Book Description
A treasury of timeless wisdom that the great author of War and Peace considered to be his most important and lasting contribution to humanity. During the last years of his life, Leo Tolstoy kept one book invariably on his desk, read and reread it to his family, and recommended it to all his friends. This was his compendium of wise thoughts gathered over the course of a decade from his wide-ranging readings in philosophy and religion and from his own spiritual meditations. It was banned under the communists, and only one volume, A Calendar of Wisdom, drawn largely from the writings of other famous thinkers, has been published before in English. Now, for the first time, Arcade will publish Tolstoys Wise Thoughts for Every Day, the volume comprising his own most essential ideas about spirituality and what it is to live a good life. Designed by Tolstoy to be a cycle of daily readings, this book offers thoughts and aphorisms for every day according to a succession of themes repeated each monthsuch as God, the soul, desire, our passions, humility, inequality, evil, truth, happiness, prayer, and the blessings of love. At once challenging, comforting, and inspiring, this is a spiritual treasure trove and a book of great human warmth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Very inspirational
I have spent several years reading the Bible daily and various "thoughts of the day" pamphlets that you get through church. At least where I am in my spiritual development (at this time, looking inward for God vs. externally and learning about other philosophies such as Buddism to see what insights I can gain), I find this to be very rewarding and inspirational. I particularly like that Tolstoy used Christianity as the basis but also looked to other philosophies, which he includes.

I bought this book as an afterthought when I purchased Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God is Within Us. I'm so glad that I bought it because it's easy to pick up and read each day, and I'm getting a lot out of it. The Kingdom book is more intensive read in terms of actual reading so other books have caught my interest first. This book is one of them.

When wisdom escapes you might find it here:
Tolstoy's words resonate among those who have suffered and sought truth within the human condition.He has a way of pulling hope from the cruelest times and peace in dashing the sorrow when we think we suffer alone.

Wisdom that changes its reader
I had the fortunate job of proof reading and minor editing of this book, for translater Peter Sekerin.As I spent the many hours doingso, I found that Tolstoy's thoughts and wisdom, as you continue to read him over and over, almost permeates your thoguhts and come to mind as you go through out your day.He was a very wise and learned man, but also a very practical one.This project in its entirety are the deep thoughts of a man willing to be changed by his God, who examined and reflected thoughtfully on the world around him. In Tolstoy's footsteps, I find Peter Sekerin on a similar journey. He was and is the right man to take on this book.May you be blessed as you read Tolstoy's writings as rediscovered and presented by Peter Sekirin.

Surprises me with its excellence!
Every once in a while a book comes along which surprises me with its excellence. Well, this is definitely one of those books. When I first held the book, I could tell that the quality was high - the book has a hardcover and feels like it is quite well made.

But, it really shows how great it is when you open it up! The book is indeed a treasury of wisdom, showing just why Leo Tolstoy is considered one of the greatest men of letters that ever lived. Each day has its own page, in which is included Tolstoy's thought for the day. Each month follows the same rhythm, moving from theme to theme in a stately march.

Overall, I must say that this is a great book, with a gentle wisdom presented in a brief and yet powerful manner. It is a shame that the Communists suppressed this book, as it really is a great work of Western (Russian) literature, and a great daily devotional.

I give this book my highest recommendations!

A necessary book for anyone reflecting on what makes life meaningful
Tolstoy's Wise Thoughts for Every Day differs from his other works such as A Calendar of Wisdom written in the last ten years of his life, in that in this book nearly all of the passages are from Tolstoy himself, rather than taken from other texts or people, so we really and truly get an idea on Tolstoy's view of life and how it should be lived.Each day has a subject (such as God, Faith, Pride, One Soul in All) around which the thoughts revolve, with the subjects repeating each month.

While this book is, for all intents and purposes, a book of spiritual writing, it is also a work which anyone could easily pick up and read, as the thoughts are philosophical in nature as well, making this work first and foremost a composition on how to live a good life. That was the goal of Tolstoy in the latter part of his life when he spent copious amounts of time writing these books- to make them accessible to anyone and to help them improve their lives. He believed the only true religion is the one which all people can share.....and for this to happen it has to be simple, and not complicated by arbitrary or overly complex rules.Like all of Tolstoy's great writings, this work shows most strikingly his thorough understanding of the nuances of human character, and the flaws which lie within.Whether one agrees or disagrees with what is contained within Wise Thoughts for Every Day, one cannot help but be taken aback by Tolstoy's grasp of the deficiencies and imperfections innate in mankind.....and also the vast potential for good.

One of the great achievements of this book is the fact that Tolstoy is giving us information on how to live our lives while in the final years of his own.There is a very nice description of the last works of Tolstoy's life in the front pages of the book, allowing us to see his works chronicled in the final ten years leading up to his death, something heretofore I had not seen in such detail.Tolstoy's early years were devoted to creating timeless classics such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina.The latter part of his life was devoted to and consisted entirely of spiritual works after his religious awakening.These included both spiritual/fictional short stories and non-fiction works such as this, after his near suicide at the age of 51.The latter works of his life do not receive the notoriety they deserve, at a time when the world needs such ideas desperately.

When one has a toothache, one goes to the dentist to have it tended to. When one wants a greater understanding of life and of our place in the universe, one can pick up Wise Thoughts to read.As Tolstoy has said innumerable times, the ideas contained in this book are imprinted on our hearts if only we would listen to our soul.Speaking for myself though, from time to time it is nice to have someone make them clear for us. In this regard, Tolstoy does this most impressively, creating a book which is apposite to anyone deliberating on the meaning of life.

A must have for all lovers of Leo Tolstoy's non-fiction writing.

Highly Recommended.
... Read more

Book Description

The brilliant shorter novels of Tolstoy, including The Death of Ivan Ilych and Family Happiness, collected and reissued with a beautiful updated design.

Of all Russian writers Leo Tolstoy is probably the best known to the Western world, largely because of War and Peace, his epic in prose, and Anna Karenina, one of the most splendid novels in any language. But during his long lifetime Tolstoy also wrote enough shorter works to fill many volumes. Here reprinted in one volume are his eight finest short novels, together with "Alyosha the Pot", the little tale that Prince Mirsky described as "a masterpiece of rare perfection."

Customer Reviews (11)

Simply Put: An Outstanding Collection
According to many critics,Tolstoy (1828 to 1910) is viewed as one of the greatest novelists of all time, particularly noted for his historical novel War and Peace and later the novel Anna Karenina. The two novels are among the best novels ever written, and depict life in 19th century Russia. Tolstoy was associated with the realism movement and as such his writings are graphic and compelling. The present book is a bargain and brings the reader some of his best short works.

