The Complete Novels of Leo Tolstoy (eBook)

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, known in English as Leo Tolstoy, was born on September 9, 1828, at Yasnaya Polyana, his family's estate in the Tula Province of Russia. Tolstoy's literary career spans a period of more than half a century, and he is universally acclaimed as one of the titans of Russian literature. His masterpieces, 'War and Peace' (1869) and 'Anna Karenina' (1877), epitomize the novel form with their intricate character development and a profound penetration into the complexities of human society and the human soul. A member of the Russian nobility, Tolstoy underwent a profound moral and spiritual crisis in the 1870s, which led him to renounce his aristocratic lifestyle and seek a more ascetic way of life based on the principles of Christian pacifism and spiritual and social reform. In addition to his novels, Tolstoy's bibliography includes short stories, essays, and plays. 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' (1886) is among his most celebrated shorter works, noted for its profound introspection. As a stylist, Tolstoy is known for his realistic portrayal of Russian life, his careful craftsmanship, and his moral concern for sincerity, nonviolence, and personal integrity. His posthumously published 'The Complete Novels of Leo Tolstoy' offer a comprehensive collection of his significant works. Tolstoy's ideas on nonviolent resistance influenced figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. He passed away on November 20, 1910, and remains a monumental figure in world literature.