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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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  • 166 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 16 min
  • English
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  • S13 · E31
    September 6 · 8 min

    Poor Folk August 1st Makar

    In which a humble and tender-hearted man laments the sharp eyes and harsh judgements that poverty invites, revealing the quiet indignities suffered by those of modest means. The narrative gently unfolds through a letter filled with a poignant blend of...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E30
    September 5 · 1 min

    Poor Folk July 29th Barbara

    In which a concerned correspondent, touched by a friend’s distressing letters, entreats him to break his silence and join her for a comforting meal, hoping to offer solace and friendly support. The tenderness of her invitation reveals a quiet bond...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E29
    September 5 · 7 min

    Poor Folk July 28th Makar II

    In which a humble clerk unfolds to his cherished correspondent the tangled sorrows and humiliations that have lately befallen him, confessing both his steadfast love and the dire distress that shadows his days. Amidst a storm of slander and bruised...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E28
    September 4 · 4 min

    Poor Folk July 28th Makar

    In which Makar Dievushkin humbly confesses his recent misfortunes and financial struggles to his cherished correspondent, beseeching her understanding and support whilst striving to preserve his dignity and self-respect. Through his heartfelt letter,...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E27
    September 4 · 5 min

    Poor Folk July 27th Barbara

    In which a heartfelt letter unfolds the tender anguish and self-reproach of a devoted young woman, who grapples with the unintended burdens her circumstances have placed upon her dear friend Makar Alexievitch. She beseeches him for candid confession...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E26
    September 3 · 9 min

    Poor Folk July 8th Makar

    In which a humble civil servant pens a heartfelt letter to his beloved Barbara Alexievna, reflecting with gentle sorrow on the exacting demands and misunderstood virtues of his quiet, uncelebrated life. With a tone both resigned and sincere, he...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E25
    September 3 · 4 min

    Poor Folk July 7th Makar

    In which a young man recounts the folly and fervour of his infatuation with a captivating actress whose voice and presence seize his imagination, leading him to unwise expenditures and restless vigils before her window. He reflects with a touch of...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E24
    September 2 · 1 min

    Poor Folk July 1st Part 2 Barbara

    In which two correspondents exchange heartfelt letters revealing their keen observations of life's hardships and tender domestic concerns, framed by their shared appreciation of literature and modest pleasures. The tone is quietly earnest, underscored...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E23
    September 2 · 9 min

    Poor Folk July 1st Part 1 Makar

    In which a tender correspondence unfurls, revealing the gentle entreaties and heartfelt reflections of an aged man who finds solace and purpose in the presence of his young companion, Barbara. He speaks with humble admiration of a book she has lent...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E21
    September 1 · 5 min

    Poor Folk June 28th Part 1 Makar

    In which a tender and earnest correspondent implores his dearly beloved Barbara Alexievna to cast away her melancholy and cling to reason, assuring her of his steadfast affection and concern for her wellbeing. He gently admonishes her to resist the...

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E22
    September 1 · 3 min

    Poor Folk June 28th Part 2 Barbara

    In which a tender correspondence unfolds between two souls bound by friendship and unspoken burdens, revealing the delicate dance of dependence, gratitude, and the resolve to seek independence despite afflictions. The letters softly illuminate the...

    • Transcript
  • 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
Showing 101–120 of 166 episodes