Tolstoy was born on his father's estate in Central Russia, attended college, and joined the military. He served in Chechnya and wrote about his experiences, and later served in Sevastopol where he was involved in intensive fighting. He wrote about life in the Russia military, and he wrote about other historical military events such as the Napoleonic wars. He wrote about historical events and he wrote about people and the mundane events of life. The short novel The Cossacks (included here) came from this early experiences in the military.

War and Peace (1865-69) is generally thought to be one of the greatest and most complicated novels ever written including over 500 characters and a variety of historical details on the Napoleonic wars. Anna Karenina (1877) followed later. It is a beautifully written story of a farmer (Levin) and a woman (Anna ¨Karenina) who have two parallel and loosely interconnected lives.

In addition to those primary novels, Tolstoy wrote other major novels, novellas, and short stories. Some of the best of his writings are here in this collection. They include the important work "The Death of Ivan Ilych" which is a profound but short work, and possibly one of the best novels of all time. There are others such as "The Cossacks," "The Devil," and one of my favorite short stories "Master and Man." Also, there are other stories such as the emotional "Father Sergius," a story that was published later but was a favorite of Tolstoy. Personally speaking, I was not too excited by his tale Hadji Murad, but the other stories are just superb.

The stories here are mostly good to great, and are all a bit different, and all are easy to read. Shakespeare was perhaps the greatest writer ever, but as great as he was, most find the writings of Shakespeare to be a bit opaque. But Tolstoy is completely different. Most stories are clear, easy to read, and they are engaging and compelling. This is a wonderful collection of the best writing by one of the world's great writers.

Not as great!
I had read few stories by tolstoy as a teenager in school and liked. I decided to buy them again and I just dont think I am impressed anymore. Only very few stories are good to read but other than that this looks like a christian book to me with quotes from the Bible.

Death of Ivan Ilych is probably the best thing Tolstoy ever wrote
With that work being the main concern of this review, I must say that probably the most facinating thing about Tolstoy the artist, the man, the philosopher is his lifelong horror and obsession of death. He was a lifelong deathwatcher and with a distinctive brilliance does he describe death in his works, Ivan Ilych being the culmination of his concern with death.

Dostoevsky is without a shadow of a doubt my favorite writer and with that being stated is the obvious superior of his great tempororay Tolstoy. I sometimes regret this because it sometimes blinds me to Tolstoy's greatness. In the case of Ivan Ilych, Tolstoy shines through in all of his literary genius. With this 1886 short novel, one can easily see Tolstoy the literary artist. He chooses a judge who never gives death a thought and yet condemns accused to death. Tolstoy hated judges and one perceives that there is a slight sinister Chekhovian schadenfreude to the title character's sufferings and epiphany in the great Lion as he wrote this one. I remember slightly the storm of thought which surged within me when I finished reading this work about a year ago. Never before had I read a work with a simple plot work laced through with character intrigue (and in this case Tolstoy gets alongside and may have even beaten Dostoevsky when it comes to the latter's utter phenomenal mastry over creating facinating characters) and the philosophical force of a bullet train.

Everyone must at one point in their lives read Tolstoy's incredible work, The Death of Ivan Ilych. It is not only what I would consider to be the greatest short novel ever written but is a testament to the philosophical anguish of a great mind rendered into haunting brilliance and a beauty which leaves its mark upon the stunned reader, never to recover over the magnificence that is Tolstoy.

worth reading
I may be missing something, but the three short stories I read from this Tolstoy collection were good but nothing superspecial.From what I understand War and Peace and Anna Kerrenina are really his masterpieces, but The Death of Ivan Ilych is also well-known.There may also have been something missing in translation as well as across time and culture.

I also read The Devil and The Kreutzer Sonata.Curiously, all three stories all inevitably lead to a death.Cossacks was written 1852-62, while the others were written much later in the mid 1880's.I felt that the later stories had a much more refined writing technique, so I never finished Cossacks.

So those of you who want to get a taste of Tolstoy, these short stories may suffice, though I have a feeling that the only way to "taste" Tolstoy is to take that really big bite and read his major masterpieces.

Best single volume of the short fiction
I prefer the Everyman's volumes because the typesetting is so much nicer.The present volume is a trade-sized paperback with the text simply photo-enlarged from the original mass-market edition. Both volumes use the Maudes' translations, but the Everyman's includes a great many more stories, including the Sevastopol Sketches.On the other hand, Everyman's publishes The Cossacks as a third volume, whereas you get that in here and all the other can't-miss stories.

If you can't afford the Everyman's, this is the one to get. ... Read more

Book Description
THIS 22 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Master and Man and Other Parables and Tales, by Leo Tolstoy. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1417913304. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is a Gem of a book!
Anyone finding themselves intemidated by the works of Tolstoy should start off with reading this book.These three short stories, "Where Love Is, There God Is Also", "The Three Hermits", and "What Men Live By", are some of the most powerful words I have seen put to paper.Those troubled by today's problems owes it to themselves to read this book and absorb the relevance that in fact is timeless.Even those finding a lack of belief in God will be moved and questioned their beliefs.Any of Tolstoy's works are a must read in everyone's lifetime, but these stories remain special to this reader. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent bite-sized Tolstoy
I'd never read Tolstoy because I was always intimidated by the size of his major works; thus, a collection of his short stories was an appealing first step.

"Family Happiness" is the primary work in this book.In it, Tolstoy opines on what makes a successful marriage.I was amazed by how prescient to today was his 19th century relationship advice.Because he grasps universal and eternal elements of the human soul, his advice will be just as relevant 100 years from now.

The other stories display Tolstoy's thoughts on work, faith, temptation, high-society, and ambition - among other topics - and are equally as enlightening.

