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Artwork for The Dostoyevsky Library

The Dostoyevsky Library

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Enter a quiet room of conscience and conflict, where every word presses against the soul. The Dostoyevsky Library offers unabridged readings of the great novels, not as mere stories, but as confessions whispered in the dark. Here, restless minds wander through guilt and grace, doubt and redemption, while the human heart stands exposed in all its fragile contradictions.

Listen as each chapter unfolds slowly, like footsteps echoing through a winter street. These readings invite you to linger with princes and prisoners, dreamers and sinners, and to ask, as Dostoyevsky always asked: what does it mean to be free, to suffer, to believe? This is not simply a podcast - it is a vigil beside the restless spirit of humanity itself.
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  • 75 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 17 min
  • English
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • S13 · E20
    August 31 · 4 min

    Poor Folk June 27th Barbara

    In which a gentle and plaintive letter reveals the timid reflections of a weary governess contemplating a new post that confronts her with unfamiliarity and solitude, whilst her heart longs for the familiar comfort of friendship amidst her fragile...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E19
    August 31 · 15 min

    Poor Folk June 26th Makar

    In which a humble copyist, Makar Dievushkin, recounts his admiration for the literary talents and spirited company of the celebrated writer Rataziaev, whose passionate works stir both heart and mind amidst convivial evenings. Through letters to his...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E18
    August 30 · 59 sec

    Poor Folk June 25th Barbara

    In which a modest letter reveals a candid exchange between two acquaintances on the value of literature and the sharing of modest pleasures amidst their humble lives. The plainness of the words belies a gentle care, a bond stitched with simple honesty...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E17
    August 30 · 3 min

    Poor Folk June 22nd Makar

    In which a letter unfolds the heartrending scene of a poor family battered by loss and misery, the death of a young child casting a mournful shadow over their cramped and humble dwelling. The palpable grief and stark poverty that surround them evoke a...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E15
    August 29 · 3 min

    Poor Folk June 20th Barbara

    In which a tender letter unfolds between distant kinsfolk, revealing a gentle entreaty to cast aside poverty’s rags for a garb befitting dignity, alongside heartfelt concerns over unwise spending and painful memories best left unspoken. The earnest...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E16
    August 29 · 2 min

    Poor Folk June 21st Makar

    In which a humble and affectionate soul reaches out with tender words to his dear companion, delighting in the small joys and blessings of their proximity and shared affection. There is a gentle emphasis on the simple pleasures of giving and the...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E14
    August 28 · 8 min

    Poor Folk June 12th Makar

    In which Makar Alexievitch, a humble and diligent copyist, pens a heartfelt letter to his dear Barbara Alexievna, reflecting on the quiet trials and cruelties endured in his official duties and the modest pride he takes in his honest work. Through his...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E13
    August 28 · 2 min

    Poor Folk June 11th Barbara

    In which the tender correspondence between Barbara Alexievna and Makar Alexievitch gently unfolds amidst the verdant beauty of a summer walk, revealing the fragile interplay of joy and melancholy that shadows her fragile health and restless spirit....

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E12
    August 27 · 22 min

    Poor Folk June 1st Addendum 2 Part 3 Barbara

    In which the humble yet tender-hearted souls exchange gifts in a manner most sincere, revealing a quiet struggle to better oneself amid life's adversities. Following moments of joy and camaraderie, sorrow gently intrudes as illness and death bring a...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E11
    August 27 · 16 min

    Poor Folk June 1st Addendum 2 Part 2 Barbara

    In which a tender and hesitant friendship blossoms through nightly vigils by a sickbed, as two souls cautiously reveal their depths to each other amidst shared books and quiet companionship. Therein lies a gentle unfolding of youthful ardour and...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E10
    August 26 · 18 min

    Poor Folk June 1st Addendum 2 Part 1 Barbara

    In which a humble and cautious old man gingerly navigates the fragile mood of his son during quiet visits, while a young woman wrestles with feelings of inadequacy and longing as she discovers the scholarly world of her taciturn tutor. Through moments...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E9
    August 26 · 13 min

    Poor Folk June 1st Addendum 1 Barbara

    In which we are introduced to the cramped and troubled household shared with Anna, a woman whose outward style conceals a harsh and unkind disposition, whilst the narrator’s mother’s health slowly declines under the strain of their difficult life....

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E8
    August 25 · 1 min

    Poor Folk June 1st Barbara

    In which a young woman recounts the gentle joys and subsequent sorrows of her childhood, tracing her movement from a rural estate to the somber confines of a St. Petersburg boarding school, where she faces a harsh new world and the slow unraveling of...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E7
    August 25 · 4 min

    Poor Folk May 20th Makar

    In which a gentle, heartfelt letter is penned by Makar Dievushkin to the convalescent Barbara, tenderly conveying his concern, affection, and the trials of navigating society’s whispers. Through his warm words and poetic musings, we discern a quiet...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E6
    August 24 · 2 min

    Poor Folk April 25th Barbara

    In which a young woman, weighed down by sorrow and reproach, recounts a painful encounter with her estranged cousin whose harsh words cast shadows upon her honour and misfortunes. She confides in her dear correspondent, seeking solace amidst the...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E5
    August 24 · 11 min

    Poor Folk April 12th Makar

    In which Makar Dievushkin tenderly recounts to his dear Barbara Alexievna the bleak and squalid conditions of his lodging-house, painting a vivid picture of its worn inhabitants, the weary household, and the oppressive atmosphere that pervades the...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E4
    August 23 · 2 min

    Poor Folk April 9th Barbara

    In which a weary and ailing Barbara Dobroselova pens a heartfelt letter to her dear friend Makar Alexievitch, seeking to soothe misunderstandings and assure him of her profound gratitude and unwavering respect. Her words reveal the tender struggles of...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E3
    August 23 · 10 min

    Poor Folk April 8th Makar II

    In which a humble and ageing clerk, touched by a rare moment of sentiment, pours forth a letter to his orphaned relative, revealing his simple joys, quiet sorrows, and the tender sense of duty he feels towards her. The letter softly unveils the...

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  • S13 · E2
    August 22 · 5 min

    Poor Folk April 8th Barbara

    In which the gentle exchange of letters unfolds a delicate tapestry of friendship and tender concern, revealing the quiet sacrifices and heartfelt anxieties of two souls distant yet deeply intertwined. The narrative, steeped in humble surroundings and...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E1
    August 22 · 14 min

    Poor Folk April 8th Makar

    In which a devoted and tender-hearted gentleman conveys his heartfelt happiness at a small, shared signal between himself and his beloved, while describing his modest new lodgings amidst a lively and diverse household. He reflects gently upon the...

    • Transcript
Showing 21–40 of 75 episodes