Book Description
This collection of Tolstoy's stories includes "Sevastopol," "Two Hussars," "Albert," "What Men Live By," "Master and Man," "How Much Land Does a Man Need?," "The Death of Ivan Ilych," "The Three Hermits," and the title piece. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Tolstoy's short masterpieces
This book represents stories from Tolstoy's both periods. "What Men Live By?", "Master and Man", "How Much Land Does A Man Need?" and "The Death of Ivan Ilych", are among his best parables written during his second period (and they are indeed some of the best parables ever written). But it is his early and less-known fiction that makes this collection so valuable. "Sevastopol in May 1855", "Albert" and "Two Hussars" in particular, are great examples of Tolstoy's art. They are largely overshadowed by "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" and are lesser-known, but equally great. In these stories, one can see Tolstoy's familiar `life and death' theme, as well as his mastery in revealing the inner thoughts of his characters, and furnishing the so-called `furniture' of his stories. Notice the description of a piece of music, "illumining the inner world of every listener with an unexpectedly clear and tranquilizing light." in "Albert"; death of Praskukhin in "Sevastopol in May 1855"; Ilyin's inner thoughts, intermingled with street events as he walks, in "Two Hussars" and several other examples. Structures of these stories are highly original, and gave people opportunity to criticize Tolstoy's fiction for lack of apparent structure. I strongly recommend this book for serious lovers of literature.

Tolstoy at his best
Tolstoy is a masterful writer, and this marvelous collection of his short stories is excellent proof of this.Of the 9 stories contained in the collection, 3 in particular are worth noting: The Raid wasan interesting tale of life on the "frontier" of Ukraine - and is not unlike a Louis L'Amour viginette.Tolstoy pulls no punches here, and the line between "good guy" and "bad guy" is blurred.Two Hussars is another favorite of mine, mostly because of the way in which he writes the characters - so real you can imagine meeting them in person in some dimly-lit pub.How Much Land Does a Man Need?is the third short story that resonnated with me, as it wrestles with the typically Russian theme of a man and his attachment to the land, but also with the broader human theme of need versus greed.(Especially resonant in our own time, what with ozone depletion, increased consumption of fossil fuels, and over population.)While the other stories are good, these 3 in particular make the book worth the purchase price.Don't think of it as "Tolstoy" - read it for its own sake - its a thumping good book.

Tolstoy on a smaller, more managable scale.
I was attracted to this volume by Calvino's recommendation of 'Two Hussars', a gorgeous, bipartite story of Turgenev-like transparency, about the respective, mirroring adventures of a father and son, and their relationships with the army, their servants, the local society they briefly enter, and the women they meet.

In one sense it is a tale about history, about the raucous gambling, drinking and dancing of the early 19th century, and the more sedate, stolid bourgeoisification in its middle.The climax, where narrative and character gives way to suspended time and a tableaux of nature, is heartstopping.

The other stories in this collection are similarly schizophrenic, ranging from early works in the 1850s influenced by Tolstoy's time in the army; and the later didactic, moralistic works, including some of his most famous, 'The Death of Ivan Illyich' and 'How much land does a man need?' (which Joyce thought the greatest story ever written).

the translations by Louise and Aylmer Maude, nearly a century old, are still very readable, probably because they were friends of Tolstoy's, and had greatr knowledge of his methods and intentions.The annotation and 1982 introduction needs updating, though. ... 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
In 1872 the mistress of a neighbouring landowner threw herself under a train at a station near Tolstoy's home. This gave Tolstoy the starting point he needed for composing what many believe to be the greatest novel ever written. In writing Anna Karenina he moved away from the vast historical sweep of War and Peace to tell, with extraordinary understanding, the story of an aristocratic woman who brings ruin on herself.Anna's tragedy is interwoven with not only the courtship and marriage of Kitty and Levin but also the lives of many other characters.Rich in incident, powerful in characterization, the novel also expresses Tolstoy's own moral vision. `The correct way of putting the question is the artist's duty', Chekhov once insisted, and Anna Karenina was the work he chose to make his point.It solves no problem, but it is deeply satisfying because all the questions are put correctly. ... 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.