Tolstoy clearly did not sacrifice brevity for depth as these five short stories were all outstanding reads.A great introduction to one of history's deepest writers.Highly recommend. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Confession is Leo Tolstoy's memoir of midlife spiritual crisis. In 1879, having written War and Peace and Anna Karenina, the 51 year-old Tolstoy began to believe that his life was meaningless. Confession is his account of the limited satisfactions he derived from his aesthetic and intellectual triumphs, and of his first yearnings for real faith. This book marks the turning point in his career as a writer: after 1880 he would write almost exclusively about religious life, especially devotion among the peasantry (in works such as The Death of Ivan Ilych and Resurrection). Near the end of Confession, Tolstoy describes the desolation he felt upon deciding that he could not solve his crisis of faith by taking refuge in the church. "I have no doubt that there is truth in the doctrine," he writes, "but there can also be no doubt that it harbors a lie; and I must find the truth and the lie so I can tell them apart." Confession does not find the full Truth, but it offers an inspiring example of a man rejecting the lies that cling to unthinking orthodoxy. Its final, exhilarating, heart-rending account of a spiritually awakening dream ranks with the best of Christian mystical writing. --Michael Joseph GrossBook Description
A Confession -- an essay by Leo Tolstoy on his religious thoughts -- shows the great author in process of looking for answers to profound questions that trouble all who take them on: "What will come of my life?" and "What is the meaning of life?": these are questions whose answers were an absolute requirement for Tolstoy. In the course of the essay, Tolstoy shows different attempts to find answers on the examples of science, philosophy, eastern wisdom and the opinions of his fellow novelists. . . . finding no workablesolution in any of these, Tolstoy recognizes the deep religious convictions of ordinary people as containing the key to true answers.Download Description
My life came to a standstill. I could breathe, eat, drink, and sleep, and I could not help doing these things; but there was no life, for there were no wishes the fulfillment of which I could consider reasonable. If I desired anything, I knew in advance that whether I satisfied my desire or not, nothing would come of it. Had a fairy come and offered to fulfil my desires I should not have know what to ask. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Tolstoy Review
This is a fascinating look at a man's journey to religious enlightenment. He is lost and he struggles to make sense of life and religion, asking the age old question, "Why are we here?"

Insightful
Good insight into the mind of a talented thinker. Unfortunately he dwindles of toward the end, but definitely worth reading.

Confession
Tolstoy really hit on the fact that people work their whole lives in pursuit of something that will make them truly happy. "The more I get the happier I'll be". It doesn't work like that. Even at his best he was miserable, suicidal. The answer is God. Plain and simple. He is the only thing that Tolstoy discovered would lead him to a more peaceful,satisfying life. This was a great book.

'The meaning of life is within us '
The starting point of this work always fascinated me. Here is a great genius of mankind, recognized throughout the world as an immortal creator of Literature. He is the father of a large family and has a wife he has loved and who has loved him. He has great wealth .In other words here is a person who seems to have almost everything most human beings strive for in their lives and do not attain in any way close to the level at which he has attained them. And yet it all turns meaningless to him, and he in despair asks the question of whether there is anything to truly live for, what can give life true meaning. For he too senses that Death will take him and all his worlds, and their meaning away.
His answer comes from within his own personal Christian faith. It is not a formal church faith but rather has to do with the message of God he hears in his heart, the message of love for all of mankind. Meaning is to be found according to Tolstoy in living in a spiritual way in which stress is placed in goodness with others and sharing with them whatever one has to give.
The meaning of life is living according to this voice of God he hears within.
This is the answer Tolstoy gave, but the evidence of his life suggests it did not satisfy him. For his questionings and doubts persisted throughout his lifetime, and his life did not end in some great gesture of affirmation and love but rather in his running from the once- beloved wife, who for years had embittered his life, as he hers.
This work cannot of course compare to Tolstoy's great novels in scope or even in human interest. It is a look at a great man's ' soul' at one stage of his life but in giving that life omits many of the great skills Tolstoy made use of in other writing.
As spiritual guide it has never seemed to me to provide the kind of answers to life meaning I have been looking for.
Yet I understand how it may be of much help and consolation to all those who have suffered crises similar to that of Tolstoy.

Candid and insightful reflections.
Tolstoy's honesty at his own selfish motives and his dissapointment with the true value of his accompleshments is wonderfully refreshing. His writing is so personal and open that I don't think anyone can walk away from this unmoved.I was dissapointed that he rejects the concept of a personal active God in the conclusion of his search. ... Read more

Book Description
Uncluttered by the complexities of plot and character that daunt so many readers of the longer Russian masterpieces, Tolstoy's tales illumine eternal truths with the forceful brevity. While inspired by the sense of spiritual certainty, their narrative quality, subtle humor, and visionary power lift them far above the common run of "religious" literature. Moralists purport to tell us what our lives should mean, and how we should live them. Tolstoy, on the other hand, has an uncanny gift for simply conveying what it means to be truly alive. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Not as good as I remembered
I had read few stories by tolstoy as a teenager in school and liked. I decided to buy them again and I just dont think I am impressed anymore. Only very few stories are good to read but other than that this looks like a christian book to me with quotes from the Bible.

great book
I read this book it was 20 years ago, it was a chinese version
and translated by a professor, now I have two children and one
of them is teenage, so I ordered thru amazon with English version,
I am so proud to tell you, I am so sure my dtr will learn something
from this book, thanks to God, mdy

One of the best books ever written
Moby Dick used to be my favorite book.What more is there to say?Tolstoy is a master storyteller.If you like good writing, this book is for you.If you like Christian writing, this book is even more for you. This one will make a great gift.

Master of short stories
This book belonged to my father and he used to tell me stories from it when I was small. All parents should try to read this to their children - I remember being both mesmerised and confused by the stories : mesmerised because of their simplicity and flow, and confused because they led to deeper questions on society,humanity and God.Even if you are agnostic, you can read it for its human and literaray value.
After reading this you will have a hard time deciding whether Tolstoy is better as a novelist or a short story writer.

This book should be read by all.
What is there to say, TOLSTOY was a master of his craft?A read through this book will tell you all you ever need to know about the written word. ... Read more

Book Description
This is the first-ever English-language edition of the book Leo Tolstoy considered to be his most important contribution to humanity, the work of his life's last years. Widely read in prerevolutionary Russia, banned and forgotten under Communism; and recently rediscovered to great excitement, A Calendar of Wisdom is a day-by-day guide that illuminates the path of a life worth living with a brightness undimmed by time. Unjustly censored for nearly a century, it deserves to be placed with the few books in our history that will never cease teaching us the essence of what is important in this world.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

My favorite daily book
I've purchased it for everyone important in my life . . .it's a great daily read.

More reasons to love Tolstoy
Love this book . Really interesting especially considering all the information gathered without the use of a computer . Might not agree totally with all Tolstoy's beliefs but that doesn't make it any less of an amazing book .

A worthwhile part of each day
I really enjoy this book. The amazing collection of quotes and thoughts make this very worthwhile. There is at least one thought each day that really sticks with me. I know that I will be reading it day by day for years and always finding new things to think about and take away.

Prophetic
Immediately upon purchasing this book, I ordered another and sent it to my cousin who subsequently purchased 3, one for her husband who had opened the one I sent to her and begun highlighting passages and the other 2 she gave to her children who are in college. I know that Tolstoy viewed this as one of his greatest accomplishments in life and read from it every day. I read it cover to cover in about a week and then went back and picked up so that I can study each day. I never say that books change my life. I do think that I am the type of person who, when presented with something that resonates with my soul, I immediately align my actions with whatever it happens to be. There are many passages in this book that resonate with me, some of which elevated my thoughts and actions to a new level. I think that is why it meant so much to Tolstoy to leave this as his final work.

