Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian novelist widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time. His vast, deeply human novels combine sweeping historical panorama with the most intimate psychological detail, and his later moral and religious writings made him a world-famous thinker in his own right.
His two towering masterpieces are War and Peace, an epic of Russian society during the Napoleonic Wars, and Anna Karenina, a tragic novel of love, marriage, and society that many consider the finest novel ever written. He also wrote shorter masterpieces such as The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Master and Man, and, later, works of religious and moral philosophy like What Is Art? and The Kingdom of God Is Within You.
Born into the Russian aristocracy, Tolstoy underwent a profound spiritual crisis in middle age, embracing a radical Christian pacifism and simplicity that influenced figures from Gandhi onward.
His novels are long and were written in 19th-century Russian; older translations can feel heavy. Our modern-English editions keep the sweep and emotional depth while easing the prose. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Leo Tolstoy in the library · 5 works
Anna Karenina
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What Men Live By, and Other Tales
Audiobooks by Leo Tolstoy
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Frequently asked questions about Leo Tolstoy
What did Leo Tolstoy write?
Tolstoy's greatest novels are War and Peace and Anna Karenina. He also wrote shorter fiction such as The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Master and Man, and Hadji Murat, and, after a spiritual crisis, moral and religious works including A Confession, What Is Art?, and The Kingdom of God Is Within You. War and Peace and Anna Karenina are his most celebrated works.
Where should I start with Tolstoy?
Anna Karenina is usually the best starting point — a gripping, emotionally rich story of love and society that is more approachable than the enormous War and Peace. For something shorter, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a short, profound masterpiece about mortality. War and Peace is extraordinary but is best saved for when you are ready for its length.
What is War and Peace about?
War and Peace follows several aristocratic Russian families through the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars, especially Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812. It weaves together grand historical events with the private loves, doubts, and growth of its many characters, and reflects on history, free will, and the meaning of life. It is one of the most ambitious and admired novels ever written.
Is War and Peace really that long?
Yes — it is famously long, running to well over a thousand pages with a large cast of characters. But it reads more easily than its reputation suggests, because it is built from many shorter, vivid scenes and its characters are deeply engaging. Many readers find that once they start, the length becomes a pleasure rather than an obstacle.
Are Tolstoy's novels hard to read?
They are long and feature many characters with Russian names (each often appearing in several forms), which can be confusing at first. But Tolstoy's storytelling is clear, warm, and absorbing, not obscure. A modern-English edition eases the language and helps you keep track of the characters.
When did Leo Tolstoy live?
Tolstoy was born in 1828 and died in 1910. He wrote War and Peace and Anna Karenina in the 1860s and 1870s, then turned increasingly to moral and religious writing after a mid-life crisis. Born a wealthy aristocrat, he ended his life as a world-famous advocate of simplicity and non-violence.
Where can I read Tolstoy for free?
Tolstoy's works are in the public domain, and older translations are freely available. Some of those early translations feel dated. Here you can read the openings free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
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