The Possessed

By: Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Constance Garnett - translator

Narrated by: Constantine Gregory

Also known as Demons, The Possessed is a powerful socio-political novel about revolutionary ideas and the radicals behind them. It follows the career of Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky, a political terrorist who leads a group of nihilists on a demonic quest for societal breakdown. They are consumed by their desires and ideals, and have surrendered themselves fully to the darkness of their "demons". This possession leads them to engulf a quiet provincial town and subject it to a storm of violence. Inspired by a real political killing in 1869, the book is an impassioned response to the ideologies of European liberalism and nihilism, which threatened Russian Orthodoxy; it eerily predicted the Russian Revolution, which would take place 50 years later. Funny, shocking, and tragic, it is a profound and affecting work with deep philosophical discourses about God, human freedom and political revolution.

Translation by Constance Garnett; appendix translated by S. S. Koteliansky and Virginia Woolf.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2017 Naxos AudioBooks

Narrator

The goofy voice he uses for Stepan Trofimovitch is awful, but what’s worse is he accidentally reads narration in the same goofy voice quite a lot, which is really confusing

One of the Greatest

The audible version of the Possessed is a better way of going through Dostoyevsky novel. This narration brings out the characters which helps the reader of the hard cover to gain clarity. I really took notice in chapter 75 when they were talking about how to unite indivduals and then lead them to revolution, very timely for our own world situation.

Reading second to none, masterful story

Full disclosure: this story has a long set up. Maybe 2/3 of it is introducing characters and back story. But its so worth it. Some of Dostoevsky's most painful and beautiful passages lie within. Deserves a 2nd or 3rd listen to digest.
The reader is excellent as well. Not corny with his voices, but distinct enough to know who's talking at any instant.

Excellent, excellent, excellent...

...a wonderfully entertaining critique of nihilism (so skillfully penned by Dostoevsky's hand and mind). Stepan and Varvara might as well be boomer college dean and donors (respectively)... Pyotr might as well be a... a young narcissistic Marxist agitator... oddly relevant to today. The 'Girl-Student' and 'Boy Student' are wonderful mirrors for 'educated' thought today. Again, wonderfully entertaining (even outside of it's psychological and social relevance).

Slower start than other Dostoyevsky works

Only complaint for me was that it was a much slower start than the previous works I have read by Dostoevsky (the Idiot, Crime and Punishment). I also had a difficult time sorting out the characters initially and especially figuring out what part each character played in the story, since every single character is developed until you are sick of it. That being said, there was much to think about in this novel, such as political influences, how peer pressure and the mob mentality can drive people to do things they would never do alone, and the callousness and violent acts that those who are possessed by a “great idea” can have towards everyone else if by any means they can achieve their goals. Nikolai was a very odd character that was difficult to understand for the majority of the book, but the epilogue gives much needed background that Dostoevsky intended to include at the end of part two but which he was unable to do because of the editor’s deeming it inappropriate. Pyotr was perhaps the character I disliked the most, as he was manipulative, and stirring up trouble and strife everywhere he could, yet always managed to escape the blame for the actions he incited others to take. Overall great story, much to reflect on. On to Brothers K.

A depressing tale

Perhaps if I had read more history and more background of the work I would have appreciated it more. If a person wishes to read all of Dostoevsky’s master works, leave this one for last.

A masterpiece

I never stop wondering about the classic Russian Literature. Full of personages and singular trama. It contains everything, almost. Love this book

A must read in the par lens of our time

Dostoyevsky has an understanding of the human soul which transcends time. If you want to learn about it. Make this part of your journey.

One of the best stories I have ever read.

Dostoyevsky requires your time. He does not reveal his hand slowly but takes great pains to paint his characters in an entirely believable light. His insight into the human soul is profound and completely worth your time.

Constantine Gregory’s reading is profound

This book is a profound work and their narrator gives it life and accessibility to the listener.
Listen and see what you think!