Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment is a novel written by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky in 1866. The literature & fiction classic focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in St. Petersburg who formulates and executes a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her cash. Raskolnikov, in attempts to defend his actions, argues that with the pawnbroker's money he can perform good deeds to counterbalance the crime, while ridding the world of a vermin. He also commits the murder to test a theory of his that dictates some people are naturally capable of such actions, and even have the right to perform them. Several times throughout Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov compares himself with Napoleon Bonaparte and shares his belief that murder is permissible in pursuit of a higher purpose. Initially a Russian regional & cultural best seller, the literature & fiction classic Crime and Punishment is a worldwide best selling book that is often required textbook reading. Crime and Punishment is a classic literature & fiction novel but it encompasses several other broad fiction genres such as history & criticism.