The Brothers Karamazov (Dostoevsky)

HALLOW'S PRAY40 LENT BOOK CHALLENGE PICK!

The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, is widely recognized as one of the greatest novels of world literature and a cornerstone of classic Russian fiction. More than a family drama or murder mystery, this profound philosophical and theological novel wrestles with the deepest human questions: Is God real? What is faith? And what do we owe one another in love and responsibility?

At its heart, The Brothers Karamazov is a story of fathers and sons, sin and grace, freedom and redemption. The three brothers each embody a distinct response to a broken world:

• Dmitri, driven by reckless passion and desire
• Ivan, shaped by cold rationalism and moral rebellion
• Alyosha, whose quiet compassion reflects the spiritual wisdom of Father Zossima, a soldier-turned-monk and one of Dostoevsky’s most beloved characters

As these lives collide through tragedy, comedy, and courtroom drama, Dostoevsky reveals how sin and love ripple outward, shaping families, communities, and generations. This classic novel explores themes of faith, doubt, suffering, mercy, and moral responsibility, making it essential reading for students of literature, theology, and philosophy.

This Ave Maria Press / Christian Classics edition invites readers to engage The Brothers Karamazov not only as a masterpiece of 19th-century Russian literature, but as a deeply spiritual novel that calls each reader to confront a divided heart and move toward authentic communion with God and others.

As Father Zossima teaches, “Love is such a priceless treasure that you can redeem the whole world by it.”

Ideal for book clubs, college courses, and spiritual reading