Which Dostoyevsky book should I start with?

27 Answers

JulianQuestion author

I have Crime & Punishment but wonder whether I should read other books of his first to fully understand and enjoy him as an author. Thank you ☺?

Judy

Read them a long time ago,but I preferred The Brothers Karamazov

Tracey

None of them ?

Annette

It depends how bored you want to be ! I’ve never been a fan, I’m afraid !

Cara

I liked Crime and Punishment, which went against my expectations. I never tried any others though.

Saima

Crime and Punishment. Then Brothers Karamazov. If you discover that you have fallen in love with him after reading these two, you can move to the Idiot and Devils

Carolin

I would start with The Eternal Husband. It’s a short book and it gives you a good first insight in his style.

Saima

The Eternal Husband is a good choice if one wants to start with a novella

Flora

To be honest, Crime and Punishment is my least favourite of his works. I’d recommend The Idiot, Demons (alternative titles: The Possessed, Devils) or The Brothers Karamazov. Or try his short stories to get acquainted with his style. When I had a class about him at university, we started with “The Double.” That might be a good choice.

Brett

I’d start with ‘Notes from the Underground’ and ‘The Double’.

JulianQuestion author

Cheers Brett. Have just ordered them on Ebay. They conveniently both come printed in a single book. Woop woop.

Emeka

It has to be The Brothers Karamazov. It has to be one of the best legal thrillers ever written.

Ellie

I love The Gambler, very entertaining

Marzio

Crime and Punishment, or if you want something easier to start with, then The White Nights

Fredda

Crime and Punishment