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The Idiot

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Narrated by: Jefferson Mays
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Publisher's summary

One of the most influential authors from Russia’s Golden Age, Fyodor Dostoevsky left behind a vast collection of prized literary works, including Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov.

In The Idiot, Prince Myshkin possesses a childlike innocence and trusting nature that leave him vulnerable to abuse by those around him. Returning to St. Petersburg to collect an inheritance, Myshkin realizes he is a stranger in a society obsessed with wealth, manipulation and power.

Public Domain (P)2014 Recorded Books
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What listeners say about The Idiot

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Fantastic

I love his novels, they show how people have simply not changed like they think they have with the developments of technology.

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1 person found this helpful

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Surprisingly good even though highly recommended

The bad: it was easy to get lost in who is who because of character names. I had to read sparknotes to figure out who did what.

The good: despite knowing the basic outline well in advance, i was still surprised and moved at the story.

Much of the books characters are well developed, perhaps overly so.

It is clear that Dostoevsky has ideas about Religion in mind, but they are not what one would expect.

In no way grotesque nor vulgar, yet not a childs book at all.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

The story of a naive, empathetic man returning to Russia dealing with society, politics, love and, tragically, insanity.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Adventures of Prince Mishkin and friends

Dont get wrong I know this is a novel by one of the greatest writers of last century but overall I found the story plain and at sometimes boring. On the positive side the character development is amazing and also has a strong ending. I should note that This is my first Dostoevsky novel and I plan to follow up with Demons, hopefully a better suit for me. The performance of who is reading is amazing and got me hooked to the different characterizations, great work there.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic Scenes of Awkward Shame

19th-century Russia emerges in strongly dramatic scenes of humiliation among numerous characters suffering from love, hysteria, illness, kindness, ambition, and nihilism. In this novel, characters overtly say what ordinarily remains suppressed in social life.

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amazingly unique story - brilliantly told

great translation. the story is captivating and very believable. Every chapter is filled with surprises.

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great narration

I felt that more could have come from the story. but the narration is excellent.

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Surprisingly Amazing

This book is so alive and deep and I think it will take me years to figure out all its layers. Totally brilliant and perfectly paced. I was not expecting to love it as much as I did

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well... it's Dostoyevsky, so it's brilliant

it's absolutely brilliant if you can follow all the characters, and it's narrated very well so absolutely no flaws IMHO.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Just weird

I know it is supposed to be a classic and I listened to it because my husband loves this book, but I just wanted to slap every character in the book at one point or another.

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2 people found this helpful