This was the first Dostoevsky novel I’ve read, and I feel I may have thrown myself in at the deep end. It was an incredibly well put together novel full of great characters, who are never simply good or evil, or honest or corrupt, but all things at various times. This is what comes through most in the books, Dostoevsky’s mastery of the psychology and complexity of man. It is no surprise that this is Freud’s favourite book! The two issues I personally had however were how the level of psychology and theology could sometimes bog the book down, especially during the huge speeches from the lawyers at the end. The other problem I had was not Dostoevsky’s fault. He originally planned this novel as the first in a trilogy or series of novels, but died shortly after finishing this one. He therefore expands on in minute detail many of the secondary characters in the novel, presumably as they would have featured in later novels, for nothing to come of most of them. This therefore at times sends the novel off at tangeants that can frustratingly halt the fascinating story. Despite this I still consider it a great book and respect Dostoevsky as an incredible intellectual.