Dostoevsky’s "The Brothers Karamazov"

Class Description

We will examine Dostoevsky’s sunset novel, The Brothers Karamazov, in Michael Katz’s acclaimed 2024 translation that transforms this masterpiece into a fast-flowing, surprisingly humorous page-turner. This isn’t a dusty classic but a novel that contains a gripping murder mystery, a tangle of love triangles, an emotional drama, a spiritual quest, a fairy tale, and a philosophical discourse.

Dostoevsky masterfully weaves together a polyphony of voices, narratives, and themes where financial scandals intertwine with philosophical debates about God, love stories merge with detective plots and courtroom drama, the fantastic blends with the realistic, while the main narrative is interspersed with separate inserted works. Dostoevsky presents all his major concepts in a single work: a book without easy answers that forces readers to think. You’ll find yourself debating with the characters and questioning your own beliefs until the final page. Our discussions will be enriched by extensive biographical, historical, and critical context, along with episodes from acclaimed film adaptations.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

Julia Kriventsova Denne studied literature at St. Petersburg University, Russia, and teaches Russian literature in the Chicago area.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual 

Class Capacity: 30 

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged 

Materials List

Required

• Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov: A New Translation by Michael R. Katz. Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2024. ISBN: 978-1324095101

Recommended

• Other Instructor-Distributed Materials available on her Canvas page (she will send instructions for access)

First Reading

• Please read Books One and Two for the first meeting.

A Brief Syllabus

1. Books One and Two; Dostoevsky as a personality and a writer.
2. Book Three; Russia in the 1870s.
3. Book Four; nadryv, a Russian word for lacerations, heartbreak, or ruptures.
4. Book Five; Legend of the Grand Inquisitor.
5. Book Six; Zosima’s philosophy of life.
6. Books Seven and Eight; the town of Staraya Russa.
7. Book Nine; Russian folk heritage.
8. Book Ten; Dostoevsky’s friendship with Konstantin Pobedonostsev.
9. Book Eleven; Dostoevsky as a thinker and a deeply religious person.
10. Book Twelve and Epilogue; Mitya’s trial.

Cost and Registration

10 Sessions, $325 ($292.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($325), Community Supported ($300), and Sponsor ($350). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

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