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Crime and Punishment

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Complete text
NovelEnglish

Raskolnikov, an impoverished former student in Petersburg, withdraws into a dangerous theory about exceptional people and moral permission. A violent act draws him into a struggle with fear, pride, and competing impulses. Family pressures, unexpected kindness, and the investigator Porfiry complicate his efforts to remain separate from other people.

41 sections203,251 wordsAbout 15 h 24 min
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About Crime and Punishment

The novel places an argument inside a crowded, uncomfortable city rather than leaving it in abstract debate. Raskolnikov’s thoughts collide with illness, cramped rooms, urgent money problems, and conversations he cannot fully control. Readers know enough to watch the investigation as a contest of interpretation. Notice how acts of compassion disturb his theory, and how his need to explain himself can become as revealing as any physical clue.

Reading focus

Explore the clash between a theory of moral exemption and the bodily fear, compassion, and human dependence that its author cannot escape.

This reading edition contains 203,251 words in 41 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.

Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.

Opening excerpt

On an exceptionally hot evening early in July a young man came out of the garret in which he lodged in S. Place and walked slowly, as though in hesitation, towards K. bridge.

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Contents

All sections
  1. PART I — CHAPTER I16 min
  2. PART I — CHAPTER II34 min
  3. PART I — CHAPTER III26 min
  4. PART I — CHAPTER IV24 min
  5. PART I — CHAPTER V20 min
  6. PART I — CHAPTER VI23 min
  7. PART I — CHAPTER VII23 min
  8. PART II — CHAPTER I31 min
  9. PART II — CHAPTER II19 min
  10. PART II — CHAPTER III25 min
  11. PART II — CHAPTER IV19 min
  12. PART II — CHAPTER V19 min
  13. PART II — CHAPTER VI35 min
  14. PART II — CHAPTER VII32 min
  15. PART III — CHAPTER I24 min
  16. PART III — CHAPTER II21 min
  17. PART III — CHAPTER III23 min
  18. PART III — CHAPTER IV20 min
  19. PART III — CHAPTER V32 min
  20. PART III — CHAPTER VI20 min
  21. PART IV — CHAPTER I23 min
  22. PART IV — CHAPTER II21 min
  23. PART IV — CHAPTER III14 min
  24. PART IV — CHAPTER IV28 min
  25. PART IV — CHAPTER V32 min
  26. PART IV — CHAPTER VI13 min
  27. PART V — CHAPTER I28 min
  28. PART V — CHAPTER II23 min
  29. PART V — CHAPTER III26 min
  30. PART V — CHAPTER IV31 min
  31. PART V — CHAPTER V23 min
  32. PART VI — CHAPTER I18 min
  33. PART VI — CHAPTER II26 min
  34. PART VI — CHAPTER III18 min
  35. PART VI — CHAPTER IV21 min
  36. PART VI — CHAPTER V26 min
  37. PART VI — CHAPTER VI25 min
  38. PART VI — CHAPTER VII17 min
  39. PART VI — CHAPTER VIII18 min
  40. EPILOGUE — I14 min
  41. EPILOGUE — II16 min

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Is this the complete Crime and Punishment?

This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 41 sections and 203,251 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.

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