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Crime and Punishment
by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7144.Crime_and_Punishment?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Crime and Punishment" border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1201274754m/7144.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7144.Crime_and_Punishment?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Crime and Punishment</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3356.Fyodor_Dostoevsky">Fyodor Dostoevsky</a><br/><br/>
  <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11043089?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
  rating: 5 of 5 stars<br/>This book to me is probably the central work of the Christianity-based wing of the literary existentialist movement. What I find to be so wonderful about it is that it has made fashionable so many of the central literary techniques employed in twentieth century literary existentialism (especially in the cases of Kafka, Nick Cave and, to a lesser extent, the surrealists as well). It has fantastic use of character development as a tool towards showing the evolution not only the human character undegoes but also of philosophical ideals; this, of course, is diaphanous as continental literature (and especially Russians like Chekov, Bulgakov and Tolstoy) employ this technique but it is, for me, the seminal example of said technique's proficiency. The question surrounding the Nietzschean (although this book is antecedent to FN) undertones of Raskolnikoff's outlook in relation to the sanctity of life and (prophetically) cultural relativism are so beautifully conveyed throughout not only through the use of his thoughts played out as narrative but also in the vernacular of the characters, giving another layer to the characterisation as a  philosophical tool. To give an example of what I mean, Raskolnikoff appears early in the novel to be very blunt, a man of but few words and a very concise user of language. He often employs words such as 'sultry', 'mere' and is derisory at all times in a stereotypically nihilistic manner. Towards the end, he makes a change to being extravagant and lyrical, reflecting a Renaissance-style dialect that is indiciative of his gradual conversion back towards a Christian existentialist stance, which is emplary of the period of time that this style of speech symbolisises. My favourite example being his repeated use of the word 'efficacious' towards his redemption, a word made popular by its use as an adjective of Christ's sacrifice in the KJ Bible, all the while his relationship with Sonia (herself symbolic of Christian values) and the religious images becoming more and more frequent. 
<br/>As well as this picturesque language and remarkable use of character development, this book also touches me on a philosophical level, too. We all love books that agree with our own prejudicial views although we hate to admit it and this is one that does this for me. It is a great depiction of how a nihilistic, yet utilitarian existential morality is, in terms of its application to this example, a philosophical reality. However, the idea of the human heart and sentience means that this inevitability is irrelevent in terms of the sanctity of life is a beautiful amalgamation of traditional morality and the existentialist emphasis on empirical  experience. The difference between philosophical theory and philosophical practical, so to speak. A true classic. 
  <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/716558?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

Alistair's review
rating:
bookshelves: euro---russian-literature
recommended for: ANYONE

This book to me is probably the central work of the Christianity-based wing of the literary existentialist movement. What I find to be so wonderful about it is that it has made fashionable so many of the central literary techniques employed in twentieth century literary existentialism (especially in the cases of Kafka, Nick Cave and, to a lesser extent, the surrealists as well). It has fantastic use of character development as a tool towards showing the evolution not only the human character undegoes but also of philosophical ideals; this, of course, is diaphanous as continental literature (and especially Russians like Chekov, Bulgakov and Tolstoy) employ this technique but it is, for me, the seminal example of said technique's proficiency. The question surrounding the Nietzschean (although this book is antecedent to FN) undertones of Raskolnikoff's outlook in relation to the sanctity of life and (prophetically) cultural relativism are so beautifully conveyed throughout not only throug...more This book to me is probably the central work of the Christianity-based wing of the literary existentialist movement. What I find to be so wonderful about it is that it has made fashionable so many of the central literary techniques employed in twentieth century literary existentialism (especially in the cases of Kafka, Nick Cave and, to a lesser extent, the surrealists as well). It has fantastic use of character development as a tool towards showing the evolution not only the human character undegoes but also of philosophical ideals; this, of course, is diaphanous as continental literature (and especially Russians like Chekov, Bulgakov and Tolstoy) employ this technique but it is, for me, the seminal example of said technique's proficiency. The question surrounding the Nietzschean (although this book is antecedent to FN) undertones of Raskolnikoff's outlook in relation to the sanctity of life and (prophetically) cultural relativism are so beautifully conveyed throughout not only through the use of his thoughts played out as narrative but also in the vernacular of the characters, giving another layer to the characterisation as a philosophical tool. To give an example of what I mean, Raskolnikoff appears early in the novel to be very blunt, a man of but few words and a very concise user of language. He often employs words such as 'sultry', 'mere' and is derisory at all times in a stereotypically nihilistic manner. Towards the end, he makes a change to being extravagant and lyrical, reflecting a Renaissance-style dialect that is indiciative of his gradual conversion back towards a Christian existentialist stance, which is emplary of the period of time that this style of speech symbolisises. My favourite example being his repeated use of the word 'efficacious' towards his redemption, a word made popular by its use as an adjective of Christ's sacrifice in the KJ Bible, all the while his relationship with Sonia (herself symbolic of Christian values) and the religious images becoming more and more frequent.
As well as this picturesque language and remarkable use of character development, this book also touches me on a philosophical level, too. We all love books that agree with our own prejudicial views although we hate to admit it and this is one that does this for me. It is a great depiction of how a nihilistic, yet utilitarian existential morality is, in terms of its application to this example, a philosophical reality. However, the idea of the human heart and sentience means that this inevitability is irrelevent in terms of the sanctity of life is a beautiful amalgamation of traditional morality and the existentialist emphasis on empirical experience. The difference between philosophical theory and philosophical practical, so to speak. A true classic. ...less

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