I read this in the Modern Library hardback edition, whose translation by Constance Garnett, reworked by Leonard Kent and Nina Berberova, flows a lot more smoothly than the unretouched Garnett of the Barnes and Noble CRIME AND PUNIHSMENT. ... Read more

Book Description
In Russia's struggle with Napoleon, Tolstoy saw a tragedy that involved all mankind. Greater than a historical chronicle, War and Peace is an affirmation of life itself, `a complete picture', as a contemporary reviewer put it, `of everything in which people find their happiness and greatness, their grief and humiliation'.Tolstoy gave his personal approval to this translation, published here in a new single volume edition, which includes an introduction by Henry Gifford, and Tolstoy's important essay `Some Words about War and Peace'.Download Description
Tolstoy's classic, complete and unabridged. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (283)

Exactly what I was looking for
I had been putting off reading War and Peace for over 45 years because my early attempts were with terrible translations.After looking at reviews of different translations, I decided to try once more with the Maude version.It is very readable and I appreciate the notes in the back and the character list in the front.It reads like the great novel it is supposed to be.I only wish I had discovered it earlier, but I am enjoying it now!

Should I Buy This or Pevear and Volokhonsky's Translation?
Unless you are completely stressed out over $10, buy the new Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation. The main reason is that the Oxford version has little analysis. If it had offered a bit more, it would be a good buy but it is mostly just the text. Usually they contain an excellent analysis section, but it is not inclued here, So I give the nod to the newer translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky.

Count Lev Nikolaevich (1828-1910), more widely known abroad as Leo Tolstoy, is recognized as one the greatest novelist in the modern era. War and Peace is a superb piece of literature that most serious readers should read at least once. Many read it twice or more. All of the fiction is excellent and never dull. The non-fiction parts seem a bit strange and the reader can skip those parts. Once the reader gets past the first few pages, the reading is relatively simple and compelling. It contains excellent prose that one might associate with Tolstoy's writing, and it is only the length that discourages the reader. This was a seven day read, cover to cover, including two 300 page days - each day about the same as a complete regular novel such as "Saturday." It is not for the faint of heart.

War and Peace is a bit of an odd novel being so long. Tolstoy goes beyond a simple novel as Anna Karenina or The Cossacks. He tells a historical tale plus he injects approximately 100 pages of his own non-fiction comments about society and war. Tolstoy's non-fiction comments ruin the book to a degree. Instead of the best novel ever written, Tolstoy's political ideas - which the reader can skip - tend to tarnish the book as a piece of literature. One feels that he should have been able to integrate his ideas into the actions of the characters rather than giving the reader long lectures on history and politics in the middle and at the end of a wonderful story (as Dostoevsky integrates his ideas on religion and morality into the dialogue). Otherwise, it is probably one of the best novels ever written.

I like Pevear and Volokhonsky's work and have bought and read three of their other works and have looked at the Oxford version very closely. All the translations, such as Oxford (Maude) and Modern Library Classics (Garnett), are good and very similar in overall quality. For example, turn to the beginning at the start of section 11. The present book uses numbers while Pevear and Volokhonsky's use Roman numerals. What other differences are there? The present book says two people "value" their friendship while Pevear and Volokhonsky says they "cherish" their friendship. Not much different. Reading on the same page, the two turn to talk to each other in Maude while in Pevear and Volokhonsky's work one speaker pulls up their chair. One would have to know Russian and consult the original text to know if the "chair" is more accurate, but overall one gets a better or a more complete picture of the events from Pevear and Volokhonsky. So, spend the extra $10. and get the newer version with the better hard cover as a bonus.

Great read: 5 stars if you have the fortitude, and worth the effort.

