The Possessed

Written by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrated by Constantine Gregory

Also known as Demons, The Possessed is a powerful socio-political novel about revolutionary ideas and the radicals behind them. It follows the career of Pyotr Stepanovitch Verhovensky, a political terrorist who leads a group of Nihilists on a demonic quest for societal breakdown. They are consumed by their desires and ideals, and have surrendered themselves fully to the darkness of their ‘demons’. This possession leads them to engulf a quiet provincial town and subject it to a storm of violence. Inspired by a real political killing in 1869, the book is an impassioned response to the ideologies of European liberalism and nihilism, which threatened Russian Orthodoxy; it eerily predicted the Russian Revolution, which would take place fifty years later. Funny, shocking and tragic, it is a profound and affecting work with deep philosophical discourses about God, human freedom and political revolution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
• Release date: Jan 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781781981016

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821–1881) was a Russian author and journalist. He spent four years in prison, endured forced military service and was nearly executed for the crime of reading works forbidden by the government. He battled a gambling addiction that once left him a beggar, and he suffered ill health, including epileptic seizures. Despite these challenges, Dostoevsky wrote fiction possessed of groundbreaking, even daring, social and psychological insight and power. Novels like Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, and The Brothers Karamazov, have won the author acclaim from figures ranging from Franz Kafka to Ernest Hemingway, Friedrich Nietzsche to Virginia Woolf.

Reviews for The Possessed

[graciefer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The narrator of this audiobook edition is simply perfect. Highly recommended.

[James Waugh · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Narrator is the best ever, like he wasn't born to narrate these books
Not the best Dostoevsky book however

[Andy Mac · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing narration of great Russian fiction. The story is centered around a small aristocratic circle with deadly intents of revolution. With mysticisme and questions about god and freedom, this book will definitely keep you gripped.

[jelisaveta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favorite books, beautiful narration. Absolutely adored the audio book.

[Avi Feinsod · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dostoevsky’s brilliance shines yet again. Great book and reading too.

[HannahHarrow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book. The reader is incredible. Highly recommend. Dostoyevsky’s darkest book, but powerful.