It's official—2025 will be the year of reading The Brothers Karamazov!

This preliminary organizational post addresses common questions about our reading journey.

Hello, Dostoevsky enthusiast!

All the information and all the links you will need to participate in the reading of "The Brothers Karamazov” (TBK)

This club will be completely free for the entire period of reading "The Brothers Karamazov" All materials and readings will be fully accessible to you. If desired, anyone can thank me with donations, but nothing more.

The subscription itself will mean a lot to me. I will see how many people want to read Dostoevsky and delve into his masterpieces together with me.

This preliminary organizational post addresses common questions about our reading journey. I'll outline the schedule, workload, translation options, and ways I can support you.

The Brothers Karamazov stands as Fyodor Dostoevsky's final masterpiece, completed mere months before his death in 1881. In January will bring a dedicated article exploring the novel's creation and its significance in both Dostoevsky's legacy and world literature.

How to prepare for reading? Which translation to choose?

I haven't had the experience of comparing the entire novel's text across different translations. I read in the original Russian, but for quotes and chapter titles, I'll be using Ignat Avsey's translation. I'll also be consulting Katz's translation. You can read any translation, including in any other language, if that's comfortable for you.

Let me be direct: I have reservations about Constance Garnett's translation. During our "Crime and Punishment" reading, we noticed numerous instances where she mistranslated passages and created inaccurate analogies. Her Victorian English style also feels outdated.

Most importantly, her translation omits the author's introduction entirely.

That said, this translation is readily available since it's in the public domain and free. It's adequate for digital reading or if you're on a budget. However, if you're investing in a physical copy, I recommend choosing a modern translation instead of Garnett's (which is free anyway, just like all of Dostoevsky's Russian texts that are now part of our shared cultural heritage).

I just received my Russian copy of the novel—fresh and ready for making notes for our club discussions.

Reading Schedule and Plan

This is a year-long reading journey, with one book of the novel per month. The novel contains 12 books—one for each month of the year. Since the books vary in length and complexity, we'll adjust the schedule accordingly.

Here's what to expect each month:

1. At the beginning of the month, you'll receive printable materials to support your reading—including information about characters, their names, locations, and essential context for each book.

2. Throughout the month, you can participate in community chat threads for chapter discussions. Share your impressions, ask questions, clarify translations, and exchange insights.

3. In weeks 3-4, you'll receive final articles exploring each section's themes, including Orthodox motifs, cultural context, and deeper meanings. Depending on the section's length, there will be 1-2 articles. For examples, see our previous "Crime and Punishment" discussion.

1.1 “How could I even think of such a monstrous thing?”

Additionally, some months will feature a special article about the novel's cultural and religious context. While optional, these pieces will offer fascinating insights into life in the 19th-century Russian Empire. Topics will include monastery architecture, iconography, and the art of bell ringing. Other articles will explore literary aspects, such as the novel's polyphonic structure and its place within world literature.

You will always have access to the schedule page.

Schedule for 2024

Currently, there is a preliminary schedule with general outlines for the whole year. And you can download it.

Thebrotherskaramazov 2025

1.21MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

In January

January will be a relaxed month since the first book of the novel is short. In the first half of January, you will receive:

1. Detailed schedule for the first three months

2. Reading materials for the first book of the novel

3. An introductory chapter about the novel, its place in literature, and the history of its writing

4. A guide to Russian names (which often cause confusion)

Then our immersion will begin.

A few words about "Crime and Punishment"

I am finishing the discussion of the novel, so you will receive several more articles before we begin The Brothers Karamazov (if you've subscribed to the community). I hope this isn't a problem for you. Next week, I'll publish an article about the final two chapters, followed by a concluding piece.

You can read the novel independently, as all articles remain accessible. Additionally, in 2025, I plan to create an audio guide for the novel—similar to a podcast—which you may want to wait for.

While reading "Crime and Punishment," I maintained a reading diary for each chapter, complete with illustrations.

Though I'm still drawing the final chapters, the diary is nearly complete. For "The Brothers Karamazov," I'm considering a different creative project—possibly postcards.

I'd love for you to share your own creative responses to the reading. Whether through illustrations, essays, or sketches—all forms of expression are welcome. Literature truly inspires!

It would be interesting to get to know you.

1. Choose your translation version. Write which language and whose translation you will be reading?

2. Do you have any questions or suggestions about how the club will run?

3. How familiar are you with Dostoevsky's works or classical literature? What have you already read? Share your experience.

Welcome to the club!