Leo Tolstoy Biography and latest books by Leo Tolstoy

Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born in his family estate of Yasnaya Polyana in the Tula region of Russia. He was born to Count Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy and Countess Mariya Tolstaya (Volkonskaya). His father took part in the Patriotic War of 1812. However, Tolstoy lost his parents when he was a child and he was raised by his relatives.

In 1844, Tolstoy enrolled at Kazan University to study law and oriental languages. His teachers felt that he was ‘both unable and unwilling to learn’. He left his studies half-way and went back home and spent most of his time socializing in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Running steep in gambling debts, he joined the army. He also resorted to writing at this time.

Tolstoy’s zeal to write and his political thoughts were fueled by his meeting with Victor Hugo and his trips across Europe. Hugo’s Les Miserables left a profound impact on him and it is evident in War and Peace. On witnessing a public execution in Paris scarred him for life and left him grieving.  Soon after, he wrote to a friend saying, “The truth is that the State is a conspiracy designed not only to exploit, but above all to corrupt its citizens ... Henceforth, I shall never serve any government anywhere.”

Tolstoy returned home and started 13 schools for the children of the serfs. His school at Yasnaya Polyana was the precursor to AS Neill’s legendary progressive school: Summerhill School.

Tolstoy married Sophia Andreevna Behrs and wrote the timeless classics such as War and Peace, Anna Karenina, Hadji Murad, and The Death of Ivan Ilyich.

Tolstoy died in 1910; he was 82 at the Astapovo train station. 
 

Total Download : 6233 Anna Karenina Download now

Total Download : 4484 War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Download now

Total Download : 1156 Anna Karenina Download now

Total Download : 857 Anna Karenina Download now

Total Download : 281 Anna Karenina Download now

Total Download : 196 Fables for Children, Stories for Children, Natural Science Stories, Popular Education, Decembrists, Moral Tales Download now

Total Download : 29 Tolstoy on Shakespeare A Critical Essay on Shakespeare Download now

Total Download : 8 Plays Complete Edition, Including the Posthumous Plays Download now

Total Download : 10 What Shall We Do? Download now

Total Download : 14 Kaukasische vertellingen Eene overvalling; Een houtkapping in het bosch; Een ontmoeting te velde met een moskousch kameraad Download now

Total Download : 13 The Power of Darkness Download now

Total Download : 9 The First Distiller Download now

Total Download : 8 Fruits of Culture Download now

Total Download : 7 The Live Corpse Download now

Total Download : 7 The Cause of it All Download now