A good read
...is how my mother, a great reader all her life (86 years, 82 reading) described War and Peace when she saw me with it.And that is exactly what it is.Don't be put off by the length, it's quite possible to pick up and put down.It maintains its power and vividness of scene and character however long you leave it alone.The war scenes are as gripping as the peace scenes, and there is a great deal to learn from Tolstoy, even us, even now.Constance Garnett's translation is a lovely one, into easy English, modern but not too modern.Final suggestion:I got a paperback version first and - it - will - show - the - wear - before you're done, no matter what.I am getting a hardcover to keep around.

The Best
The best book I've ever read.The only challenge is the length, but the pages fly by.Even at the end you don't want it to be over. Absolutely incredible breadth of war, Russian society, and life.

Brilliant
A truly amazing work.Although it took me quite a while to finish, it was worth the effort.Don't be daunted by it's size.While the book is long, the story and the characters are so engaging that, when I reached the end, I only wished there was more.Tolstoy is a master of characterization and seems to be writing about people he has known for years rather than those he himself invented.I may pick it up again in a few years.There is nothing else like it. ... Read more

Book Description
It happened in the 'seventies in winter, on the day after St. Nicholas's Day. There was a fete in the parish and the innkeeper, Vasili Andreevich Brekhunov, a Second Guild merchant, being a church elder had to go to church, and had also to entertain his relatives and friends at home. But when the last of them had gone he at once began to prepare to drive over to see a neighboring proprietor about a grove which he had been bargaining over for a long time. He was now in a hurry to start, lest buyers from the town might forestall him in making a profitable purchase. . . . It was a moment that would ultimately cost someone his life, and for reasons that will surprise you. Listen carefully: read and learn.Download Description
Another masterpiece from Tolstoy. Very spiritual book dealing with a rich merchants morality. A great novel about human nature and sacrifice. Please Note:This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher.The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year.Both versions are text searchable. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Not quite classic Tolstoy?
I know that Tolstoy was a genius and a talented author. However, this story seemedquite bland to me and I found that it never really "grabbed" me in a way that could be comparable to "War and Peace".

Simply Superb: It Contains Two Great Tolstoy Stories Plus One Not as Great
This is a good three story collection with an introduction by Paul Foote.

Tolstoy is recognized as one of the leading writer of novels, and he was a leading Russian writer of the 19th century. He wrote three monumental works including War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and the novella The Death of Ivan Ilych." Two were written by Tolstoy at his peak around 1865 to 1980, and Ilych was written in 1886 before Tolstoy started to lose his interest in fiction.

This is a collection of three stories that were all written at the end of Tolstoy's career, all written after 1890 when he was making the transition to non-fiction polemics. Only one of the three stories was published during Tolstoy's lifetime and that was Master and Man.

The first story in the book is Father Sergius, and it was written between 1890 and 1898. It is brilliant and ambitious. It is a story about a priest who dedicates his life to religion and purity. He lives in isolation and commits his life to God, and the story is about his search for truth. Unfortunately, he is still attracted to women, and that attraction or sexual passion frightens him and the story describes how he deals with that struggle to overcome his moral shortcomings or temptations. This was a favorite story of Tolstoy.

The second story, Master and Man, is simply superb. It is about two men on a trip by a horse drawn sleigh through the winter snows near a small village. They get caught in a blizzard while on a simple business trip. It was published in 1895, and is among the finest short stories ever written. It contains many signature elements of Tolstoy's writings including detailed descriptions of the Russian characters in a rural setting: "man, society, and nature" as described by Foote.

The last is Hadji Murat, written between 1896 to 1904. It follows earlier books on the southern wars including The Raid (1835), Wood-Felling (1855), and The Cossacks (1863). It is based on real events and lacks a strong central protagonist, and that is the weakness of the story. I was not excited by this novel and prefer Tolstoy's The Cossacks which covers a similar subject matter - that is set in southern Russia - but which has strong characters with strong human emotions.

Also, his most important fiction started in the 1860s with the release of The Cossacks in 1863. That story contains emotional elements and descriptions similar to what we read in Anna Karenina." by contrast,Hadji Murat was one of his last fictional works; and, Tolstoy expressed mixed feelings about the novel and its merits. It does rise to the same level as work from his prime.

