Tolstoi as Man and Artist


Book Description







What Is Art and Essays on Art


Book Description

Originally published in 1930, this book contains the widely respected essay 'What Is Art', by the well-known Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, and is highly recommended for inclusion on the bookshelf of any fan of his works. Many of these earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.




Tolstoy


Book Description

This biography of the brilliant author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina “should become the first resort for everyone drawn to its titanic subject” (Booklist, starred review). In November 1910, Count Lev Tolstoy died at a remote Russian railway station. At the time of his death, he was the most famous man in Russia, more revered than the tsar, with a growing international following. Born into an aristocratic family, Tolstoy spent his existence rebelling against not only conventional ideas about literature and art but also traditional education, family life, organized religion, and the state. In “an epic biography that does justice to an epic figure,” Rosamund Bartlett draws extensively on key Russian sources, including fascinating material that has only become available since the collapse of the Soviet Union (Library Journal, starred review). She sheds light on Tolstoy’s remarkable journey from callow youth to writer to prophet; discusses his troubled relationship with his wife, Sonya; and vividly evokes the Russian landscapes Tolstoy so loved and the turbulent times in which he lived.




The Cossacks


Book Description

This 1862 novel, in a vibrant new translation by Peter Constantine, is Tolstoy' s semiautobiographical story of young Olenin, a wealthy, disaffected Muscovite who joins the Russian army and travels to the untamed frontier of the Caucasus in search of a more authentic life. While striving to adopt the rough and ready lifestyle of the local Cossacks, Olenin falls in love with a free-spirited girl whose fiancé turns out to be a formidable opponent. Showcasing the philosophical insight that would characterize Tolstoy' s later masterpieces, this long overdue translation is a revelation.




Master and Man


Book Description

This short story from renowned Russian author Leo Tolstoy takes on an almost fable-like quality in its stark simplicity and moral truth. A wealthy man's greed and avarice lead him to treat his servant in a spectacularly cruel manner. Will he continue with his evil ways, or will he have a change of heart before it's too late?




The Tetradome Run


Book Description

When the crime wave peaked in the early 70s, and Nixon signed the Redemption Act, no one bothered to imagine what public execution might look like fifty years in the future. No one imagined that The Tetradome Run would become the most popular show in America. This year's show puts convicted felons in a race with genetically engineered monstrous creations. Murderers, rapists, terrorists, and thieves--they all will take their place at the starting line, and the most notorious among them is Jenna Duvall, the college student who shot a Senator. Allegedly. Jenna swears she's innocent, and as she runs for her life in the Tetradome, a small-town journalist uncovers a shocking counter-narrative that suggests there is more to Jenna's story than anyone knows. A mashup of dystopian thriller and riveting psychological suspense, The Tetradome Run is a novel that doesn't need to look far into the future to find a world gone wrong. Instead, it looks at America right here, right now, and dares the reader to ask a provocative question: What if we already live in dystopia?




Tolstoy's Art and Thought, 1847-1880


Book Description

"My aim is to present Tolstoy's work as he may have understood it himself," writes Donna Orwin. Reconstructing the intellectual and psychic struggles behind the masterpieces of his early and middle age, this major study covers the period during which he wrote The Cossacks, War and Peace, and Anna Karenina. Orwin uses the tools of biography, intellectual and literary history, and textual analysis to explain how Tolstoy's tormented search for moral certainty unfolded, creating fundamental differences among the great novels of the "pre-crisis" period. Distinguished by its historical emphasis, this book demonstrates that the great novelist, who had once seen a fundamental harmony between human conscience and nature's vitality, began eventually to believe in a dangerous rift between the two: during the years discussed here, Tolstoy moved gradually from a celebration of life to instruction about its moral dimensions. Paying special attention to Tolstoy's reading of Rousseau, Goethe, Schopenhauer, and the Russian thinker N. N. Strakhov, Orwin also explores numerous other influences on his thought. In so doing, she shows how his philosophical and emotional conflicts changed form but continued unabated--until, with his religious conversion of 1880, he surrendered his long attempt to make sense of life through art alone.




A Confession


Book Description

A Confession Leo Tolstoy - This short work was originally titled An Introduction to a Criticism of Dogmatic Theology. It is a brief autobiographical story of the author's struggle with a mid-life existential crisis, and 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?




The Death of Ivan Ilych


Book Description

Step into the profound depths of human existence with Leo Tolstoy's poignant novella, ""The Death of Ivan Ilych."" This masterful work delves into the stark realities of life, death, and the search for meaning in a world filled with superficiality. As the narrative unfolds, follow the life of Ivan Ilych Golovin, a high-ranking judge who seemingly has it all: a successful career, a comfortable home, and a respectable family. But when faced with a terminal illness, Ivan is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence. Tolstoy's incisive prose unveils the haunting truth behind a life lived for societal approval. But here’s the question that will linger in your mind: What is the true measure of a life well-lived? Can we find authenticity in our choices, or are we merely playing roles defined by others? Explore the emotional landscape of Ivan’s final days, where the illusion of happiness shatters, revealing the profound truths about love, regret, and the inevitability of death. Tolstoy’s exploration of mortality invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the choices that define them. Are you ready to confront the realities of existence, where every decision shapes the legacy you leave behind? Engage with this timeless meditation on life and death, where every moment holds the weight of significance. This is not merely a story of death; it is a call to live authentically and embrace the depths of our humanity. Don't miss your chance to experience this literary gem. Purchase ""The Death of Ivan Ilych"" now, and embark on a transformative journey into the essence of life.