DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Brat'ia Karamazovy. [The Brothers Karamazov.] St Petersburg: Brothers Panteleev, 1881 [but December 1880].

The first edition of Dostoevsky's masterpiece, “the most magnificent novel ever written” (Freud). The author recorded the contemporary responses to his last and greatest novel as follows: “The novel is read everywhere, people send me letters, the youth reads it, it is read in high society, in literature it is abused or praised, and never yet, to judge by the impression it has made all round, have I experienced such success.” The Brothers Karamazov first appeared serially in The Russian Messenger between January 1879 and November 1880 before being published in book form at the end of the year. It was Dostoevsky's final and most influential novel. He died the following year in November 1881. Kilgour 286.

Two volumes, octavo (204 x 135mm). In Russian. Half-titles (some fingersoiling; volume 2 with short closed tear at lower margin of title and some staining to title/first few leaves and epilogue). Modern half calf over earlier marbled boards, gilt titles to spine, bound to style. Provenance: "N. Ya. Ogloblin, formerly of S.I. Litov, 1830" (Kiev bookseller stamp in Cyrillic to half-title of volume 1).