Crime and Punishment

An illustrated literature story from Wonder Novels — free to read, with narration.

Crime and Punishment — an illustrated literature story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Novels.

Crime and Punishment — book cover — Wonder Novels
Crime and Punishment — an illustrated literature story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Novels.

Page 1

Raskolnikov paced his cramped room, the oppressive heat mirroring his inner turmoil. He clutched the letter in his hand, a plea from his mother detailing his…
Raskolnikov paced his cramped room, the oppressive heat mirroring his inner turmoil. He clutched the letter in his hand, a plea from his mother detailing his sister Dunya's sacrifice. "'Poverty,'" he muttered, quoting Seneca, 'is a great source of dread.' But does it justify such a dreadful bargain?"

Raskolnikov paced his cramped room, the oppressive heat mirroring his inner turmoil. He clutched the letter in his hand, a plea from his mother detailing his sister Dunya's sacrifice. "'Poverty,'" he muttered, quoting Seneca, 'is a great source of dread.' But does it justify such a dreadful bargain?"

Page 2

"I need money, but at what cost?" Raskolnikov wondered, turning toward the door. "This pawnbroker... she preys on the desperate." He shoved a small, wrapped…
"I need money, but at what cost?" Raskolnikov wondered, turning toward the door. "This pawnbroker... she preys on the desperate." He shoved a small, wrapped object into his pocket. "Still, Father always said, 'fortune favors the bold.' Perhaps this boldness is folly, but I must try."

"I need money, but at what cost?" Raskolnikov wondered, turning toward the door. "This pawnbroker... she preys on the desperate." He shoved a small, wrapped object into his pocket. "Still, Father always said, 'fortune favors the bold.' Perhaps this boldness is folly, but I must try."

Page 3

Raskolnikov raised the axe, his heart pounding in his chest. "I can't," he whispered, his hands shaking. But then, her avaricious cackle echoed in his mind.
Raskolnikov raised the axe, his heart pounding in his chest. "I can't," he whispered, his hands shaking. But then, her avaricious cackle echoed in his mind. He steeled himself, recalling Napoleon's words: "'Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in.'" The axe fell.

Raskolnikov raised the axe, his heart pounding in his chest. "I can't," he whispered, his hands shaking. But then, her avaricious cackle echoed in his mind. He steeled himself, recalling Napoleon's words: "'Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in.'" The axe fell.

Page 4

Panic seized Raskolnikov as he stumbled from the pawnbroker's apartment. He clutched a small purse containing a meager sum and a few trinkets.
Panic seized Raskolnikov as he stumbled from the pawnbroker's apartment. He clutched a small purse containing a meager sum and a few trinkets. "I must hide this!" he gasped. He ran, dodging through the crowded streets. "I am undone!"

Panic seized Raskolnikov as he stumbled from the pawnbroker's apartment. He clutched a small purse containing a meager sum and a few trinkets. "I must hide this!" he gasped. He ran, dodging through the crowded streets. "I am undone!"

Page 5

In a dingy tavern, Raskolnikov encountered the drunken Marmeladov. "Sir," Marmeladov slurred, his eyes brimming with tears, "'there is always room for…
In a dingy tavern, Raskolnikov encountered the drunken Marmeladov. "Sir," Marmeladov slurred, his eyes brimming with tears, "'there is always room for repentance,' as Saint Augustine said! But my family... they starve because of my weakness."

In a dingy tavern, Raskolnikov encountered the drunken Marmeladov. "Sir," Marmeladov slurred, his eyes brimming with tears, "'there is always room for repentance,' as Saint Augustine said! But my family... they starve because of my weakness."

Page 6

Raskolnikov found Sonia, Marmeladov's daughter, in her meager room. "How can you endure this?" he asked, aghast at her plight.
Raskolnikov found Sonia, Marmeladov's daughter, in her meager room. "How can you endure this?" he asked, aghast at her plight. Sonia looked at him, her eyes filled with sorrow, but also with a quiet strength. "As Dostoevsky writes," she replied softly, "'suffering is always better than no existence.'"

Raskolnikov found Sonia, Marmeladov's daughter, in her meager room. "How can you endure this?" he asked, aghast at her plight. Sonia looked at him, her eyes filled with sorrow, but also with a quiet strength. "As Dostoevsky writes," she replied softly, "'suffering is always better than no existence.'"

Page 7

The detective Porfiry Petrovich invited Raskolnikov for questioning. "You seem unwell, Mr. Raskolnikov," Porfiry said, his eyes glinting shrewdly.
The detective Porfiry Petrovich invited Raskolnikov for questioning. "You seem unwell, Mr. Raskolnikov," Porfiry said, his eyes glinting shrewdly. "Tell me, what are your views on extraordinary men?"

The detective Porfiry Petrovich invited Raskolnikov for questioning. "You seem unwell, Mr. Raskolnikov," Porfiry said, his eyes glinting shrewdly. "Tell me, what are your views on extraordinary men?"

Page 8

Fever consumed Raskolnikov, and nightmares plagued his sleep. "The world is full of suffering," he mumbled in his delirium.
Fever consumed Raskolnikov, and nightmares plagued his sleep. "The world is full of suffering," he mumbled in his delirium. He tossed and turned, reliving the events of the murder. "Make it stop!" he cried, but no one heard.

Fever consumed Raskolnikov, and nightmares plagued his sleep. "The world is full of suffering," he mumbled in his delirium. He tossed and turned, reliving the events of the murder. "Make it stop!" he cried, but no one heard.

Page 9

Driven to despair, Raskolnikov confessed to Sonia. "I am a murderer!" he cried, collapsing at her feet. Sonia, her face etched with compassion, gently lifted…
Driven to despair, Raskolnikov confessed to Sonia. "I am a murderer!" he cried, collapsing at her feet. Sonia, her face etched with compassion, gently lifted his head. "'The best proof of love is trust,'" she whispered, quoting Joyce Brothers. "I will stand by you, no matter what."

Driven to despair, Raskolnikov confessed to Sonia. "I am a murderer!" he cried, collapsing at her feet. Sonia, her face etched with compassion, gently lifted his head. "'The best proof of love is trust,'" she whispered, quoting Joyce Brothers. "I will stand by you, no matter what."

Page 10

In the vast Siberian prison camp, Raskolnikov finally found peace. He watched Sonia as she tirelessly cared for the other prisoners.
In the vast Siberian prison camp, Raskolnikov finally found peace. He watched Sonia as she tirelessly cared for the other prisoners. "'Hope is the last thing ever lost,'" he whispered, remembering the words of Seneca. A new life awaited him, a life of redemption and love.

In the vast Siberian prison camp, Raskolnikov finally found peace. He watched Sonia as she tirelessly cared for the other prisoners. "'Hope is the last thing ever lost,'" he whispered, remembering the words of Seneca. A new life awaited him, a life of redemption and love.

About this story

  • Audience: general readers

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