Translation Superstars Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky on The Brothers Karamazov

Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) was born in Moscow. From 1849-54 he lived in a convict prison, and in later years his passion for gambling led him deeply into debt.The Brothers Karamazov, his last and greatest  novel, is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry in a series of triangular love affairs involving the "wicked and sentimental" Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov and his three sons - the impulsive and sensual Dmitri; the coldly rational Ivan; and the healthy, red-cheeked young novice Alyosha. Through the gripping events of their story, Dostoyevsky portrays the whole of Russian life, its social and spiritual strivings, in what was both the golden age and a tragic turning point in Russian Culture.

Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky earned a PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize for their version of The Brothers Karamazov. Their version remains true to the verbal inventiveness of Dostoyevsky's prose, preserving the multiple voices, the humor, and the surprising modernity of the original. The Brothers Karamazov marked their first collaboration as translators, and established them as authorities in the field. They'll be talking about the novel, as well as their creative process, on March 25th. Leave your comments and questions for them below!