Frații Karamazov. Volumele I+II

A father's murder lies at the heart of Fratii Karamazov. Fiodor Karamazov is greedy and leads a life of excess. He has three sons born within marriage, each quite different. Dmitri lets passion guide him. Ivan puts his trust in reason and thought. Aliosa has deep faith, trusts others, and seeks to help. Fiodor's son Smerdeakov was born outside marriage. He serves as his father's valet, or personal servant. He doubts people's good motives and has few moral limits.

The novel blends a murder mystery with a study of character. It looks beyond the family at society and politics. It explores faith, free will, morals, and what being human means. It also looks at Russian thinkers' hopes to free their country.

Feodor Mihailovici Dostoievski wrote the novel near his life's end. This edition includes both volumes. He was a Russian who wrote novels, essays, and news. He lived from 1821 to 1881. He grew up in Moscow as a doctor's son. His parents helped him love Russian tales and works from across the world. His mother died in 1837. He then entered a school to train as an army engineer. He soon left army life to write. His first novel came out in 1846 and won success.

His ties to Petrasevski's circle led to his arrest in 1849. He faced death, but instead served forced labour in Siberia. He returned in 1854 and later won back the right to publish.