Overall, this a good buy with two superb stories and one good story. Some of the works are available individually on line free from Gutenberg.

Short for Tolsoi, but excellent
For Tolstoi, this qualifies as an "O. Henry surprise-typeending" since you aren't expecting the wealthy merchant to sacrificehis own life for that of his lowly serf. This seems especially true sinceTolstoi gives you several examples throughout the story of how the masterundervalues his loyal servant.

For example, Tolstoi tells you that he isunderpaid even for a serf. Also, his shrewd master always manages tomanipulate and maneuver the servant into buying his goods from him, insteadof from the store in the village, by making it look like he is doing him afavor in the process. This way he can overcharge for everything and therebytakes back what little money he is paying his servant anyway. The servantis well aware of this but is resigned to the situation.

Anotherinteresting thing is how they get into a life-threatening situation in thefirst place. The workaholic merchant decides to press on at night in asevere blizzard, rather than remain safe in a farmhouse they have happenedon in the snow, because he is impatient to get on to his next deal, anddoesn't want to miss out on a possible opportunity.

I thought thetime-obsessed businessman was primarily a late 20th century invention, butnot so. The wealthy landowner and businessman regards even a few lostmoments of time as unacceptable, and so they venture out into the fatalstorm. They get lost in the driving and trackless snow on the way to thenext town.

Tolstoi describes this poignantly. At several points, themaster is certain they have come back to where they started and so are justgoing in circles, but the snow is coming down so hard that the horsecarriage's tracks have already been covered up, and so he can't be sure. Atthat point he realizes the situation is hopeless.

Finally, the masterparks the horse and carriage under a tree and they huddle together and tryto survive until morning.But only the servant survives, his wealthymaster in the end sacrificing his own life for that of his servant, bydeciding to keep his servant warm instead of himself.

Very powerful story of humanity
I, too, have to disagree with this 'english class' in their dull-assesment of this story.This must be a very young class of students who haven't experienced enough of human nature to fully appreciate and understand thecomplexity and beauty of the 2 characters in this wonderfully touchingstory.This is the first story that has ever made me weep openly whilereading.The second, also by Tolstoy, was Strider: The Story of a Horse. If you liked Master and Man, you must find this one!That's why I'm heretoday; looking to replace my lost copy.

No, not dull... very deep and powerful.
I felt I had to respond to the above comment by saying that this is a masterfully written short story and a moving account of a Master who makes the ultimate sacrifice, whether knowing it or not, to his lowly, faithful servant.The story contrasts well the attitudes and lives of rich masters and their voluntary slaves. ... Read more

Product Description
8 Vo. 585 pp. ... Read more

Product Description
Leo Tolstoy's fame as a writer may stem from his novels such as Anna Karenina and War and Peace, but it is his short stories, written in over five decades, that reveal his soul. The 55 stories in this new edition, beautifully illustrated by the award-winning Russian artist Roman Pisarev, form the definitive collection of his short fiction. Haunted by themes of sin and mortality, Tolstoy wrote with 'an almost biblical vision' and an unflinching determination to confront universal questions. Yet these stories also contain fascinating biographical fragments of more than 50 years of Tolstoys life, from feckless young aristocrat and raw army officer to social reformer and spiritual sage. From the vivid reportage of 'The Raid' to the late masterpiece 'Master and Man', these are great stories which 'can be read again and again: there is always something new and fascinating to find'. (John Bayley). The 55 stories in this collection are drawn almost exclusively from the translations of Aylmer and Louise Maude, whom Tolstoy knew well and for whose work he had the highest praise, saying that 'better translators could not be invented'Three volumes. Introduced by John Sutherland with translations by Aylmer and Louise Maude Illustrated by Roman Pisarev. Bound in buckram, blocked in three colours with a design by the artist. 1,552 pages. 41 full-page illustrations. 9½" x 6¼". ... 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
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
Resurrection (1899) is the last of Tolstoy's major novels.It tells the story of a nobleman's attempt to redeem the suffering his youthful philandering inflicted on a peasant girl who ends up a prisoner in Siberia. 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 its author's outrage at the social injustices of the world in which he lived. This edition, which updates a classic translation, has explanatory notes and a substantial introduction based on the most recent scholarship in the field. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

