The Brothers Karamazov

(Bicentennial Edition)

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Pevear - translator, Larissa Volokhonsky - translator

Narrated by: Ben Miles

This program is read by renowned English actor Ben Miles, best known for his narration of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy.

“Ben Miles's English accent is perfect for the text of this recent, award-winning translation. He delivers narrative sections in a consistent tone, and his expression is perfect…An excellent match of voice and text.”—AudioFile

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 Karamazov 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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2017 Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“[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

“Far and away the best translation of Dostoevsky into English that I have seen . . . faithful . . . extremely readable . . . gripping.”—Sidney Monas, University of Texas

Profound storytelling

One of the most profound books that I have ever read, full of human psychology, inside into human nature, and outstanding dialogues. It’s literature that will remain the historical classic.

Maybe the best novel ever written….?

This is a must read book! Dostoevsky is a master at his craft. The narration by Ben Miles is brilliant!

Greatest audiobook of all-time

Everything about this translation of The Brothers Karamozov is the greatest story ever told. And the narrator brings this novel to life like no other!!!

Well Worth Your Time

This is one of the best voice performances of a book I have ever heard. As a fellow actor who has taught acting for decades, I can get pretty picky with these things. All the little breaths, sighs, pauses, guffaws made this complex text quite visual. Ben was able to capitalize on all the character detail with brilliance. I attempted this book with other performers quitting very soon after playing start. So, I went into this one hesitantly knowing it would require 42 hours of investment. It was well worth it. Bravo!

A tale of love, grace, depravity, and the overcoming of it

Skillfully woven story of family relations and personalities and their struggle to make their way in their world.

Story Is a Great Book

If you haven’t read it you should. I think this is a good translation’. I was a bit surprised by trying to voice some characters with English accents. I’m

Masterpiece

This book is is a masterpiece, and I was grateful for Miles narration which helped breathe life into such amazing characters.

Brilliant performance of a brilliant novel

This has long been a favorite novel of mine. I've read it half a dozen times. But it's*long* -- and dense in places -- which has meant that it usually takes me six weeks to get through the whole thing. To be able to listen to the entire book in a week has been a revelation, allowing me to catch many little details that eluded me in the past. The reader's performance is phenomenal and breathes life into Dostoyevsky's characters, especially in their moments of hysteria. I'm already looking forward to listening to it again. I highly recommend this audiobook.

Amazing book, perfect narration

What a story. Is just a great great book. You dont want to stop reading.

The narration was absolutely great. Amazing!

A true theater of the mind!

Without question I enjoyed all 43 hours! What a treat and rare thing to find something so entertaining.