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...

Childhood (1852) is a novel by Leo Tolstoy. Published at the beginning of his career as a leading Russian author of his generation, Childhood is the first in a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels tracing Nikolenka's journey from innocence to experience. As a record of the past, a nostalgic reminder of a lost world, Childhood is one of Tolstoy's most personal works, and yet his prose shows signs of the universal religious and philosophical themes...

In this short story, a land owner named Vasili Andreevich Brekhunov takes along one of his peasants, Nikita, for a short journey to the house of the owner of a forest. He is impatient and wishes to get to the town more quickly 'for business' (purchasing the forest before other contenders can get there). They find themselves in the middle of a blizzard, but the master in his avarice wishes to press on. They eventually get lost off the road and they...

Boyhood (1854) is a novel by Leo Tolstoy. Published at the beginning of his career as a leading Russian author of his generation, Boyhood is the second in a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels tracing Nikolenka's journey from innocence to experience. As a record of the past, a nostalgic reminder of a lost world, Boyhood is one of Tolstoy's most personal works, and yet his prose shows signs of the universal religious and philosophical themes that...

"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.

Youth (1857) is a novel by Leo Tolstoy. Published at the beginning of his career as a leading Russian author of his generation, Youth is the third in a trilogy of semi-autobiographical novels tracing Nikolenka's journey from innocence to experience. As a record of the past, a nostalgic reminder of a lost world, Youth is one of Tolstoy's most personal works, and yet his prose shows signs of the universal religious and philosophical themes that would...

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...

Leo Tolstoy was a Russian writer who is generally regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time. The stories in this book have been adapted for children, making them the perfect introduction to Tolstoy for young readers.

As a result of his controversial works criticizing the Russian government and the Russian Orthodox Church, Tolstoy was excommunicated in 1901. Tolstoy dismissed the event lightly as he continued his search for a practical religion. "A Confession and Other Religious Works" is the product of years of introspection, resulting in a drastic reorientation of Tolstoy's beliefs and values. He felt undeserving of the wealth and fame he had accumulated, while...