A "Regular People" Review
Tolstoy did not believe in art for arts sake.Had he of, this could have been truly amazing.However it still does not dissappoint.This is a good introduction to Tolstoy even though it doesn't compare to the wide variety of characters in Anna Karenina or War and Peace, It still showcases Tolstoy's habit of touching on the current social and political issues of the time when it was written (and strangly many of them still hold true today).If you can stand to be lectured a little- pick this up...and keep me updated!

Resurrection
One of the great novels written by Leo Tolstoy in 1899, who, by then was already past his prime when he wrote "Anna Karilina" as well as "War and Peace". This novel differed from the previous novels he wrote in that Tolstoy focused on the sufferings of the people and description of the underground movements that existed side by side with the aristocratic class. This was unlike the novels that he wrote before, when he wrote mainly about the aristocratics.

The novel takes us to the Prince Nekhlyudov, who seduced a servant girl called Katusha(sometimes referred as Maslova) many years ago and is now shocked to see her being tried for murder on a trial which he himself is part of the jury. Katusha is no longer the innocent, loving maid that she was many years ago but is now a detestable prostitute. At once Nekhlyudov feels guilty, since his seduction was the cause of all that Katusha went through later, a baby conceded by Katusha but was soon lost. Soon Katusha's life began to fall apart. She drifted on the streets and became a prostitute. While at the same time Nekhlyudov, who once was a virtous young man and denounced private property, is now leading a degraded life.

And this is where the novel starts. As the unlikely encounter in the trial soon crossed the two people's lives once again. Later Katusha was send to Siberia for poisoning on a blatant error on the part of the juries. So decided Nekhlyudov that he needed to follow her for a chance at redemption. Thus began the resurrection for not only Nekhlyudov but also Katusha, a resurrection that would lead both of them into a new, better lives.

Tolstoy attacked the existing social order poignantly in this novel. Especially the Orthodox Church and the wealthy upper class. Tolstoy rebuked the two sides for treating the lower class people unhumanely, locking them up instead of changing the existing society to accomodate more equality. Tolstoy also placed a lot of emphasis on the moral issues concerning mankind and the society in general. Stating in the end of the book the "Heaven on Earth" that he would like to see.

Another aspect is that this book touches all kinds of people from all classes. From the palace of a countess to the jails in Siberia, and from government officials to desperado revolutionaries. Tolstoy's depiction of the suffering with peasants and revolutionaries are really deep. And almost everything that Tolstoy writes in this book seems to relate to some sort of moral ties, not only did Nekhlyudov and Katusha change in this book, but also many other characters involved with Nekhlyudov, they are changed mostly to the worse side, we see how a society can truly alter, and even destroy, some people who started out guileless but turned corrupt.

In conclusion, this was truly a classic book exploring deep into the psychialogy of each individuals with its emphasis on the power of human redemption and its blunt attacks on the existing social order. A brilliantly woven tale indeed.

Deep, heavy, moralistic - all the things we love about the Count
Maybe the first modern novel. In `Resurrection' Tolstoy delves down deep into the disturbed psyche of his protagonist as he struggles with his decisions, his culture, and his beliefs. Like all of Tolstoy's works the book is as deep and the prose is heavy. There are times that the book reads more like a tract than a novel and there is a moral to every story. The book is interesting, too, in that I've wondered how much personal history Tolstoy wrote into it. Readers of Troyat's biography will see many familiar scenes played out here from Tolstoy's early days as a rich dandy to his later `resurrection' as a spiritual nomad.

Not quite up to par with `Anna' or `War and Peace' but a good book and a must for fans of the Great One.

