CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Narrator James Anderson Foster never forgets that passion--including intellectual passion--is the heart of this novel. Those who listen to classic Russian novels will have encountered a common problem when the characters encounter a philosophical problem that requires discussion. Only a skilled narrator can convey the characters' (and the author's) passion for these ideas and maintain the listener's interest in what is often a central element in the story. Yes, there are plenty of abstractions, but Foster lets the text deal with them while he concentrates on the fierce emotions, and sometimes complex emotional games, of the people caught up in those discussions. This is a memorable version of a great novel. D.M.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2019 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2019]