Leo Tolstoy

First published in 1894 in Germany after being banned in Leo Tolstoy's native Russia, "The Kingdom of God is Within You" is, in the words of the introduction, "one of the most remarkable studies of the social and psychological condition of the modern world". Thirty years in the making, Tolstoy expounds upon his earlier work "What I Believe" and argues that nonviolence is the very foundation of Christianity. Tolstoy believed that the teaching of Christ...

First published in 1914 after Leo Tolstoy's death, "Hadji Murad" was the author's last novel. Drawing upon his own experiences fighting for the Russian army, historical archives, and the true story of the real-life Hadji Murad, the story is a narrative based on actual events that occurred during the Russian war with the Chechens during the 1850's. "Hadji Murad" focuses on the life and struggles of its central character, a Chechen soldier who breaks...

A Unique Translation of the Collection of Inimitable Stories by Leo Tolstoy, One of the World's Most Renowned Authors. "What Men Live By and Other Tales" compiles tales that handle intricate philosophical issues in a simple and engaging way to incite the mind. In "What Men Live By" you'll encounter a kind and humble shoemaker, Simon, who, one day, goes out to buy sheep-skins to sew a winter coat for his wife and himself to share. Unable to collect...

The story begins with the childhood and exceptional and accomplished youth of Prince Stepan Kasatsky. The young man is destined for great things. He discovers on the eve of his wedding that his fiancée Countess Mary Korotkova has had an affair with his beloved Tsar Nicholas I. The blow to his pride is massive, and he retreats to the arms of Russian Orthodoxy and becomes a monk. Many years of humility and doubt follow. He is ordered to become a hermit....

"The Cossacks" is believed to be somewhat autobiographical, partially based on Tolstoy's experiences in the Caucasus during the last stages of the Caucasian War. Disenchanted with his privileged life in Russian society, nobleman Dmitri Olenin joins the army as a cadet, in the hopes of escaping the superficiality of his daily life. On a quest to find "completeness," he naively hopes to find serenity among the "simple" people of the Caucasus. In an...

This work marks the author's movement from the pursuit of aesthetic ideals toward matters of religious and philosophical consequence. The poignant text describes Tolstoy's heartfelt reexamination of Christian orthodoxy and subsequent spiritual awakening. Generations of readers have been inspired by this timeless account of one man's struggle for faith and meaning in life.

In this collection, "How Much Land Does a Man Need? And Other Stories," Russian born Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) demonstrates his varied subject matter and style in his shorter fiction. In the title piece, "How Much Land Does a Man Need?," Tolstoy explores this very question through the story of a peasant with an increasing appetite for land. In "What Men Live By," the humble shoemaker Simon sets out to collect money to pay for new coats for the family....

Una novia deambula, taciturna, en las vísperas de su boda, por los bosques de su casa. Joven, casi niña, sumisa, delirante en esos sueños adolescentes donde la promesa del amor eterno empapa y ofusca la visión de la realidad, sueña en el futuro que vendrá, con su próximo marido a ser. Sin embargo, los sueños jóvenes que alguna vez la condujeron, se verán cambiados por el paso del tiempo, la exposición a nuevos ambientes, a un estatus social...

"¿Cuánta tierra necesita un hombre?" es un relato corto escrito por el famoso autor ruso León Tolstói, publicado por primera vez en 1886. Esta obra es considerada una de las obras maestras de la literatura rusa y es conocida por su profundidad filosófica y su crítica social. El relato narra la historia de Pajom, un campesino ambicioso que sueña con poseer más tierras. La trama se centra en su búsqueda de tierras y en su encuentro con los...

"Sevastopol Sketches (Sebastopol Sketches)" is a collection of three works of historical fiction in which Tolstoy draws upon his real life experiences during the Siege of Sevastopol. The titular location draws its name from that of a city in Crimea and takes place during the Crimean war. The three tales in this collection are respectively titled "Sevastopol in December," "Sevastopol in May," and "Sevastopol in August." In the December tale Tolstoy...