This book is, as it says in the cover, about the crime that inspired Dostoevsky to write one of his absolute master pieces, it is also a book about what was going on in Dostoevsky’s life at that point and how the story of C&P evolved meanwhile.

For me, the biographical parts didn’t really hold a lot of news, I am familiar with Dostoevsky’s life events already, that said Birmingham really knows how to spin a narrative. Even knowing the details already, I was engrossed in the narrative and appreciated the focus on e.g. the condition of publishing in tsarist Russia and the people around Dostoevsky who also contributed to the intellectual climate, more so than him in some cases.

Basically, Birmingham is a really good author and knows how to pace a story and how to interweave parts that don’t obviously belong (Lacenaire, more on that later). When the book wrapped up at a very natural stopping point, I was so wrapped up in the story that I was completely stunned and fully prepared for an equally detailed continuation of the rest of Dostoevsky’s life and literary works (I am here for the sequels, in other words).

Now, to what was new to me - the Lacenaire case. It was really interesting, and though it was a bit jarring at times to jump back and forth between him and Dostoevsky, partly because Lacenaire was such a worlds-apart kind of personality, but I loved seeing this story and contemplating (not like Dostoevsky contemplating the psychology of a murderer) but the psychology of the general public who love to consume gruesome murder stories, including me. Lacenaire, and many other old cases, really prove that the “craze” for true crime content lately is not a new thing at all, people have always been nuts for these things and it is immensely fascinating, especially in the case of a “gentleman” murderer whose personality seems somehow attractive rather than appalling to people.

It was interesting to see the development of Raskolnikov next to the person of Lacenaire and consider Dostoevsky’s purpose and meaning with his own work (which I felt was highlighted in the incongruence Birmingham presented here).

All in all, the writing is accessible but beautiful in style, to the reader not familiar with Russia at the time there will be plenty of interesting information, Dostoevsky’s life is fascinating and gripping, and the true crime is like a bit of spice in the mix. A must for die hard C&P fans and a treat for the casual ones. I love seeing how regular things, like a newspaper story, can influence a creative mind and emanate into a masterpiece. It is a reminder that a brilliant mind is as contingent as the rest of us.

This will look good on my Dostoevsky shelf eventually. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Press for this pre-release copy

Full disclosure: I am something of a Dostoevsky fanatic. I will read anything by and about him. I once read a book about the books he read while writing “The brothers Karamazov”. I named my dog for one of his characters. THIS book is right up my alley and when I received an ARC from Penguin Press I squealed with delight.

This book is, as it says in the cover, about the crime that inspired Dostoevsky to write one of his absolute master pieces, it is also a book about what was going on in Dostoevsky’s life at that point and how the story of C&P evolved meanwhile.

For me, the biographical parts didn’t really hold a lot of news, I am familiar with Dostoevsky’s life events already, that said Birmingham really knows how to spin a narrative. Even knowing the details already, I was engrossed in the narrative and appreciated the focus on e.g. the condition of publishing in tsarist Russia and the people around Dostoevsky who also contributed to the intellectual climate, more so than him in some cases.

Basically, Birmingham is a really good author and knows how to pace a story and how to interweave parts that don’t obviously belong (Lacenaire, more on that later). When the book wrapped up at a very natural stopping point, I was so wrapped up in the story that I was completely stunned and fully prepared for an equally detailed continuation of the rest of Dostoevsky’s life and literary works (I am here for the sequels, in other words).

Now, to what was new to me - the Lacenaire case. It was really interesting, and though it was a bit jarring at times to jump back and forth between him and Dostoevsky, partly because Lacenaire was such a worlds-apart kind of personality, but I loved seeing this story and contemplating (not like Dostoevsky contemplating the psychology of a murderer) but the psychology of the general public who love to consume gruesome murder stories, including me. Lacenaire, and many other old cases, really prove that the “craze” for true crime content lately is not a new thing at all, people have always been nuts for these things and it is immensely fascinating, especially in the case of a “gentleman” murderer whose personality seems somehow attractive rather than appalling to people.

It was interesting to see the development of Raskolnikov next to the person of Lacenaire and consider Dostoevsky’s purpose and meaning with his own work (which I felt was highlighted in the incongruence Birmingham presented here).

All in all, the writing is accessible but beautiful in style, to the reader not familiar with Russia at the time there will be plenty of interesting information, Dostoevsky’s life is fascinating and gripping, and the true crime is like a bit of spice in the mix. A must for die hard C&P fans and a treat for the casual ones. I love seeing how regular things, like a newspaper story, can influence a creative mind and emanate into a masterpiece. It is a reminder that a brilliant mind is as contingent as the rest of us.

This will look good on my Dostoevsky shelf eventually. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Press for this pre-release copy!