Zápisky z mrtvého domu
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Czech • Public Domain • Free to stream
Zápisky z mrtvého domu (The House of the Dead, 1862) is Fyodor Dostoevsky's semi-autobiographical account of four years spent in a Siberian prison camp, based on his own imprisonment from 1850 to 1854 after being convicted of political conspiracy. Narrated through a fictional frame, it is one of the most unsparing portraits of human suffering ever written — and one of the most moving.
Dostoevsky depicts the daily life of convicts with unflinching honesty: the brutal conditions, the rigid hierarchy among prisoners, moments of unexpected kindness, and the stubborn persistence of the human spirit even in the harshest circumstances. The book profoundly influenced his later masterworks, including Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov.
Available here in Czech — stream free, no account required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zápisky z mrtvého domu free to listen to?
Yes, completely free to stream. No account, no subscription, no ads. It is in the public domain.
Who wrote Zápisky z mrtvého domu?
Fyodor Dostoevsky, based on his own four years in a Siberian prison camp (1850–1854).
Is it available in English?
Yes — click "Listen in English instead" above to stream the English translation, The House of the Dead.