The Dostoyevsky Library

In which Raskolnikov wrestles with a dark stratagem of suspicion cast by the law, while his restless mind conjures haunting visions and spirals into fevered reflections on conscience and cruelty. Amidst this torment, an enigmatic visitor emerges at his door, whose presence promises deeper mysteries yet to unfold.

In which a young man named Raskolnikov visits a shrewd and ironic legal investigator, Porfiry Petrovitch, to discuss some delicate matters, and their conversation deftly unfolds into a probing debate on crime, morality, and the extraordinary in human nature. The discourse is animated by spirited companions and coloured with subtle tensions, as ideas of conscience and justice are weighed in a manne...

In which the modest and timid Sofya Semyonovna Marmeladov unexpectedly enters Raskolnikov’s humble abode, bringing with her the sombre gravity of recent family tragedies and unspoken sorrows, while Raskolnikov’s household grapples with uneasy curiosity and quiet sympathies. Subsequently, spirited conversations and cautious plans ensue, weaving together the fates of those present as Raskolnikov and...

In which Raskolnikov’s frail recovery unfolds amid tender yet uneasy family moments, revealing the subtle complexities of affection and unspoken fears that cling to their gathering. The weary dialogue drifts through confessions and strained reconciliations, while the shadow of a forthcoming interview with Pyotr Petrovitch settles quietly upon them all.

In which the ever-observant Razumihin awakens burdened with remorse and confusion, reflecting upon the perplexities of his recent conduct and the delicate circumstances surrounding his friend Raskolnikov and his family. With a tender blend of hesitation and hope, he endeavors to bridge the gaps wrought by misunderstanding and hardship, attentive to the intricate loyalties and sorrows that bind the...

In which a troubled young man receives the tender visitation of his devoted mother and sister, whose concern and love stir a curious mixture of irritation and gratitude within him, while a boisterous but earnest friend pledges vigilant care amidst the shadow of illness. Amidst confidences and gentle admonitions, the scene unfolds with a blend of affection, anxiety, and the hopeful promise of resto...

In which a grievous accident draws Raskolnikov into the intimate and tragic world of a suffering family, unveiling the harshness and tender despair that dwell within their abode. Amidst the shadows of death and the struggle for grace, unexpected bonds and a flicker of renewed strength stir within Raskolnikov’s troubled soul.

In which Raskolnikov, newly clothed and possessing a strange calm, wanders through the city streets weighed down by a tumult of restless thoughts and eerie encounters; a chance meeting with Zametov leads to a tense dialogue broaching dark suspicions, while subsequent interactions reveal the troubled confusion and isolation that haunt him. He visits the site of a recent tragedy, confronting the ble...

In which a somewhat officious and self-important visitor arrives at the humble lodgings of an ailing young man, creating a charged atmosphere through clashing ideas and uneasy interactions with those present. The conversation meanders from social progress and personal principles to a recent murder, revealing the inner turmoil and strained relationships that shadow the patient’s fragile state.

In which the tormented Raskolnikov gradually emerges from a delirious fever into a fragile consciousness, surrounded by familiar and new faces who tend to his needs and dispatch money from his mother, while he wrestles with vague memories and a restless, concealed strength. Razumihin’s boisterous goodwill and the humble attentions of Nastasya create a small refuge of care and conversation that bot...

In which the discourse among a physician, a devoted friend, and a cautious observer unfolds, revealing the intricate perplexities of a recent and grisly crime that vexes the city; their conversation oscillates between clinical observation and impassioned conjecture as they dissect the character and circumstances surrounding a troubled house-painter entwined in suspicion. The scene is imbued with t...

In which a young man, burdened and feverish, attempts to conceal certain incriminating items beneath a heavy stone before seeking out an old acquaintance, only to be met with confusion and his own swirling thoughts that mingle repulsion and despair. As night falls, unsettling noises from the staircase disturb his fragile peace, leading to eerie denials and leaving him teetering on the edge of cons...

