Crime and Punishment

About “Crime and Punishment”

"Crime and Punishment" is a 1866 Russian-language novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was first published in the literary journal The Russian Messenger in twelve monthly installments. The story follows Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in St. Petersburg. He plans to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money, believing he can use the funds to perform good deeds and justify the murder. He also sees the act as a test of his theory that some people have the right to commit crimes for a higher purpose. Raskolnikov compares himself to Napoleon Bonaparte to support his reasoning. The novel explores his mental anguish and moral struggles after the crime. It is considered Dostoyevsky's first great novel of his mature period.