Everyday Living
For those who like and need a reminder that we are part of a larger world; and a beautiful world at that.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Tolstoy's 1893 book, subtitled "Christianity Not as a Mystical Teaching but as a New Concept of Life," introduced such vital concepts as non-violent resistance to 20th Century figures as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Although Tolstoy is best known as one of the great Russian novelists, his place as a social reformer and peace advocate cannot be underestimated.Download Description
The Christian religion is not a legal system which, being imposed by violence, may transform men's lives. Christianity is a new and higher conception of life. A new conception of life cannot be imposed on men; it can only be freely assimilated. And it can only be freely assimilated in two ways: one spiritual and internal, the other experimental and external. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Dover edition is supreme
Of the several printed editions of this work I've run into, the Dover paperback version, with the Kramskoi portrait on the cover, must surely be favorite. In addition to the handsome appearance and overall intelligently-handled, easily-managed design, the printing is immensely competent -- I found one error in 350 pages, as opposed to, to take one example, the Kessinger edition, which contained about an error per paragaph, to say nothing of its unwieldy design, its cost -- twice that of the Dover edition -- and its frankly ugly yellow-and-white cover. (Tolstoy admittedly wouldn't have cared much what his book looked like, as long as people read it.) Also: the Dover edition includes an introduction which helps place the work in context, drawing on recollections from Tolstoy's son, Ilya. The Dover edition seems to be somewhat hidden on the site; if there is no 'This review is from' tag at the top of this review, hopefully it can be found here: The Kingdom of God Is Within You (Dover Value Editions), but, if that doesn't work, and nothing I do ever does, a search for the title and author with 'Dover' appended should do the trick.

The translation is from 1894, by Constance Garnett. I am not aware of any other English translations in existence; in any case, this one is perfectly adequate.

As for the text itself, it is of course great beyond my poor power to add or detract. Perhaps it is possible to have a legitimate claim to being a real human without having read this book, but I don't see how. You and everyone you know should read it immediately.

Prophetic, powerful...a call to a different life...
Let me start by sharing one passage from the book:

"All the material improvements that religious and scientific men can dream of may be accomplished; all men may accept Christianity, and all the reforms desired by the Bellamys may be brought about with every possible addition and improvement, but if the hypocrisy which rules nowadays still exists, if men do not profess the truth they know, but continue to feign belief in what they do not believe and veneration for what they do not respect, their condition will remain the same, or even grow worse and worse. The more men are freed from privation; the more telegraphs, telephones, books, papers, and journals there are; the more means there will be of diffusing inconsistent lies and hypocrisies, and the more disunited and consequently miserable will men become, which indeed is what we see actually taking place.

All these material reforms may be realized, but the position of humanity will not be improved. But only let each man, acording to his powers, at once realize in his life the truth he knows, or at least cease to support the falsehoods he is supporting in the place of the truth, and at once, in this year 1893, we should see such reforms as we do not dare to hope for withincentury--the emancipation of men and the reign of truth upon earth.

Not without good reason was Christ's only harsh and threatening reproof directed against hypocrites and hypocrisy. It is not theft nor robbery nor murder nor fornication, but falsehood, the special falsehood of hypocrisy, which corrupts men, brutalizes them and makes them vindictive, destroys all distinction between right and wrong in their conscience, deprives them of what is the true meaning of all real human life, and debars them from all progress toward perfection."

This is a great book. It is a book that calls us to a new life. Tolstoy was a visionary in that he looked back to the example of Christ while boldly moving forward as best he knew how.

May the same be said of us all.

Constance Garnett's translation is clear and readable. Though I wonder what Richard Pevear might make of this in translation (hopefully, we will someday see).

Get a copy of this book. I checked it out of my library, but this is one I want a copy of--to turn to again and again.

A classic of theological insight
This book is one of the first to really change my outlook on many subjects related to Christ, Christianity, Anarchy, Existentialism, Personal Responsibility, etc. Everyone should know about Tolstoy. If you think you understand the world or you think things are a bit strange here, either way this book is for you.

Practical Christianity
Profound and controversial reading dealing with the misunderstanding of Christianity.It's hard to imagine a book like this was written in the 19th century because it reads very contemporary.After reading the first few chapters, it's no wonder the book was forbidden in Russia. Non-resistance to evil by force is a topic hard to practice let alone to be preached. Leo Tolstoy presents a refreshing look at Christianity with a philosophy and a teaching dealing with the individual spirit rather thana collective form. It's a good complement to Wayne Dyer and Eckart Tolle teachings.A great spiritual awakening is taking place in the world and rethinking the role of the Church and religious traditions is part of that awakening.The timing of this book is amazing. This is a "shake the foundations" book. This book will challenge the traditional believer to examine their beliefs about the role of the modern church.A must read for all those who would like clear understanding of basic Christian principles.

The Kingdom of God Is Within You
An excellent summary of this book's content is contained in the title itself: _The Kingdom of God Is Within You: Christianity Not as a Mystic Religion but as a New Theory of Life_.A more detailed summary, spanning several pages, is found in Chapter IV, "Christianity Misunderstood by Men of Science."In this chapter, Tolstoy tells us that "Life, according to the Christian religion, is a progress toward the divine perfection.... The fulfillment of Christ's teaching consists in moving away from self toward God.... The Christian precepts (the commandment of love is not a precept in the strict sense of the word, but the expression of the very essence of the religion) are the five commandments of the Sermon on the Mount - all negative in character."(These are found in Matthew 5:21-42.)

1. "The ideal is not to desire to do ill to anyone, not to provoke ill will, to love all men.The precept, showing the level below which we cannot fall in the attainment of this ideal, is the prohibition of evil speaking."

2. "The ideal is perfect chastity, even in thought.The precept, showing the level below which we cannot fall in the attainment of this ideal, is that of purity of married life, avoidance of debauchery."

3. "The ideal is to take no thought for the future, to live in the present moment.The precept, showing the level below which we cannot fall, is the prohibition of swearing, of promising anything in the future."

4. "The ideal is never for any purpose to use force.The precept, showing the level below which we cannot fall is that of returning good for evil, being patient under wrong, giving the cloak also."

5. "The ideal is to love the enemies who hate us.The precept, showing the level below which we cannot fall, is not to do evil to our enemies, to speak well of them, and to make no difference between them and our neighbors."

These ideals or requirements seem utopian, and many people who consider themselves to be Christians have looked for ways to accommodate them to temporal concerns like the amassing of treasure and the pursuit of personal advantage. Tolstoy professes himself to be shocked by these attempts: for him, these are straightforward, plainly worded rules of conduct that all Christians must follow.He is fully aware of their radical nature, and he embraces the revolutionary implications of Christ's message.He imagines an objection: "Civilization, art, science, culture will disappear!" but answers it by saying that "Only what is false in them will be destroyed: all the truth there was in them will only be stronger and more flourishing."Indeed, Tolstoy thirsts for the day - not far off, he thinks - when an inequitable social order, maintained by violence, will collapse and real Christians will form a more just and egalitarian society.