"My business is to do what my conscience demands of me."
Resurrection (1899) is the last of Tolstoy's great novels and unlike the previous War and Peace and Anna Karenina the architectural lines are fairly unique. Whereas in the previous novels attention is continually shifted from one hero to another, in Resurrection Tolstoy follows Dimitri Nekhlydov step by step, drilling to the core of his thoughts, commenting on his actions, analyzing his motives, evincing his engendered acts, and verbalizing the purging of his soul that inexorably manifests into a non-Christian regeneration process. Tolstoy hardly lets Nekhlydov out of sight for an instant: his conscience continually demands of him to atone for his sin. Interwoven with the flow of the story is Nekhlydov's painful realization of the demoralization that develops into such perfect madness of selfishness.

If it had not been for the Doukhobors, who was accused of fighting against the spirit of God by the Orthodox Church, Tolstoy might never have finished the novel, the idea for which had been suggested to him ten years previously in order to raise fund for the sect. A nobleman, namely, Dimitri Nekhlydov, serves on a jury and recognizes the prostitute on trial for theft and poisoning a merchant as a girl he had seduced and loved when he was a young man. Katusha (Maslova), who is a yellow-card prostitute sanctioned by the government, has a checkered fate. She is wrongfully convicted as the jury inadvertently left out the phrase "no intent to take life" in the verdict. She is found not guilty in the theft but guilty of administering a powder and is sentenced to hard labor in the outlandish Siberia.

As Nekhlydov embarks on the campaign to appeal for Katusha and do her justice, in the depth of his soul he becomes so conscious of all the cruelty, cowardice, and baseness - not only of this particular action of his but of his whole idle, dissolute, selfish and complacent life. The dreadful veil that has all this time, for ten years, conceals from him his sin, and the whole of his life, dictated by the religious sophisms, begins to wobble. He has to confront with his entire being that the faith of his is farther than anything else from being the right thing.

One can gauge the progress of Nekhlydov's awakening by Katusha's attitude toward him. Ten years of prostitution has not completely extinguished the spiritual spark in her. This can be proven by the merchant's trust in her, the truth behind the poisoning of which she was accused, her behavior with a breath of equanimity at the trial toward the real culprits, the attitude of her fellow prisoners, and the outburst in which she would not allow Nekhlydov to gain his salvation at her expense.

When Nekhlydov witnesses the cruelty of the government officials who put duties and responsibilities of office above humanity and the sufferings of the innocent people who have not in the least transgressed against justice or committed lawless acts but merely because they are an obstacle hindering the officials and the rich from enjoying the wealth they amass from the people, he repents of his selfishness and a spiritual resurrection dawns on him. Simplicity of the explanation seems very overwhelming: the officials can insensibly ill-treat others without feeling any personal responsibility for the evil they do because they are completely devoid of not only compassion but the chief human attribute, that is, love and pity for one another.

As Nekhlydov becomes the mouthpiece for the innocent in Siberian prison, in whom Tolstoy expresses his own deepest aspirations and views on aspects of human existence. Nekhlydov's ambitious and heroic search to discover the purpose of life not only has become readers' striving, rekindled Katusha's love for him, but also unites with Tolstoy's ideals. Through the convoluted relationship between Nekhlydov and Katusha, Tolstoy treats the themes of love, passion and death with such compelling sincerity that one's heart is infected by pity and compulsive need to crusade against cruelty, injustice and repression.

Resurrection is psychologically superb in the treatment of one man's thoughts and feelings, which stem from a study of his physical being. Tolstoy deftly builds up this "dramatis personae" line upon line, and through which he turns a highly critical eye on the law, the penal system and above all, the Church. He ridicules the usual sophisms that so inveterately dictate his hero's life, that the enlightened ones plunge the people into greater darkness with their hypocrisy and heresy. Line by line Tolstoy sets up Nekhlydov's awakening in which he must overcome the laborious path of expiation stimulated by a voluntarily moral desire to repent. This very teaching brings Tolstoy at loggerhead to the Church, whose practices of deceit and delusion Tolstoy vehemently rejects with utter intransigence.

