The Idiot (Part 03 and 04)
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Read by LibriVox Volunteers





The extraordinary child-adult Prince Myshkin, confined for several years in a Swiss sanatorium suffering from severe epilepsy, returns to Russia to claim his inheritance and to find a place in healthy human society. The teeming St Petersburg community he enters is far from receptive to an innocent like himself, despite some early successes and relentless pursuit by grotesque fortune-hunters. His naive gaucheries give rise to extreme reactions among his new acquaintance, ranging from anguished protectiveness to mockery and contempt. But even before reaching the city, during the memorable train journey that opens the novel, he has encountered the demonic Rogozhin, the son of a wealthy merchant – who is in thrall to the equally doomed Nastasia Filippovna: beautiful, capricious and destructively neurotic, she joins with the two weirdly contrasted men in a spiraling dance of death… (Summary by Martin Geeson) (11 hr 34 min)
Chapters
Part III, Chapter 1 | 35:34 | Read by Alia Makki |
Part III, Chapter 2 | 30:03 | Read by Alia Makki |
Part III, Chapter 3 | 35:55 | Read by Alia Makki |
Part III, Chapter 4 | 33:57 | Read by Alia Makki |
Part III, Chapter 5 | 29:14 | Read by Alia Makki |
Part III, Chapter 6 | 36:33 | Read by Alia Makki |
Part III, Chapter 7 | 31:42 | Read by Alia Makki |
Part III, Chapter 8 | 32:14 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part III, Chapter 9 | 28:45 | Read by Alia Makki |
Part III, Chapter 10 | 16:04 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 1 | 28:08 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 2 | 21:21 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 3 | 27:00 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 4 | 29:54 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 5 | 43:53 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 6 | 37:37 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 7 | 42:41 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 8 | 46:27 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 9 | 30:05 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 10 | 32:49 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 11 | 34:00 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Part IV, Chapter 12 | 10:04 | Read by Jan Moorehouse |
Reviews
reading is ok





The reading is quite average by librivox standards. But it comes as a shock after listening to wonderful Martin Geeson for first two parts. But matching upto that level is tough. tip: listen to chapter 1 twice. once to get used to the voice. thanks to her we are able to complete the book atleast.





Knox
I thoroughly enjoyed this story from the beginning of book 1 part one and two to the very end of book 2 part three and four. In this reading, I had to force myself to sit through the first reader. She was difficult to listen to but I am grateful to her and all the volunteers who take their personal time to present books to those of us thirsting for the knowledge within. The second reader finalized the reading and made it worth while to struggle through the first reader. She provided a much more entertaining and enjoyable experience. Thank you all for your time and effort.
intriguing story





calsun
Well written, compelling story but reads like a soap opera. I had no idea what the ending would be like and it was a surprise.





The worst reading ever.sorry.i appreciate your effort but this is painful
Pretty good





Hailey Roselli
Parts 1 & 2 were read by the same great reader throughout. So, to then go to parts 3 & 4 and have two readers, at times back and forth, created a less pleasant experience in the second half of the title. There is one reader who had a thicker accent and read very quickly, which made it a little difficult to take in the story in all it's detail. She did seem to recognize this toward the end of her turn and slowed, although only a little. But otherwise, it was great! I had wanted to read this for some time and it has been sitting on my shelf for a while. Thank you, readers, for allowing me and many others the pleasure!
Not as easy to listen to...





Rod
Parts 1 and 2 are great. The story is intriguing in each chapter and the narration was very good - although Mrs Jepantachin sounded like an angry Mrs Doubtfire near the end. I could not make it very far in Part 3, however. The lady reading has a pleasant enough voice, but very hard to understand, particularly when switching characters. I ended up finding a free audiobook on Kindle, narrated by Johnathan Davis. He is outstanding. I really like how he does the character voices.
Dostoyevski does it again





Lynette C.
You don't need to be Russian to enjoy and appreciate Dostoyevski's artful novels. These readers are all quite good - another reviewer's problem with one of them is personal. No reason whatsoever to pass up the recording. This is a global world now, and LibriVox is internationally run. The first reader's accent is absolutely understandable, and she's a very good reader. High level amateur recording here. If you require tip-top professional readers in your exact accent, go pay premium prices for those.
World's finest novel completed. Thank you, LibriVox





aeontwo
"The Idiot" is in my view the greatest novel ever written. Martin Geeson recorded the first two volumes of this work and then it lay fallow for years awaiting completion. Two female readers have now recorded volumes 3 and 4 and Jan Moorehouse in particular has done a great job. Listen and send some indication of your appreciation. These readers have given us something very special indeed.