Tolstoy's interpretation of the "new law" from the Sermon on the Mount is compelling, but he sometimes runs into difficulties when he argues that these radical and otherworldly commandments should become the basis of public policy.For example, he advocates reform of criminals over punishment - a progressive and humane position - but in arguing this point he seems not to recognize that criminals have any motive other than need, or that criminals might be deterred by the threat of punishment.As another example, Tolstoy maintains that violence sanctioned by a state - as in war, or as punishment for a crime - is no different morally than the violence of one man against another.(As support, he cites a pamphlet by a contemporary that is cunningly titled "How Many Men Are Necessary To Change a Crime into a Virtue?)But are there not instances where state violence can acquire some degree of legitimacy from the consent of its citizens to a set of laws adhered to by all, or by what its citizens consider to be just?Are there not instances where state violence can prevent an even greater catastrophe from occurring?In other words, there are some fairly obvious objections to his line of argument that Tolstoy does not address.Still, a balanced assessment would conclude that Tolstoy's deep skepticism of states and state violence was mostly vindicated by subsequent events in Russia and the rest of the world throughout the twentieth century.

I think that readers will be impressed by the vigor and sincerity of Tolstoy's thought and by many other idiosyncratic pleasures contained in this work.(This review is based on the Project Guttenberg version of _The Kingdom of God Is Within You_.)
... Read more

Amazon.com
Some people say Anna Karenina is the single greatest novel ever written, which makes about as much sense to me as trying to determine the world's greatest color. But there is no doubt that Anna Karenina, generally considered Tolstoy's best book, is definitely one ripping great read. Anna, miserable in her loveless marriage, does the barely thinkable and succumbs to her desires for the dashing Vronsky. I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that 19th-century Russia doesn't take well to that sort of thing.Book Description
Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and must endure the hypocrisies of society. Set against a vast and richly textured canvas of nineteenth-century Russia, the novel's seven major characters create a dynamic imbalance, playing out the contrasts of city and country life and all the variations on love and family happiness.While previous versions have softened the robust, and sometimes shocking, quality of Tolstoy's writing, Pevear and Volokhonsky have produced a translation true to his powerful voice. This award-winning team's authoritative edition also includes an illuminating introduction and explanatory notes. Beautiful, vigorous, and eminently readable, this Anna Karenina will be the definitive text for generations to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (156)

Great Book, but Once is Enough
Coming into reading Anna Karenina, I had already read most of Tolstoy's short works as well as War and Peace, so I was pretty sure of what I was getting into. I found that this novel, like all his other works, contains absolute genius. Tolstoy's insight into the mind of both men and women is astounding, and much can be learned from him. Tolstoy does a masterful job in making his readers sympathize with his characters, and the reader becomes very involved and very concerned about the character's lives.

There were parts, however, that I just struggled getting through because the plot was suspended for extended periods of time. Many hold this novel in high regard, but in my own opinion, it is the lesser of Tolstoy's two great works. I have joked with my friends that Anna Karenina is like War and Peace without the war, but it is worth the read nonetheless.

Dissapointing, boring, waste of time
I am in two book clubs and I read books when it's NOT book club time. Out of all the wonderful books out there, our book club picked this. Absolutely the biggest waste of time! It wasn't the size that scared me, but it was so "dry". No feeling, no emotions what so ever! So boring, it would put me to sleep. From the very beginning, I felt like it was a very shallow & blah-blah-blah book.....There wasn't a character that I really cared about, except Anna Karenina. ONLY because that is what the title of the book is! The best love-affair ever written, no way! It might have been a scandelous book back in the day, but a total bore. And Levin talking and talking about farming, politics & his religious believes - it was so ridiculous. What got me was Tolstoy would write what the characters are thinking. But when he put in the book what Levin's dog was thinking, I just about threw the book away! Tolstoy NEVER could express emotions in his way of writting on any of these characters. Someone tell me what the big deal is.

A Masterpiece that is worth the effort
This new translation of Anna Karenina is amazing!I have tried to read the other versions twice but found it difficult.I am thrilled about this new translation.Don't let the 800 pages daunt you.Tolstoy is a master of understanding human emotions and psychology.He portrays these characters so vividly, with such nuances that one is wrapped up in the story.A sensitive, refined person will appreciate this book and the story will leave an deep impression of Russia in Tolstoy's day.

Couldn't put it down
Anna Karenina is a masterpiece! Tolstoy's writing style is unlike modern novels; rich in detail without being overly wordy.Amazingly while reading I felt as though I was a fly on the wall in the Russia he recreates- observing the characters and plot nearly as a participant. Tolstoy's character descriptions jump off the page, making the plot seem like the reader's reality.

Although the story is somewhat somber and the plot is fatalistic, it is a clear view into the social and moral obligations of the late 19th century.When protagonist, Anna Karenina decides to leave her husband Alexi Alexandrovich for another man and a new life, we are introduced to the unequal struggle men and women faced in law and society after being unfaithful. Although the theme is strong throughout we are not tied down to that single plot, we are also swept along in parallel stories of class struggles, political pressure and even the day to day tasks of local farmers.

Very enjoyable novel, I would even read it again!

A read that drags on and on
I was excited when I first purchased this because I had heard such good things about it; that, and I LOVE literature and graduated with an English degree, so I thought this would be well worth the buy.

Boy, was I wrong.It turned out to be a huge book full of nothing, which drags on and on and on.I am confused by the people who love it.I just don't understand how?

The ending makes sense and you could see it coming as Anna wasn't happy for a very long time.Some parts I truly did enjoy reading, but those good parts were always interrupted and separated by lengthy boring reading that I just wanted to skip through to get to the good stuff again.