In which a fevered and restless student awakens to the harsh light of day and the insistent summons of the police, only to find himself entangled in a bewildering encounter at the district office concerning debts and accusations, amidst a chaotic backdrop of officious quarrels and human frailty. The scene unfolds with a ghastly mixture of despair and defiance, portraying the delicate unraveling of...

In which a young man ventures into the dimly lit room of an old pawnbroker, his heart trembling with fevered unrest, and the quiet night is shattered by acts both desperate and irrevocable. In the aftermath, the heavy weight of his deeds presses upon him like a relentless fog, while the outside world unwittingly closes in with curious voices and looming presence.

In which the young and troubled Raskolnikov becomes intimately acquainted with the pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna and her sister Lizaveta, a meek and enduring woman, through overheard conversations that ignite his own dark and restless meditations. Haunted by a feverish lethargy and fateful design, he prepares with trembling precision for an action whose gravity weighs heavily upon his reason and spir...

In which a young man wrought with uneasy thoughts wanders through the city and endures a feverish dream of cruelty that mirrors his own inner torment, leading him to a sudden and strange resolve. Amid the tumults of the market and the shifting shadows of fate, he learns of a solitary hour that might alter the course of his destiny.

In which a young man wrestles with profound bitterness and despair upon learning of a family arrangement, his thoughts turning dark with questions of sacrifice and moral restraint. Amidst this turmoil, he encounters a pitiable young woman in distress, igniting a fleeting impulse of compassion that contrasts starkly with the bleak society surrounding them.

In which the weary and isolated Raskolnikov encounters the drunken clerk Marmeladov in a squalid tavern, who unfolds a tragic tale of poverty, despair, and battered dignity within his wretched family. Their conversation leads Raskolnikov to witness the harsh reality of Marmeladov’s household, revealing the poignant struggle of love and suffering amid degradation in the heart of the city.

In which the weary and disordered Raskolnikov receives a long and tender letter from his mother, filled with news of family troubles, hopes, and an impending journey, stirring in him a tumult of emotions that both soften and unsettle. Driven by a restless craving for freedom from his cramped existence, he ventures out into the busy streets, his soul agitated and his thoughts aloud, bewildering the...

In which a troubled young man roams the grimy streets of St Petersburg, grappling with profound moral dilemmas and the heavy weight of his own conscience. His encounters with a variety of characters—each bearing their own burdens and secrets—paint a vivid tableau of human suffering and resilience in a world both harsh and quietly compassionate.

In which a young man, burdened by poverty and nervous self-absorption, ventures out on a sweltering summer evening through the squalid streets of Petersburg to visit a pawnbroker, where the sordid details of his desperate circumstances are laid bare against the backdrop of a grim and oppressive urban tapestry. His restless thoughts and mounting agitation lead him, briefly reprieved by the solace o...

In which the narrator reflects on the depths to which his gambling has sunk him, recounting various episodes of desperate fortune and misfortune, and meets an old friend whose candid words both wound and provoke him to a faint hope of renewal. Amidst the sordid environs of Homburg and the haunting presence of familiar faces, he contemplates the enigma of human nature and the paradoxes that govern...

In which the narrator finds himself in the throes of a feverish night marked by a vast gambling fortune, complicated affections, and the fragile, tempestuous presence of Polina, whose emotions ripple between disdain and vulnerability. As dawn reveals fractured loyalties and whispered scandals, the restless tide of fortune sweeps the narrator towards a disquieting departure, accompanied by a motley...

In which the narrator recounts his turbulent sojourn in Paris, marked by the rapid dissipation of his funds under the stewardship of the cunning and extravagant Mlle. Blanche, whose ambitions and machinations intertwine with the arrival of the melancholic General and the eventual dissolution of their shared chapter. Amidst a milieu of social posturing, financial recklessness, and fragile human mot...

In which the reader is drawn into a night tinged with desperation and feverish enchantment, as a letter weighs heavy on the heart and roulette’s wheel spins fateful chances in the glittering halls of a casino, painting a tableau of hope and peril mingled. The narrator’s tumultuous gambles mirror the tempest within, weaving a tale of sudden fortune, fervent emotion, and the fragile thread that hold...