Demons

26 hrs. 41 min.

Classics

Language Russian

Author Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrator Maxim Doronin

Description

Dostoevsky became fired up with the idea of "Demons" after Ivan Snytkin, his wife’s brother, arrived in Dresden. As a result of turmoil at Moscow University and the activity of the student movement, Snytkin and Dostoevsky talked at length about students’ lives— their morals and moods— which inspired the author to write the novel. In one of his letters to the poet Apollon Maykov, Dostoevsky wrote:

“I sat down for a rich idea; I’m talking not about execution, but about the idea. One of those ideas that has an unquestionable effect on the public. Like ‘Crime and Punishment,’ but even closer, even more pressing to reality, and directly touching on the most important modern question. <…> Such a hot topic. I have never worked with such enjoyment and such ease.”

The plot of "Demons," full of political intrigues, religious drama, and existential tragedy, breaks out of genre boundaries and offers a literary catharsis on eternally relevant themes. To mark the 150th anniversary of the novel’s first publication, we present its audio version— brilliantly performed by actor Maksim Sukhanov. Here’s what Maksim told us about his desire to voice "Demons":

“As an actor, I’m drawn to characters— and there are so many of them there. And they all, to one degree or another, depart from the norm. I’d even say that all these stories that unfold between these people are akin to a great hysteria or a mad-house. And since it’s described both seriously and with a great sense of humor— reading it is a tremendous pleasure.”