Dostoevsky's Incarnational Realism: Finding Christ Among the Karamazovs

In this book Paul Contino offers a theological study of Dostoevskys final novel The Brothers Karamazov. He argues that incarnational realism animates the vision of the novel and the decisions and actions of its hero Alyosha Fyodorovich Karamazov. The book takes a close look at Alyoshas mentor the Elder Zosima and the way his role as a confessor and his vision of responsibility to all for all develops and influences Alyosha. The remainder of the study which serves as a kind of readers guide to the novel follows Alyosha as he takes up the mantle of his elder develops as a monk in the world and at the end of three days ascends in his vision of Cana. The study attends also to Alyoshas brothers and his ministry to them: Mityas struggle to become a new man and Ivans anguished groping toward responsibility. Finally Contino traces Alyoshas generative role with the young people he encounters and his final message of hope.