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

Book Description
A biographical and critical study of Tolstoy. ILLUS. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

HE FINDS IT IN THE END
A man who has looked for meaning: in the debauched antics of youth drinking and sex, in his career, in his family, and in his writing. Despite all nothing fills the void and nothing meets the longing in his soul. Until he sees Christ in the poor peasant folk living in St Petersburgh.A very rich read and an example to us all. ... Read more

Book Description
Leo Tolstoy's biography of Buddha has never before been available in English. This translation, his description of Buddhism, together with an analysis of Buddhist and Taoist influences in his fiction clarify the cultural conundrum that Tolstoy hoped to solve and with which contemporary society still struggles: how to integrate Western ethical and religious beliefs with those of the East in an age of increasing global information and communication. ... Read more

Book Description
In this quarter-century update of Leo Tolstoy: An Annotated Bibliography of English Language Sources to 1978, authors David and Melinda Egan list the more than 1,200 books, essays, articles and doctoral dissertations written about the great Russian author from 1978 to 2003. The book provides a comprehensive list of English language studies of Tolstoy's life, art, thought and influence, by addressing his novels, the major components of his non-literary life, and his legacy to the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"Tortured Noble" is specifically recommended for highschool and community library Biography collections
Count Leo Tolstoy was the most famous Russian writer of his day, and a man whose literary works have been the subject of major motion pictures and are still studied in university literature courses today. Perhaps best known to the general reading public are his acclaimed novels 'Anna Karenina' and 'War and Peace'. As an author, Tolstoy was able to infuse the lives of his aristocratic characters with qualities and quirks that are readily identified with by ordinary men and women. "Tortured Noble: The Story Of Leo Tolstoy" by freelance writer and literary critic Neil Heims is the biography of an outstanding talent who led a troubled personal live. Tolstoy was orphaned as a child, the brunt of competing ambitions by others, aspired to an ascetic life while sometimes crippled with self contempt. Somehow he was able to use all of his life experiences to create some of the most memorable fiction to ever come out of Russia and be acclaimed world wide. "Tortured Noble" is specifically recommended for highschool and community library Biography collections, and can be confidently recommended for college level supplemental reading lists for students of Tolstoy's literary works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review of Leo Tolstoy and the Baha'i Faith
This is a fascinating book, drawing heavily from Tolstoy's own letters and diaries, highlighting his fluctuating and ever-increasing understanding of and respect for the Baha'i Faith. It also shows what roles the Babi and Baha'i Faiths had to play during various stages in Tolstoy's own spiritual journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A fine critical study
This is what Tolstoy says about 'War and Peace'. "It is not a novel ,even less a poem, and still less a historical chronicle.'War and Peace' is what the author wished and was abvle to express in the form in which it is expressed." Tolstoy then goes on to say that all the great works of Russian literature deviate from European forms. Bayley in this excellent critical study seems to agree that there is something special about the urgency in which Russian literature 'caught up' with Europe. But he also shows Tolstoy's mastery of novelistic elements.
One interesting point is when Bayley puts Tolstoy on the same level as his great nemesis Shakespeare. Bayley talks about them both as being ' the most retrospective of writers',
This is a fine critical study and teaches much not only about the work of Tolstoy but about Russian Literature in general. ... Read more