Not a very good read whatsoever in my opinion. ... Read more

Product Description
'Richard Gustafson has written what will undoubtedly prove to be one of the major studies of Tolstoy produced in his generation , an especially thoughtful book, full of ideas, insights, and perceptions that are very much Gustafson's own.''Gustafson's grasp of the Tolstoy canon . . . is truly impressive, and his sensitive, and detailed reading of individual works convincingly establishes the ongoing dialectic between experience,. theological reflection, and artistic creation.... Our appreciation of Tolstoy's fiction and of the Russian theological tradition is greatly enriched by this study. It is possibly one of the very best pieces of 'theology and literature' this reviewer has yet encountered.''Professor Gustafson's exceptional combination of literary, linguistic and theological erudition makes his latest work a landmark in the history of post-war Tolstoyan scholarship.''... a radically new reading, one that may mark a new stage in studies of Tolstoy in the West.' Richard F. Gustafson is Professor of Russian at Barnard College, Columbia University. ... Read more

Book Description
Resurrection, the last of Tolstoy's major novels, tells the story of a nobleman's attempt to redeem himself for the suffering his youthful philandering caused a peasant girl. Tolstoy's vision of redemption achieved through loving forgiveness, and his condemnation of violence dominate the
novel. An intimate, psychological tale of guilt, anger, and forgiveness, Resurrection is at the same time a panoramic description of social life in Russia at the end of the nineteenth century, reflecting Tolstoy's outrage at the social injustices of the world in which he lived. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Tolstoy's best.
While I love Tolstoy's work, I think that this novel is highly underrated, and is Tolstoy's best novel out of them all. It's a story that could easily be compared with Tolstoy's own personal life, and coming to grips with humility. This story is truly inspiring, and one that will make you rethink the position of governments worldwide, property ownership, and the Christian gospels.

A Great Work by a Mature Master
When I read Tolstoy?s Anna Karenina years ago, I felt that it should surely be the greatest novel ever written. In my mind, it is still a candidate for that declaration.

But having spent some time studying the life of Tolstoy and having recently read his later work, Resurrection, I like Resurrection even better. To me, it is an even greater accomplishment. Resurrection has all the vibrancy and brilliance of language, detail and characterization as does the earlier works for which Tolstoy is famous. It doesn?t drop off a scintilla in terms for the display of raw literary talent. But it also incorporates some of the deep philosophical, political and social issues that Tolstoy had been struggling with for the previous two decades.

In the end, I tired of Anna Karenina for the exact same reason that caused Tolstoy himself to scorn it. It is not about deep issues, but only the story of a woman of nobility who commits adultery, even if the story is told with a brilliance that no other writer has managed to emulate. Resurrection captures you with its rich story and social panorama, but it goes beyond that. It continues to reverberate in your mind weeks later because of the philosophical and social themes it so successfully weaves into the narrative. In this respect, Resurrection seems comparable to Ayn Rand?s Atlas Shrugged, another literary classic known for the ideas it conveys as much as the story that it tells. Though, having made the comparison, it should be added that Tolstoy is, as always, the greater of the writers.

Profound!
Tolstoy at his best, Resurrection digs into the soul and causes the reader to consider society, the world at large, and governments in perhaps a new light.It addresses some of mankind's most gripping problems andquestions, and also entertains via a well crafted story.A wonderful,unforgetable book and first rate piece of literature that will leave a markon you, among the very best I've read.

One of Tolstoy's best, but not the best.
This book gave me a new perspective at looking at society. After reading this book the wrongs and should-be-rights of my society hit me on the back of the head. Though this is not the best of Tolstoy's work, it should beread by all who love literature and all who want something to stimulate thepsyche with something new.

Not Tolstoy's best effort, but good enough to read.
Essentially, the line of the book could besummed up as, "Young aristocrat makes mistake,forgets mistake, remembers mistake, tries tomake up for mistake".During the course of thisstory line, thereader is pounded with thedefects of a criminal justice system in which those who are supposed to be guilty are actuallyinnocent and those whosentence them areactually the guilty ones.It isn't entirelyconvincingas Tolstoy tries to make the casethat people who rob are doing it forsurvivaland those who murder must have been drunk orinflamed withpassion.The book ends witha poor thesis on what the purpose of life is and five rules for living your life.Not thebest of endings, but thebook is, for the mostpart, decent.Not his best work. ... Read more

Book Description
'It is impossible to explain why Yevgeny chose Liza Annenskaya, as it is always impossible to explain why a man chooses this and not that woman.'This collection of eleven stories spans virtually the whole of Tolstoy's creative life.While each is unique in form, as a group they are representative of his style, and touch on the central themes that surface in War and Peace and Anna Karenina.Stories as different as 'The Snowstorm', 'Lucerne', 'The Diary of a Madman', and 'The Devil' are grounded in autobiographical experience.They deal with journeys of self-discovery and the moral and religious questioning that characterizes Tolstoy's works of criticism and philosophy.'Strider' and 'Father Sergy', as well as reflecting Tolstoy's own experiences, also reveal profound psychological insights.These stories range over much of the Russian world of the nineteenth century, from the nobility to the peasantry, the military to the clergy, from merchants and cobblers to a horse and a tree.Together they present a fascinating picture of Tolstoy's skill and artistry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Brilliant Translation and Introduction
Oxford World Classics have been my choice in Russian literature for many years now. These works typically provide excellent introductions and translations of the great Russian literary masters of the 19th century. This book is no exception. Compared to other versions of these stories, I find this book combines the formality of Russian literary style with the simplicity of a casual reader; it captures the mood of the story and relates it quite well to the reader. I would highly recommend this and other Oxford World Classics works. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Long Overdue Must Reading
I am 73 years old and wish I had read this book 50 years ago.It says it all.

A Revolutionary Book
Tolstoy's inspiring translation of the Gospels focuses on the problem of life while detailing Christ's instructions to man concerning the question of how we are to live.This work is revolutionary in the context that it summarizes all of Christ's instructions into 5 simple commands, all of which can be obeyed through one direct command: to love one another even as Christ has loved us.

In reading this book, I would recommend reading the body of the text before reading the introduction.As the text is potentially paradigm shifting for the reader, it is best to approach it with an open mind.Tolstoy's introduction, I have found, can be best appreciated after reading the text of the Gospel in Brief.

I would encourage everyone, Christian and non-Christian, to read this book to attain a clearer understanding of the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Beautiful Interpretation of the Gospels
I am, admittedly, a Tolstoy fan already, so I read this with a positive bias, but, that aside, this was one of the most powerful books I have read. I have always felt uncomfortable reading the New Testament because I can tell that liberties have been taken with the translation (just compare two versions) and I always think about all the people who have worked on it since its beginning. Tolstoy takes this into account and produces a condensed version that expresses the most important part of the NT: Christ's message. We are lucky enough to be the readers of a work that was written by a brilliant religous scholar. This is highly readable and simple, but at the same time, powerful and life changing. For people who are striving to be true Christian's in the way Christ intended without the murky trappings of organized churches, this is the interpretation of the New Testament to treasure.

My Father is not flesh, but spirit.
I have always felt that much of the Bible and the Church was hiding the heart of Christ's message. The Bible seems a tool that the Church arbitrarily canonized to use for justification; eerily much like the teachers of law that Christ came to nullify.

Tolstoy goes to the original Greek texts and renders a striking and illuminating account of Christ's message from the four gospels. He purposely does not delve into Christ's miracles or divinity. Why?

