One of the 19th century's greatest novels, Crime and Punishment, takes dedication to read, but the novel's exploration of certain themes maintains the reader's attention.
I recently re-read Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky's most famous novel, and a must-read 19th century Russian novel. It's easy to forget how long-winded the characters tend to be.
While the novel explores the concept of "crime" and who can be considered a "criminal" - whether or not he or she breaks the law - the characters don't even stop for breath in order to make their points known to their counterparts, or to the reader. Getting through Crime and Punishment without skipping whole paragraphs takes dedication. Nevertheless, Dostoevsky thoroughly covers the relevant issues through action and, of course, through dialogue.
Raskolnikov, an overall "good," if poor, student, is faced with the realization he has committed a crime in the eyes of society. However, he is surrounded by individuals who think nothing of molesting underage girls, manipulating the minds of his sister and mother, or framing the helpless. Raskolnikov and these other characters are consistently at odds throughout the novel, and each delights in explaining his own position and reasoning.
While much of the meat and potatoes of the book can be found in the dialogue, if you tend to skip some of the longer spoken passages, you'll still be able to enjoy a story full of suspense, plot twists, and complex characters. You'll also get a good look at the St. Petersburg of the latter half of the 19th century, where poverty could be seen in threadbare clothing, felt in empty stomachs, increased by illness, and ended with suicide.
