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The Brothers Karamazov

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Richard Pevear - translator, Larissa Volokhonsky - translator
Narrated by: Ben Miles
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Publisher's summary

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
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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

Editorial Review

A Russian classic whose moment is now
In a parallel version of May, where my listening life as an Audible editor is uninterrupted by a stream of buzzy new releases, I’m spending the month with the bicentennial edition of The Brothers Karamazov, one of the great works of world literature and one of a tiny handful of books I personally call “life-changing.” Twenty-odd years ago I named my dog after one of the sons in Dostoevsky’s final, exquisite masterpiece (Mitya, whose name felt cutest for a canine, though Alyosha and Vanya stole my heart in the novel). But to finally immerse myself in it again is a milestone and a gift, especially in the now-definitive Pevear/Volokhonsky translation, sublimely read by actor Ben Miles ( The Crown). And so perhaps I don’t need the permission of an imaginary scenario to experience it. Life is short, the distractions unending. My future self will thank me for making time, and I’m willing to bet yours will too. — Kat J., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Brothers Karamazov

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A true theater of the mind!

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

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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!

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Masterpiece

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

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tragically beautiful

my first read of this one, so so so great. narrator gave a fantastic performance, story is deeply symbolic. if only Dostoevsky lived long enough to write the sequel he had planned.

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Great Narration, Great Translation

Most of the Pevear and Volokhonsky translations for Dostoevsky's works are unfortunately paired with narrators I don't much enjoy. This, Dostoevsky's best book, is the exception. I'm impressed and grateful.

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An extraordinary performance for one of the best novels

Brothers Karamazov is an extraordinary novel that explores the suffering and rapture of human life. I've long wanted an audiobook of the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation, so I was thrilled when I saw this one. What's more, I was blown away by the reader's ability to perform the text with great understanding. I look forward to my next read through.

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Well read and acted

Better translation and performance than the other available audio books. I had trouble getting into the book deep enough to appreciate it previously, this edition has done the trick.

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Amazing narration!

This book is one of my favorites, so I knew the story, but this narrator really brought it to life! The P&V translation is great too. Highly recommend!

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The depths

This was not an easy book to get through. The performance made it much more possible. At the same time, I recognize the brilliance of this work and the depth of human complexity that is present in it. There are moments that stand apart in my mind, but probably like any fine work of art, the longer I think or look or mull it over, the more I will see. I’m not surprised that this is considered the greatest novel ever written.

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Ben Miles

Miles was an entire theater. An epic brought to life. An amazing novel. Fantastic translation!

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