Crime and Punishment

"Crime and Punishment" (1866) — one of the most significant works in the history of world literature. It is both a profound philosophical novel and a subtle psychological drama, an exciting detective story, and a majestic picture of a dark city where the heroes sin and seek forgiveness, sacrifice themselves and renounce themselves for the sake of others, and find peace in humility, repentance, and faith. The main character of the novel, Rodion Raskolnikov, decides to commit murder to prove to himself and the world that he is not a "trembling creature" but has the "right." The main subject of the writer's investigation becomes the process of transforming a respectable, intelligent, and kind young man into a murderer, as well as how Raskolnikov, having committed a crime, can atone for his guilt. "Crime and Punishment" has been adapted for film multiple times, the music for the ballet was composed by Tchaikovsky, and recently a rock opera based on the novel was staged at one of the Moscow venues.