Volokhonsky translation and I can only recommend them enough. Looks awesome next to my Crime and Punishment copy, too!

- highly overrated- emotionally exhausting- not really worth spending the time here as there are so many better books to read

essa versão é a mais extensa das traduções, mas teoricamente a mais fiel ao texto original. um retrato de uma sociedade não tão diferente da atual, descrita brilhantemente por dostoievsky

This translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is by far the best and worth the extra few quid. The book is a masterpiece written by a master of his work, and I'm simply not qualified to write a review. But I'm certainly able to recommend it to anyone who likes a well-written story filled with great characters.

Many chapters are truly works of art. Amazing. Others are unbearable and somewhat pointless. I recommend it, but be aware that it's very long and heavy