Showing results by author "Tolstoy" in All Categories

Pierre is nothing like his confident, handsome friend Andrei. He is awkward and shy - and when his father dies and leaves Pierre a vast fortune, suddenly very popular. As war rages on the edges of Moscow and the charming young Natasha catches the eye of both friends, Pierre must decide what he wants and who he is. Can Pierre finally find happiness, and will Natasha decide where her heart truly lies?

Dans la Russie du XVIe siècle, le règne d’Ivan le Terrible se déploie entre visions grandioses et violence implacable. Écrit en 1863, ce drame historique de Tolstoï nous entraîne au cœur des salles du palais où se nouent intrigues, peurs et serments brisés.

Mental illness though can still carry a stigma. A case of ‘you’re not trying hard enough’, ‘or knuckling down and getting on with it’. But in more recent decades mental issues have come to be recognised as an illness, a disease rather than an affliction. We all remember horror stories of lobotomy’s and electric shock being used to ‘cure’ what society viewed as anti-social behaviour but illness, mental or physical is very real. Depression, schizophrenia, breakdown, psychosis are alarming events to have or to witness.

War and Peace (Russian: Война и мир, Voyna i mir; in original orthography: Война и миръ, Voyna i mir") is an epic novel by Leo Tolstoy, first published from 1865 to 1869 in Russki Vestnik, which tells the story of Russian society during the Napoleonic Era. It is usually described as one of Tolstoy's two major masterpieces (the other being Anna Karenina) as well as one of the world's greatest novels. War and Peace offered a new kind of fiction, with a great many characters caught up in a plot that covered nothing less than the grand subjects indicated by the title, combined ...

A Confession, or My Confession, is a short work on the subject of melancholia, philosophy and religion by the acclaimed Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy. It was written in 1879 to 1880, when Tolstoy was in his early fifties. The book is a brief autobiographical story of the author's struggle with a mid-life existential crisis. It describes his search for the answer to the ultimate philosophical question: "If God does not exist, since death is inevitable, what is the meaning of life?." Without the answer to this, for him, life had become "impossible".

Vladimir Nabokov called Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina "one of the greatest love stories in world literature." Set in imperial Russia, Anna Karenina is a rich and complex meditation on passionate love and disastrous infidelity. Married to a powerful government minister, Anna Karenina is a beautiful woman who falls deeply in love with a wealthy army officer, the elegant Count Vronsky.

Hadji Murat is a short novel by Leo Tolstoy which was published posthumously in 1912. It tells the story of Hadji Murat, a separatist guerrilla in the Caucasus who falls out with his own commander and eventually sides with the Russians in the hope of saving his family.

A prominent scholar and narrator of Russian history, Count Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy was also heavily influenced by German Romanticism and old Gothic tales. Here is his own foray into the macabre story genre—a novel as complex and tangled as any palace intrigue.

In the story, a land owner named Vasili Andreevich Brekhunov takes along one of his peasants, Nikita, for a short journey to the house of the owner of a forest. He is impatient and wishes to get to the town more quickly to purchase the forest before other contenders can get there. They find themselves in the middle of a blizzard, but the master in his avarice wishes to press on. They eventually get lost off the road and they try to camp. The master's peasant soon finds himself suffering from hypothermia.

In Tolstoy's final novel, a privileged nobleman by the name of Dmitri Nekhlyudov seeks to make amends for a bad deed he committed in the past. In the process, he discovers that he has been living in a world far removed from the reality of the average person.

Childhood is the first published novel by Leo Tolstoy, released under the initials L. N. in the November 1852 issue of the popular Russian literary journal The Contemporary. It is the first in a series of three novels and is followed by Boyhood and Youth. Published when Tolstoy was just twenty-three years old, the book was an immediate success, earning notice from other Russian novelists including Ivan Turgenev, who heralded the young Tolstoy as a major up-and-coming figure in Russian literature. Childhood is an exploration of the inner life of a young boy, Nikolenka, and one of the books in ...

Set against some of the most momentous events in 19th century Europe, this epic novel nonetheless also deals effectively with the intensely personal experiences of its characters. It features Tolstoy's most beautiful heroine, Nat.

In the setting of what is present-day Kazakhstan, Tolstoy examines two psychological problems. The first dilemma is that of a young man who desires both fulfilling love and a place as a respected member of society. The other is the difficulty of a primitive society to accept domination by a higher culture that has no understanding of the traditions it asks its colonists to cast aside.

Arguably the greatest literary masterpiece, War and Peace is an amazing blend of philosophy, history, spirituality, and love told through two families, the Rostovs and the Bolkonskys. The Rostovs personify the Russian spirit. Count Rostov, a generous, kind spendthrift, can deny his family nothing. His countess is a warm, loving, overindulged woman. These characteristics are reflected in their children, while the austere Bolkonskys are duty-bound.

Celebrate the magic and warmth of the holiday season with The Essential Christmas Collection, a curated anthology of timeless stories that capture the spirit of Christmas. From classic tales of generosity and joy to heartfelt moments of reflection, this collection will transport you to a world where miracles and Christmas cheer come to life. This enchanting compendium is perfect for cosy winter nights, family gatherings, and anyone seeking to rekindle the true meaning of Christmas. Enjoy these classic tales that have delighted generations and continue to bring joy year after year.

A Selection of Short Stories by Leo Tolstoy read by Bart Wolffe.

Immerse yourself in the epic tale of War and Peace, a literary masterpiece by Leo Tolstoy that explores the intricate tapestry of Russian society during the tumultuous Napoleonic Era. First published between 1865 and 1869, this monumental novel is celebrated as one of Tolstoy’s two crowning achievements (the other being Anna Karenina) and is often hailed as one of the greatest novels in literary history. With a vast array of characters and a sweeping narrative that delves into grand themes of war, love, youth, and the complexities of marriage, War and Peace redefined the conventions of ...

Delve into the profound reflections of Leo Tolstoy in "A Confession." This autobiographical work explores the author's spiritual journey and existential questions, offering deep insights into the human condition and the search for meaning.

Explore the profound reflections on mortality and the human condition suggested by the title, which delves into the inevitability of death and the search for meaning in life. This podcast offers a rotating collection of complete audiobooks that tackle themes of existence, introspection, and the varied ways individuals confront their own mortality. Each week, a different book is featured, showcasing a diverse range of perspectives, time periods, and literary styles. Listeners can gain valuable insights, satisfy their curiosity, and perhaps even find a sense of connection in the universal ...

When Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace was published in 1869, his genius was immediately recognized by people all over the world. In the later part of Leo Tolstoy's life, however, he began to share his deepest thoughts about Christianity in his writing. His definition of Christianity was not the same as the priests and bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church where there was so much pomp and pageantry. Tolstoy could care less for all that ceremony. He was a radical follower of Jesus Christ's teachings, particularly as found in the Sermon on the Mount (including Christ's controversial admonitions to "...