Crime and Punishment

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrated by: David Bendena

Part of the original Harvard Classics compendium series • One of TIME's 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time

Crime and Punishment tells the story of Rodion Raskolnikov, an ex-student who plans to murder a pawnbroker to test his theory of personality. Having accomplished the deed, Raskolnikov struggles with mental anguish while trying to both avoid the consequences and hide his guilt from his friends and family.

Dostoevsky’s original idea for the novel centered on the Marmeladov family and the impact of alcoholism in Russia, but inspired by a double murder in France he decided to rework it around the new character of Raskolnikov. The novel was first serialized in The Russian Messenger over the course of 1866, where it was an instant success. It was published in a single volume in 1867.

This new and unabridged audiobook edition is based on Constance Garnett’s 1914 translation.

Public Domain (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Complex & powerful tale

Never read Crime & Punishment before this! Enjoyed the narration - brings an intense & powerful voice to the myriad of characters in this novel.