Well, Christ himself was more concerned that people understand his message of how to live one's life in the spirit than to worship him because of his divine acts. Religion is dead if it is not lived continually. Tolstoy dared to explain with clarity how to live Christ's message. It is harrowing if you understand what is asked of you.

"...small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." -Matthew 7:24

I know why this was said now and is rarely emphasized in churches. Read this book if you want to change and are open to theidea that Christianity has been severely perverted.

A powerful book.... for those who like it....
This is the kind of book either you like or you hate.

Three kinds of people will read this book. The first (and most moderate) will be Tolstoy scholars, etc. interested in his religious beliefs and influences, and there readings of this book will be value-empty and hygenic. The second group of people will be those akin of mind to Tolstoy, and they will love and cherish this book ahead of almost any other: when the philosopher Wittgenstein first read this book he decided that it was spectacular and went off into the countryside to begin to change the world (and failed... leaving Austria to go and study with Russell at Oxford....) The third group will be more traditional Christians-- for whom Jesus' particular authority and the authority of the Church handed down through the Fathers is paramount, and they, generally, will detest this work.....

I love this book. I find it splendidly written, insightful, and clever: I'm of the sort who would toss out the whole of the Bible excluding Ezekiel, Daniel, and James: I want Christ as a man and a social reformer. Unfortunately, Gandhi and Christ were not usually considered one in the same. For people like me, this book is a must-read and almost guaranteed as a world-changing event.

For more traditional Christians, this book is probably better left forgotten. It's going to be objectionable and even with his style being beautiful, there are better things to be read.... ... Read more

Book Description
Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic Wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy’s genius is seen clearly in the multitude of fully realized and equally memorable characters that populate this massive chronicle. Out of this complex narrative emerges a profound examination of the individual’s place in the historical process, one that makes it clear why Thomas Mann praised Tolstoy for his Homeric powers and placed War and Peace in the same category as the Iliad: “To read him . . . is to find one’s way home . . . to everything within us that is fundamental and sane.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

If You Only Read One Book in Your Life.....
I heard a professor say that if you only read one book in your life, it ought to be "War and Peace."And I believe he's right.Reading a chapter or two a day, it took me months, but it was a most rewarding experience.To my surprise, the novel was not plodding and obtuse, like many classics.Instead, I found it enjoyable, endearing and informative.It tells the tale of several noble Russian families and how they intertwine during a restive period in Russian history. It also describes in great detail various battles and the personages involved, some fictional, some not.As a story, it had suspense, very well-defined characters, action and interesting plot turns.The book also contained essays by Tolstoy on the forces of history and other matters -- which I tended to skip over.But, now having completed this singular work, I feel enriched and satisfied.I'm no expert, but if someone tells me this is the greatest novel ever written, they won't get any argument from me.

Not Just for the Literary Elite
What's left to say about a book that more than any other is often called the greatest novel ever written? Some readers may avoid such enormously famous works due to intimidation or to a jaded (and unjustified) familiarity. To such folks, I say, pretend you never heard of the book except from a trusted friend who's recommending this book as a `sweeping saga of war-time Russia and its gentry class during tumultuous times' (or other such book cover blurb) and dive in. You'll be rewarded with leaving your accidental life and experiencing the company of people whose lives you'll care deeply about: Prince Andrei, Natasha, Nikolai, Pierre, and a host of others. No doubt you've heard of the huge number of characters in the book and that readers should jot down notes to understand what's going on. Yes, there are many people in the book but the main characters are a manageable number and most people reading for pleasure will do fine without notekeeping. And the book is long but so is the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

Unforgettable characters, magnificent battle scenes, adultery, philosophical ruminations, and even some chick-flick tear jerker scenes - what more can a reader ask for?

Its lifelike in size, reach and reading!
This is a translated version, and since I cannot read Russian, I cannot tell how well it conveys what Tolstoy really wrote and meant. What I can say after reading this mammoth novel is that it is lifelike. In one book, Tolstoy presents the Russia of late 19th century, the urban Moscow and Petersburg hoi polloi, the rural noblemen and peasantry, politics, religion, horse racing, hunting, balls, love, adultery, heartbreaks, death, birth, marriage and everything else that needs to be put on this masterpiece canvass to create a complete recreation of life.

There are three essential characters. Anna Karenina who deserts her husband to live with her lover, Count Vronsky who is a dashing and colonel Anna falls for and Levin who some say is Tolstoy's autobiographical sketch in some ways.

This novel has several love stories, developed delightfully in beginning and then these give way to the ground realities of the world and society. In some sense, the novel is like those movies that show everything from birth to death, and hence the delightful childhood, or steamy romance of adulthood become just frames in passing imagery, where the whole is spectacular and full of everything.

Through Anna's and Vronsky's stories, set in Moscow and Petersburg, the life of Princes and Princesses comes live with associated gossip, glamor, balls, grand parties, dresses and fashion, and many characters appear and reappear to tell intertwined tales of several lifes. These lifes are of people with money or inheritances, they speak multiple languages, have servants and maids and valets to look after the mundane stuff, have enough time to dwell on questions of social justice, ethics and natural sciences through their eyes that judge from a distance. On the other hand, Levin is a rural nobleman, uncormfortable in the city. His life mixes with the toil of peasants who cut, mow, grow, reap, harvest, and thrash crops. He practically encounters the questions of faith in God, of social justice and enpowerment, of natural sciences but placed in the other world of his city relations and friends finds himself wanting with respect to articulating his views on anything and everything.

Anna is a complex character: a beautiful women split between multiple roles of mother, wife, sister, lover, social outcast and allows Tolstoy to present a multitude of beautifully created emotions through her. Levin fulfils the role of a thinker and doubter alike, of a "nice guys finish last" league gentleman, of a compelling person with principles that make him appear unmotivated or worldly inept to uninitiated. Vronsky is to begin with the "happy go lucky" charmers, and must in his lifetime discover how great love (to others wife) comes at great cost. Without disclosing the story too much, let me just say there are other important and completely developed characters, who have their pieces of life added to serve a grand buffet of possibilities.

As a novel that opens the window into life in Russia, this novel will remain an important masterpiece that can also be read for its splendid love stories, for discussions on ethics, politics, faith and morality and for patient reading spread over weeks. It is a classic, a meganovel, and needs time, respect, and patience; but reading a novel of this skill and magnitude is in my view, a delightful experience unmatched by reading dozens of easy read 100 page books we buy as bestsellers in bookstores everwhere. Commit to it, and experience the love, life, flora, fauna, streets, winds and tea in Russia in Tolstoy's masterly detail:)

Amazing in many respects
It has been said that Leo Tolstoy is one of the greatest writers of all time and that can certainly be seen in his epic masterpiece "War and Peace," but there are some things left to be desired in the work including a more uniform style with regard to fiction and history, and a more interesting plot.

