ðə nˈɑːvəl bɪɡˈɪnz wɪð dˌɑːstɔɪˈɛvski ɚɹˈaɪvɪŋ ɪn sˈeɪnt pˈiːɾɚzbˌɜːɡ tə kəlˈɛkt ðə bᵻlˈɔŋɪŋz ʌv hɪz ɹˈiːsəntli dᵻsˈiːst stˈɛpsʌn pˈeɪvəl.
The novel begins with Dostoyevsky arriving in Saint Petersburg to collect the belongings of his recently deceased stepson Pavel.