Crime and Punishment
(1866) is a novel by the Russian author
Fyodor Dostoevsky
that focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in Saint Petersburg who formulates a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money. Before the killing, Raskolnikov believes that with the money he could liberate himself from poverty and go on to perform great deeds. However, once it is done he finds himself racked with confusion, paranoia, and disgust for what he has done. His ethical justifications disintegrate completely as he struggles with guilt and horror and confronts the real-world moral consequences of his deed.
It is considered by many, including director Alfred Hitchcock and Jordan Peterson, to be a masterpiece.
A Must Read for Any Lovers of Philosophical or Psychological Fiction!