The Brothers Karamazov

About this book

This passionate novel of ethics and morality religion and philosophy was Dostoevskys final and best work. After spending four years in a Siberian penal settlement during which time he underwent a religious conversion Dostoevsky developed a keen ability for deep character analysis. In The Brothers Karamazov he explores human nature at its most loathsome and cruel but never flinches at what he finds. The Brothers Karamazov tells the stirring tale of four brothers: the pleasure-seeking impatient Dmitri; the brilliant and morose Ivan; the gentle loving and honest Alyosha; and the illegitimate Smerdyakov: shy silent and cruel. The four unite in the murder of one of literatures most despicable characters--their father. While on the surface a story about patricide this novel is on a deeper level a spiritual tale of the struggle between faith doubt reason and free will.