Early Life
Full Name: Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy
Birth: September 9, 1828, Yasnaya Polyana, Tula Province, Russian Empire
Death: November 20, 1910, Astapovo, Russian Empire
Family Background: Tolstoy was born into an aristocratic family. His father, Count Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy, was a veteran of the Patriotic War of 1812, and his mother, Countess Mariya Tolstaya (née Volkonskaya), came from a prominent family. Tolstoy's parents died when he was young; his mother passed away when he was two, and his father when he was nine. After their deaths, he and his siblings were raised by relatives.
Education and Early Career
Education: Tolstoy enrolled at Kazan University in 1844 to study law and oriental languages. However, he found the university's formal approach to education stifling and left without completing his degree in 1847.
Early Writing: He returned to his family estate, Yasnaya Polyana, where he attempted to manage the estate and began writing. His early works were semi-autobiographical, reflecting his own experiences and moral development.
Military Service: Tolstoy joined the Russian army in 1851 and served in the Caucasus and the Crimean War. His experiences in the military profoundly influenced his writing, leading to works such as "Sevastopol Sketches," which vividly depicted the grim realities of war.
Literary Career
"Childhood," "Boyhood," and "Youth" (1852-1856): These early works form a trilogy that explores the development of a young boy, Nikolenka, and are noted for their introspective depth and detailed psychological analysis.
"Sevastopol Sketches" (1855-1856): A series of three sketches based on Tolstoy's experiences during the Siege of Sevastopol, these works brought him fame and established his reputation as a writer.
"War and Peace" (1869): Considered one of the greatest novels of all time, "War and Peace" is an epic tale that intertwines the lives of several families with the historical events of the Napoleonic Wars. Tolstoy's meticulous research, complex characters, and philosophical musings make it a monumental work.
"Anna Karenina" (1877): This novel is a tragic love story that also provides a critical look at Russian society. The character of Anna Karenina is one of literature's most complex and vividly drawn female protagonists.
"The Death of Ivan Ilyich" (1886): A novella that explores themes of mortality, the meaning of life, and the superficiality of societal conventions. It is considered one of Tolstoy's masterpieces for its profound philosophical insights.
"Resurrection" (1899): Tolstoy's last major novel, focusing on themes of guilt, redemption, and social injustice. It reflects his growing disillusionment with the institutions of the state and the church.
Philosophical and Religious Views
Spiritual Crisis: In the late 1870s, Tolstoy experienced a profound spiritual crisis, leading him to question the purpose of life and the teachings of the Russian Orthodox Church. This crisis is detailed in his work "A Confession" (1882).
Christian Anarchism: Tolstoy's new beliefs emphasized nonviolent resistance, simple living, and the rejection of institutionalized religion. His work "The Kingdom of God is Within You" (1894) expounds on these ideas and influenced notable figures like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
Later Works: Tolstoy continued to write on religious and philosophical themes, producing essays and pamphlets advocating for social reform, pacifism, and ethical living.
Personal Life
Marriage to Sophia Behrs: In 1862, Tolstoy married Sophia Andreevna Behrs, who was 16 years his junior. They had 13 children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. Their marriage was marked by intense passion but also by significant conflict, particularly over Tolstoy's later radical views and lifestyle changes.
Yasnaya Polyana: Tolstoy spent most of his life at his family estate, Yasnaya Polyana, where he wrote his major works and experimented with progressive education for peasant children.
Death
In 1910, at the age of 82, Tolstoy left his home, seeking to live a life of solitude and simplicity. He fell ill and died at the remote railway station of Astapovo. His death marked the end of an era and was widely mourned.
Fun Facts
- Vegetarianism: Tolstoy adopted a vegetarian diet in the 1880s, influenced by his ethical beliefs and concern for animal welfare.
- Peasant Clothes: Despite his aristocratic background, Tolstoy chose to wear simple peasant clothes as a symbol of his commitment to simplicity and egalitarianism.
- Educational Reformer: Tolstoy founded a school for peasant children at Yasnaya Polyana, where he implemented innovative teaching methods focused on critical thinking and creativity.
- Influence on Gandhi: Tolstoy's ideas on nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience greatly influenced Mahatma Gandhi, who corresponded with Tolstoy and regarded him as a mentor.
Quotes
- "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."
- "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." — Anna Karenina
- "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." — War and Peace
- "If you want to be happy, be."
- "The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity."
Works
- Major Novels
- War and Peace (1869): An epic novel that combines historical events with the personal lives of several families, offering deep insights into human nature and society.
- Anna Karenina (1877): A tragic love story that also serves as a critical examination of Russian society, exploring themes of passion, betrayal, and societal expectations.
- Resurrection (1899): A novel focusing on themes of guilt, redemption, and social injustice, reflecting Tolstoy's disillusionment with institutionalized religion and justice.
- Novellas and Short Stories
- The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1886): A novella that explores existential questions and the meaning of life and death, considered one of Tolstoy's masterpieces.
- Hadji Murat (1912): A historical novella about the Avar rebel commander Hadji Murat, set in the Caucasian War.
- The Kreutzer Sonata (1889): A novella that delves into themes of marriage, jealousy, and the darker aspects of human nature.
- Philosophical and Religious Writings
- A Confession (1882): An autobiographical work detailing Tolstoy's spiritual crisis and search for meaning.
- The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894): A treatise on nonviolent resistance and Christian anarchism, which influenced figures like Gandhi.
- What I Believe (1884): An exposition of Tolstoy's religious beliefs and critique of institutionalized Christianity.
- Plays
- The Power of Darkness (1886): A drama exploring themes of greed, lust, and murder in a peasant family.
- The Living Corpse (1911): A play about a man who fakes his own death to escape a troubled marriage, reflecting Tolstoy's views on the complexities of human relationships.