Leo Tolstoy: From Thinker To Writer
He spent his final hours preaching love to passengers on the train. He wrote to the Indian people not to resist evil with violence. A concise introduction to life, family, and works.
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Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy was born into an aristocratic family and was wealthy. His writing was not for money. He observed, practiced, and aimed to improve society in line with his beliefs. Writing was simply a way to express his ideas, so essentially, he was primarily a thinker or social activist. He is mainly known as a Christian anarchist but is also embraced by utopian socialists. His three core principles—moral self-improvement, non-violence against evil, and universal love—are outlined in his books and reflected in his life. This gives him a deeper influence than most regular writers.
Tolstoy wrote several classic novels, including War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and Resurrection. These works mainly aimed to promote Tolstoyanism and influence political movements. As a talented artist, Tolstoy's writing is known for three key features: clear realism, strong psychological description, and remarkable artistic expression. Therefore, he is regarded as one of the world's greatest novelists, with top-tier artistic achievements.
Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828, in Yasnaya Polyana, a family estate in Russia. His full name was Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy. He came from a noble family, and his parents were respected landowners. Sadly, Tolstoy's mother died when he was just two years old, and his father died when he was nine. After their deaths, relatives raised Tolstoy and his siblings.
As a young man, Tolstoy studied law and oriental languages at Kazan University, but he struggled to find his passion and eventually dropped out. He returned to Yasnaya Polyana and tried managing the family estate, but his restless spirit pushed him to join the Russian army in 1851. During his time as a soldier, he began writing, inspired by the people and events he encountered.
In 1854, Tolstoy was transferred to the Danube front and took part in the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. He described these experiences in The Sevastopol Story. In November 1855, Tolstoy left the army and returned to St. Petersburg. In 1857, he traveled through Western Europe and wrote the short story Lucerne. In 1863, Tolstoy published the novella The Cossacks, which reflected his views on the democratization of the aristocracy, a conclusion drawn from his early works. From 1865 to 1877, Tolstoy completed his groundbreaking masterpieces, War and Peace and Anna Karenina. He began writing The Resurrection in 1889 and finished it ten years later.
In 1862, Tolstoy married Sofya Behrs. For the next 15 years, he dedicated all his passion to his married life, which was passionate and mostly happy. They had 13 children. Sofya played a vital role in Tolstoy's career, often copying his manuscripts by hand and giving feedback. However, their marriage and family didn't always bring happiness.
Later in his life, Tolstoy experienced a spiritual crisis that led him to question his beliefs and way of living. He relinquished his wealth, adopted a simpler lifestyle, and became deeply interested in religion and morals. This shift caused tension within his family, especially with Sofya, who struggled to understand his new way of life.
Tolstoy believed that owning excessive wealth was immoral and promoted a simple life. He even attempted to give away his copyrights. This caused tension within his family, especially with his wife, Sofya, who struggled to reconcile his ideals with their comfortable lifestyle. She felt alienated by his rejection of wealth and traditional family values.
In fact, what Tolstoy objects to isn't just wealth or copyrights. He gradually adopted an ascetic lifestyle. In 1884, Tolstoy wrote a book called "What Is My Faith," in which he openly acknowledged his Christian faith. He claimed to believe in the teachings of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount, and the doctrines of nonviolence and pacifism.
Tolstoy’s later beliefs were overly idealistic and impractical. His rejection of his own earlier works as immoral puzzled many of his admirers. It goes beyond what a typical writer does. He developed his own interpretation of Christianity, which rejected the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church, which condemned his ideas and excommunicated him in 1901.
His ideals, such as nonviolence, are actually political statements. The Tsarist government had long tried to exile him but ceased because of his influence. In 1908, in an open letter to the people of India, Tolstoy condemned British colonial rule and promoted the idea of "do not resist evil with violence." Deeply inspired by him, Gandhi established the Tolstoy Farm in South Africa, adopted the concept of nonviolence, and was praised by Romain Rolland as the successor of Tolstoy's sacred flame.
In his later years, Tolstoy became more of a thinker, yet even the conflicts within his own family proved hard to resolve. In November 1910, the 82-year-old Tolstoy secretly left his estate at Yasnaya Polyana. He died of pneumonia at Astapovo railway station after a day's train journey south. Tolstoy spent the last hours of his life preaching love, non-violence, and Georgism to fellow passengers on the train.
Leo Tolstoy’s life was a journey of self-discovery and transformation. From his early days as a nobleman to his later years as a thinker and social activist, Tolstoy’s experiences shaped his writing and ideas. His masterpieces continue to captivate readers with their deep insights into human nature and society. Tolstoy’s dedication to truth, justice, and simplicity left a lasting impact on literature and philosophy. His works remind us of the importance of pursuing a meaningful life. For generations to come, Tolstoy’s legacy will inspire them to think deeply about the world and their place in it.
Tolstoy wrote several classic novels, including War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and Resurrection. These works mainly aimed to promote Tolstoyanism and influence political movements. As a talented artist, Tolstoy's writing is known for three key features: clear realism, strong psychological description, and remarkable artistic expression. Therefore, he is regarded as one of the world's greatest novelists, with top-tier artistic achievements.
Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828, in Yasnaya Polyana, a family estate in Russia. His full name was Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy. He came from a noble family, and his parents were respected landowners. Sadly, Tolstoy's mother died when he was just two years old, and his father died when he was nine. After their deaths, relatives raised Tolstoy and his siblings.
As a young man, Tolstoy studied law and oriental languages at Kazan University, but he struggled to find his passion and eventually dropped out. He returned to Yasnaya Polyana and tried managing the family estate, but his restless spirit pushed him to join the Russian army in 1851. During his time as a soldier, he began writing, inspired by the people and events he encountered.
In 1854, Tolstoy was transferred to the Danube front and took part in the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. He described these experiences in The Sevastopol Story. In November 1855, Tolstoy left the army and returned to St. Petersburg. In 1857, he traveled through Western Europe and wrote the short story Lucerne. In 1863, Tolstoy published the novella The Cossacks, which reflected his views on the democratization of the aristocracy, a conclusion drawn from his early works. From 1865 to 1877, Tolstoy completed his groundbreaking masterpieces, War and Peace and Anna Karenina. He began writing The Resurrection in 1889 and finished it ten years later.
In 1862, Tolstoy married Sofya Behrs. For the next 15 years, he dedicated all his passion to his married life, which was passionate and mostly happy. They had 13 children. Sofya played a vital role in Tolstoy's career, often copying his manuscripts by hand and giving feedback. However, their marriage and family didn't always bring happiness.
Later in his life, Tolstoy experienced a spiritual crisis that led him to question his beliefs and way of living. He relinquished his wealth, adopted a simpler lifestyle, and became deeply interested in religion and morals. This shift caused tension within his family, especially with Sofya, who struggled to understand his new way of life.
Tolstoy believed that owning excessive wealth was immoral and promoted a simple life. He even attempted to give away his copyrights. This caused tension within his family, especially with his wife, Sofya, who struggled to reconcile his ideals with their comfortable lifestyle. She felt alienated by his rejection of wealth and traditional family values.
In fact, what Tolstoy objects to isn't just wealth or copyrights. He gradually adopted an ascetic lifestyle. In 1884, Tolstoy wrote a book called "What Is My Faith," in which he openly acknowledged his Christian faith. He claimed to believe in the teachings of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount, and the doctrines of nonviolence and pacifism.
Tolstoy’s later beliefs were overly idealistic and impractical. His rejection of his own earlier works as immoral puzzled many of his admirers. It goes beyond what a typical writer does. He developed his own interpretation of Christianity, which rejected the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church, which condemned his ideas and excommunicated him in 1901.
His ideals, such as nonviolence, are actually political statements. The Tsarist government had long tried to exile him but ceased because of his influence. In 1908, in an open letter to the people of India, Tolstoy condemned British colonial rule and promoted the idea of "do not resist evil with violence." Deeply inspired by him, Gandhi established the Tolstoy Farm in South Africa, adopted the concept of nonviolence, and was praised by Romain Rolland as the successor of Tolstoy's sacred flame.
In his later years, Tolstoy became more of a thinker, yet even the conflicts within his own family proved hard to resolve. In November 1910, the 82-year-old Tolstoy secretly left his estate at Yasnaya Polyana. He died of pneumonia at Astapovo railway station after a day's train journey south. Tolstoy spent the last hours of his life preaching love, non-violence, and Georgism to fellow passengers on the train.
Leo Tolstoy’s life was a journey of self-discovery and transformation. From his early days as a nobleman to his later years as a thinker and social activist, Tolstoy’s experiences shaped his writing and ideas. His masterpieces continue to captivate readers with their deep insights into human nature and society. Tolstoy’s dedication to truth, justice, and simplicity left a lasting impact on literature and philosophy. His works remind us of the importance of pursuing a meaningful life. For generations to come, Tolstoy’s legacy will inspire them to think deeply about the world and their place in it.
Legacy and Contribution
Leo Tolstoy is best known for his novels that explore themes of love, family, war, and morality. Besides his novels, Tolstoy also wrote essays, short stories, and plays. His works often focus on profound societal questions and the search for truth, making them timeless and thought-provoking.| Year | Book | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1869 | War and Peace | It is considered one of the greatest works of literature. It tells the story of several families during the Napoleonic Wars and explores how historical events shape personal lives. The book combines detailed descriptions of battles with intimate portraits of love, friendship, and loss. |
| 1877 | Anna Karenina | It is a tragic love story about Anna, a married woman who falls in love with a handsome officer named Count Vronsky. The book examines themes like passion, betrayal, and the struggles of women in society. The famous opening line, "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way," has become iconic. |
| 1886 | The Death of Ivan Ilyich | It is a powerful exploration of life, death, and the search for meaning. It tells the story of Ivan Ilyich, a successful lawyer who faces his mortality and begins to question the choices he made. |
| 1899 | Resurrection | This novel reflects Tolstoy's later spiritual beliefs. It tells the story of Prince Dmitri, who seeks redemption for his past mistakes and tries to make amends with a woman he wronged. |