Resurrection gives us a vision that is beyond the historical reality of the given time period. A literary masterpiece it is, Tolstoy propagates his faith and moral ideals through his hero. Resurrection is an ultimate achievement of literary power that accentuates life of people in Russia.

2004 (43) ©MY

Responsibility
In the prison yard the name called out was Maslova.Her story was a common one.She was an orphan raised by maiden ladies of the land-owning class.She was spoiled and declined offers of marriage.

The nephew of the old ladies, a prince, came to stay with them when the girl was sixteen.Five months later she knew she was pregnant.The ladies let her leave pursuant to her own request.Her baby died in a foundling hospital.

Katusha as she then was called moved from position to position.By this time Katusha could go into service or enjoy the easier life as a resident of a house.Katusha Maslova chose the life of chronic sin as Tolstoy characterizes the situation.She lived this way for seven years.

Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Nekhlyuda, her seducer, was summoned to serve on the jury in criminal court.The prisoners were brought into the courtroom.The third prisoner was Maslova.The prince thought to himself, no it cannot be.He wondered, whether Katusha Maslova recognized him.

Maslova's attorney asserted that she had been led into a life of debauchery by a man who remained unpunished.Viewing her, Nekhlyudov believed that Katusha was certainly the same person she had been in her youth.Nekhlyudov felt she was innocent of both the theft and poisoning charges.

The jury made a mistake in writing out its findings for the court.As to Maslova, what was omitted was a finding negating an intent to take a life.Her sentence, therefore, was penal servitude in Siberia.

The President of the court advised Nekhlyudov to speak with the advocates to correct the mistake.Nekhlyudov felt that since he had something to do with Maslova getting on the wrong path, he must take measures to correct her situation.Once he realized that he was bad, others were no longer so disgusting to him.

Marriage with Missy, a member of his class, no longer seemed so probable.Nekhlyudov came to see that the persons being tried in the law courts were not the evil-doers he had previously supposed.Indeed, he himself was a deceiver and a rake and no one was trying to punish him.He told the procurator he wanted to follow and marry the prisoner Maslova.He stated that he now considered all judging useless, immoral.

Maslova dealt with her pain by the trick of disassociation.Nekhlyudov's initial words to her centered on his wish for forgiveness.Nekhlyudov expected Katusha Maslova to be pleased.She was not.Furthermore, it seemed she was not ashamed of her position.She is a convict and he is a gentleman andprince.She does not believe he really wants to marry her.

The prince tries to put his affairs in order to enable him to travel to Siberia if necessary.He rents the land from one estate to the peasants for a nominal rent.Maslova's position of appeal to the Senate is denied.As Nekhlyudovprepares his things to follow Maslova and the prisoners to Siberia, he perceives that he has lived through something very hard and very joyful and that he has experienced an inner change.

The description of the procedures used in the transport of prisoners are as fascinating now as when written since, inter alia, the camps of the Czar were the predecessors of the camps of Stalin.The theme is the blindness of the upper classes to the suffering of those below them.

Maslova is allowed to join the political prisoners and thereby escape the harassment of the general convicts.Maslova values and admires the political prisoners.Nekhlyudov comes to change his mind about the revolutionists, (they were being treatedharshly, as if in time of war).

Through the prince's efforts, Maslova's sentence to hard labor is commuted to exile.Maslova seeks to release Nekhlyudov from his self-imposed task by marrying another person, one of the political prisoners. ... Read more

Book Description
Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828-1910) commonly referred to in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer - novelist, essayist, dramatist and philosopher - as well as pacifist Christian anarchist and educational reformer. He was the most influential member of the aristocratic Tolstoy family. His first publications were three autobiographical novels, Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth (1852-1856). They tell of a rich landowner's son and his slow realization of the differences between him and his peasants. As a fiction writer Tolstoy is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all novelists, particularly noted for his masterpieces War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877). In their scope, breadth and realistic depiction of 19th-century Russian life, the two books stand at the peak of realist fiction. As a moral philosopher Tolstoy was notable for his ideas on nonviolent resistance through works such as The Kingdom of God is Within You (1894). ... Read more