I have never read this before, although our old paperback edition was bought 41 years ago. So better late than never. I didn’t enjoy The Idiot at all, this was better although hard work. It reminded me, towards the end of Camus’ ‘L’Etranger’ which I have read more recently, although unless this is a false memory Camus must have been referring back to Dostoyevsky.
The book develops (very slowly) into the stories of several characters, who all appear as adjuncts to Raskolnikov’s story when they first appear, but are fleshed out toward the end – an annoying narrative trait, as you forget who they are until their late reappearance.
But I would (probably) re-read this, which I guess a positive. These long 19th century novels are hard work if not read on a holiday beach!
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