Readings on Crime and Punishment (Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to World Literature)

Essays approach from different angles. Some attempt to psychoanalyze characters in the book, arguing that Dostoyevsky was writing about mental illness in a time when mental illness was poorly understood. Others look at the language Dostoyevsky uses, looking for patterns that associate characters with philosophical ideas or social movements. Still others see the novel in terms of a statement of faith. Includes a biography and chronology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Briefly traces the life of Dostoyevsky, summarizes the plot and characters of "Crime and Punishment," and offers articles on the novel's critical reception, composition, and philosophical perspective.