I can't add too much to the praise Tolstoy has received about his skill, but I would like to mention that, not only was he a great writer, he was also an observant psychologist (albeit without the doctorates as far as I know).His descriptions of character and idiosyncrasies are masterful and reveal an immense amount of insight into the human character.Reading his work is truly a pleasure, though much of that can be attributed to the translator (Constance Garnett in this case).

I shouldn't harp on about the inadequacies of the book, but Tolstoy's personal reflections on the history when the novel takes place do not mesh well with the fiction and causes a somewhat disjointed read.Though Tolstoy's tearing up of Napoleon is humorous and important for the book, it could be inserted as a character's beliefs just as easily.Instead, it is written as an author's aside.Another negative is the slow plot, which may have been lively in the 19th century, but lacks in excitement today.

The author's free-will/fate philosophy in the last section of the book, however, is about as lively as can be and deserves repeated readings.It alone could stand as a masterpiece. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Some people say Anna Karenina is the single greatest novel ever written, which makes about as much sense to me as trying to determine the world's greatest color. But there is no doubt that Anna Karenina, generally considered Tolstoy's best book, is definitely one ripping great read. Anna, miserable in her loveless marriage, does the barely thinkable and succumbs to her desires for the dashing Vronsky. I don't want to give away the ending, but I will say that 19th-century Russia doesn't take well to that sort of thing.Book Description
Tolstoy startled the world with this powerful story of adultery and its aftermath, of the human need for love and happiness, and of the unyielding demands of society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (238)

Anna's tale

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." That line opens and sets the tone of "Anna Karenina," a tangled and tragic tale of nineteenth century Russia. Tolstoy's story of lovers and family is interlaced with razor-sharp social commentary and odd moments that are almost transcendent. In other words, this is a masterpiece.

When Stepan Oblonsky has an affair with the governess, his wife says that she's leaving him, and now the family is about to disintegrate. Stepan's sister Anna arrives to smooth over their marital problems, and consoles his wife Dolly until she agrees to stay. But on the train there, she met the outspoken Countess Vronsky, and the countess's dashing son, who is semi-engaged to Dolly's sister Kitty.

Anna and Vronsky start to fall in love -- despite the fact that Anna has been married for ten years, to a wealthy husband she doesn't care about, and has a young son. Even so, Anna rejects her loveless marriage and becomes the center of scandal and public hypocrisy, and even becomes pregnany by Vronsky. As she prepares to jump ship and get a divorce, Anna becomes a victim of her own passions...

That isn't the entire story, actually -- Tolstoy weaves in other plots, about disintegrating families, new marriages, and the melancholy Levin's constant search for God, truth, and goodness. Despite the grim storyline about adultery, and the social commentary, there's an almost transcendent quality to some of Tolstoy's writing. It's the most optimistic tragic book I've ever read.

For some reason, Tolstoy called this his "first novel," even though he had already written some before that. Perhaps it's because "Anna Karenina" tackles so many questions and themes, and does so without ever dropping the ball. No wonder it's so long and imposing -- Tolstoy covered a lot of ground in here.

And while "Anna Karenina" was not the first book he wrote, it is probably the deepest and most moving. Tolstoy steeps the book in social commentary, and his personal philosophies. It's also one of those books that takes a very long time to move itself forward -- Tolstoy's writing is slow and ponderous, with a lot of serious discussion about religion and relationships. But his intense, slightly rough writing is worth it.

In some tragic books, you get the feeling that the author really despises his characters, and doesn't really care what happens to them. Tolstoy never gives you that feeling -- no matter how annoying his characters are, they always have something interesting or endearing. No caricatures at all -- even Anna's irritating, arrogant brother is given some quirks to make him seem real.

Oddly enough, the most moving character here is not Anna, but Konstantin Levin -- the tortured, passionate landowner is so earnest that it's difficult not to care about him. Apparently he was Tolstoy's alter ego, which explains his depth. But Anna and Vronsky are strong leads, a passionate pair who are both selfish and seductive, but never boring.

A beautiful look at living right vs. living wrong, "Anna Karenina" is a truly magnificent book. This book is undoubtedly Tolstoy's opus, and a stunning look at human nature.

Wrong Translation
Please be aware that this hardback is the MAUDE translation, not the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation. The link from the paperback that says the hardcover is still available re-directs you to this page. The Pevear/Volokhonsky translation in hardback appears to be unavailable.

Please enter a title for your review
Half the content is elaborate banal detail used to establish context, but in it's more consequential moments this novel is the final word on the disingenuous nature of institutionalized aspects of social behaviour. It's a theme I've pondered and seen touched on in a few other books, but I was blown away by how comprehensively Tolstoy articulates and extrapolates my own thoughts.
This novel is primarily a work of philosophy, using the characters to illustrate social observations at the expense of a fully cohesive narrative.
It's difficult to understand how fans of classic fiction, who generally consider "reading" a neccessity for respectable people, don't take offense to this book as it seems to be constantly critcizing that kind of cultural pretense.
Another interesting thing I got from the book is how culture 100+ years ago doesn't seem as formal and conservative as I had previously been led to believe. Parents were already complaining about tradition falling out of favor among the younger generation and governmental red-tape was already something criticized as getting in the way of practical goals. On the other hand the doctors of the era are presented as having no medical knowledge whatsoever.
my fave quote:
"The word talent, which they understood to mean an innate and almost physical capacity, independent of mind and heart, and which was their term for everything an artist lives through, occurred very often in their conversation, since they required it as a name for something which they did not at all understand, but about which they wanted to talk."

Best book I ever read
My favorite book from Russian author Count Leo Tolstoy. The passion, the datails, everything about this book is powerful. I read it in College and I just re-read it last summer. I will read it again.

Passionate pastoral
It was interesting to read this--arguably the greatest of all novels--just after CRIME AND PUNISHMENT and several years after WAR AND PEACE. By comparison, this novel is gentle and lucid, written with the eye of comedy despite the tragic ending of its heroine, and intimate in scale despite its immense themes. Among these are the first stirrings of communism, the differences between social norms and true morality, and the search for religious belief, echoing the course of Tolstoy's own conversion. Although it is heresy to say so, I found Levin, the author's alter ego, the pastoral world he inhabits, and his love for Kitty to be ultimately more moving (to the point of bringing tears to the eyes) than the passion of Anna and Vronsky. I think this is because their subplot really begins to develop at precisely the point where the adulterous affair of the title character begins to lose its forward drive. But in both sides of the story, Tolstoy's eye for detail is unmatched; his set-pieces like the ball, the horse race, the bird hunt, and the election are uniformly superb; and with his vivid characters for company, his book flies by.