A thrilling study of guilt and power, the Penguin Classics edition of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment is translated with an introduction and notes by David McDuff.Raskolnikov, a destitute and desperate former student, wanders through the slums of St Petersburg and commits a random murder without remorse or regret. He imagines himself to be a great man, a Napoleon: acting for a higher purpose beyond conventional moral law. But as he embarks on a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Porfiry, a suspicious detective, Raskolnikov is pursued by the growing voice of his conscience and finds the noose of his own guilt tightening around his neck. Only Sonya, a downtrodden prostitute, can offer the chance of redemption. As the ensuing investigation and trial reveal the true identity of the murderer, Dostoyevsky’s dark masterpiece evokes a world where the lines between innocence and corruption, good and evil, blur and everyone’s faith in humanity is tested.

b, 1961 Dostoevsky

Notes

“Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a classic novel that delves into the psychological turmoil of its protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov. The story, set in 19th-century St. Petersburg, follows Raskolnikov as he commits a murder under the belief that he is above moral law. However, the act plunges him into a deep existential crisis, marked by guilt and paranoia. Through this narrative, Dostoevsky explores themes of morality, redemption, and the complexities of human nature, presenting a profound examination of the struggle between good and evil within the human soul.

Description

Red cloth cover gold lettering, original dustcover, intact, good condition.