Beginner question
Crime and Punishment: which translation, and how long does it take?
Short answer: Oliver Ready's Penguin translation is the one most praised in recent Reddit threads; David McDuff (Penguin) and Pevear & Volokhonsky (Vintage) are the main alternatives, and Constance Garnett's is free. The editions we link run from 430 to 720 pages, roughly 11–18 hours at 40 pages an hour.
Crime and Punishment translations compared
Crime and Punishment (tr. Oliver Ready)
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Modern, readable, with notes. The most praised in the threads we read. Penguin Classics.
720 pp≈18 h●●○ SteadyRead this first: Keep a list of characters' names and nicknames.
Edition: Penguin Books, Limited · ISBN 9780141192802
Crime and Punishment (tr. David McDuff)
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Penguin Classics. Follows Dostoevsky's word order closely; several readers found it rich but readable.
671 pp≈17 h●●○ SteadyRead this first: Keep a list of characters' names and nicknames.
Edition: Penguin · ISBN 9780140449136
Crime and Punishment (Vintage Classics)
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Vintage's Russian classics edition (Vintage publishes the Pevear & Volokhonsky translation; check the translator on the listing). The most literal; divisive.
592 pp≈15 h●●○ SteadyRead this first: Keep a list of characters' names and nicknames.
Edition: Vintage Classics · ISBN 9780099981909
Crime and Punishment (Dover Thrift)
Fyodor Dostoevsky
A cheap print edition; the Garnett translation is also free online at Project Gutenberg. Check the translator on the listing.
430 pp≈11 h●●○ SteadyRead this first: Keep a list of characters' names and nicknames.
Edition: Dover Thrift Editions · ISBN 9780486415871
Our pick, a free sample, and reading time
Our pick: Oliver Ready for a first read editorial, based on how often it's praised in the threads we cite. Gary Saul Morson (Commentary) instead recommends Garnett for a first reading. If you want free, Garnett is on Project Gutenberg.
Free sample (Garnett, opening line):
On an exceptionally hot evening early in July a young man came out of the garret in which he lodged in S. Place and walked slowly, as though in hesitation, towards K. bridge.
Source: Project Gutenberg #2554.
How long does it take to read?
| Edition | Pages | ≈ Hours at 40 pp/h |
|---|---|---|
| Dover Thrift | 430 | 11 |
| Vintage Classics | 592 | 15 |
| Penguin (McDuff) | 671 | 17 |
| Penguin (Ready) | 720 | 18 |
Page counts from Open Library for each ISBN; they include introductions and notes. Reading speed is our assumption, not a measurement.
Where people get stuck
- Translation paralysis: the threads we read conclude several translations are good; pick one and start.
- Russian names and nicknames: keep a character list.
- Garnett's older English feels dated to some modern readers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best translation of Crime and Punishment?
No single answer. Oliver Ready is the most praised in the threads we cite; McDuff and Garnett also get recommended; Pevear & Volokhonsky divide readers.
How long does it take to read Crime and Punishment?
About 11–18 hours for the editions we link, at 40 pages an hour. A chapter a day takes several weeks.
Is Crime and Punishment a good first Dostoevsky?
It's the most common recommendation; shorter starts are White Nights or Notes from Underground.