Lev Tolstoi (Lev Nicolaievici Tolstoi) was born on August 28, 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, Russia. He is a Russian novelist, writer, essayist, philosopher.
Biography and Career :
He was born in a noble family and was the fourth of the fifth children. His mother passed away when he was two years old and his father when he was nine. The kids were raised by their aunt in Kazan.
In
Kazan, Lev Tolstoi went to the University, where he wasn't such a good student. He abandoned studies and decided to go back Iasnaia Polina to take care of his father’s domain. He didn't like his life there as much as he had thought initially and decided to go to
Moscow and
St Petersburg.
Soon he went to his brother who was a military in Caucaz. Lev Tolstoi published his first work "Childhood" in 1852. It was a success and this gave him courage. The writer signed with his name only after the third one in 1856. During the war in Crimeea he was moved at the Danube.
The period of time between 1855-1881 was marked by many changes in Russia.
In 1856 Tolstoi left the army and returned to St Petersburg. Next year he traveled to Europe and the result is a story: "The Cossacks" (1863).
In 1859 he dedicated to the family's domain and was interested in education.
He got married in 1862 to Sonia Bers. They had during 15 years 13 children but only 10 survived.
Between 1865-1869 Tolstoi wrote "War and Peace" which is a fundamental work in the European literature. Soon after the novel was published it wasn't considered by the readers a great one. The author suffered a depression.
In 1873 he wrote his second important work: "Anna Karenina", and after he finished it Tolstoi was in a crises, he tried to kill himself. Finally he found his peace in religion.
In his last years he e many works inspired by villagers. He renounced to his fortune, started to wear the same cloths as the villagers and even made boots for himself.
In every country people loved him but he wasn't feeling well. He rejected the Russian state and considered that all he was doing didn't give him the peace he wanted.
When he was 82 he decided to leave his house with his youngest daughter. He left a note to his wife saying: "I want to leave this life to live in peace and loneliness my last days". Few days later, on November 20, 1910 Tolstoi died in a train station.
Quotes :
- "Man has received direct from God only one instrument wherewith to know himself and to know his relation to the universe--he has no other--and that instrument is reason."
Important Works :
- 1852 "Childhood"
- 1852-1856 "Boyhood"
- 1852-1856 "Youth"
- 1856 "Lucerne"
- 1856 "Three Deaths"
- 1862 "The Cossacks"
- 1865-1869 "War and Peace"
- 1873 "Anna Karenina"
- "Kholstomer"
- "The Death of Ivan Ilyich"
- "How Much Land Does a Man Need?"
- "A Confession"
- 1899 "Resurrection".
Lev Tolstoi Image : cavalodeferro.com
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