Hello everyone. I am from Russia. From the city of Tula. In the vicinity of which is Yasnaya Polyana, where Tolstoy lived his entire life.

I am very interested in all the films based on Tolstoy's books. Recently I found out that there is such a film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032121/

But I can't find it anywhere

Could you help me?

Why do many Christian researchers, such as Mereshkovsky, Berdiaev, claim that Tolstoy was a pagan, and the Old Testament was much closer to his worldview than the New Testament?

Just finished my second run at W&P and Anna Karenina. Recs for other novels? Do not necessarily need to be Russian lit.

For context: I very much prefer the Levin-focused parts to the Anna parts of AK, and adore the chapters following Kitty at the German spa. Love every part of W&P.

Looking for a quality edition I can gift a friend that will last for years. Can I find something for around $100 or so?

Meaning is part 1 of the movie book 1 of the novel part 2 is book 2 etc? Or do they split differently? I want to watch the movie as I read but don't want to spoil myself

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#Hadji Murat

Hadji Murat | Хаджи-Мурат

Written by | Leo Tolstoy

Story Summary

Hadji Murat tells the story of an Avar field commander who defects to the Russians during the Caucasian War (1817-1864). Hadji Murat lived from 1818 to 1852.

This novella, one of Tolstoy's final works, serves as his ultimate commentary on personal freedom and its oppressors. It offers a scathing portrayal of Russian colonial policy, grounded in historical fact. The narrative showcases Tolstoy's artistic mastery, deftly depicting battle scenes and social gatherings, soldiers and leaders, Russians and mountaineers, life and death—all with remarkable depth and nuance.

Background

The historical background is Russia's war of conquest in the Caucasus in the 1800s. The book was first published posthumously 1912.

Genre: | Historical fiction

Format | Novella

Sources: | Various English, Turkish, Swedish translations as well as original Russian version*

Organizer: | u/TEKrific, u/Belkotriass

Participants | TBA

Date | November/December 2024

###Discussion links:

FAQ post

Introduction post & chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Discussion wrap-up

Hi everyone! I'm working on a master degree in Translation and cultural mediation, focusing mainly on the Russian language and literature, and I've been thinking about the topic of my final thesis. I decided to focus on Russian after a friend of mine introduced me to Tolstoj a few years ago, and she told me about a work of Tolstoj that fascinated her: "A calendar of wisdom", his collection of quotes and thoughts from different intellectuals around the world. I wanted to end my "linguistic journey" by honoring the way it started, and therefore wanted to make this book the main topic of my thesis, especially since, as far as I know, it's never been translated in my language (Italian) and according to online reviews the existing English translations are not 100% complete. So far I've only been looking for raw material.

However, I must confess I'm getting a bit confused regarder the order of the different variations written by Tolstoj... and thus I hope someone from here can help me get a better idea.

So far, I've found out that there are 4 versions of this "collection":
- 1903: "Мысли мудрых людей на каждый день", "Thoughts of wise men for every day", published in English as "The Thoughts of Wise Men".
- 1904-1908: "Круг чтеня", "Circle of reading", published in English as "A Calendar of Wisdom".
- 1906-1910: "На каждый день", "For every day", published in English as "Thoughtful wisdom for everyday".
- 1910: "Путь жизни", "Way of life", published in English as "Path of life".

If I've understood it correctly... "Мысли мудрых людей на каждый день" was just a collection of quotes that Tolstoj wrote down for himself; "Круг чтеня" was its evolution, Tolstoj's desire to make a voluminous collection of thoughts that could be read everyday for a whole year, albeit quite randomy; "На каждый день" is yet again an evolution from "Круг чтеня", which keeps the day-by-day categorization while dedicating each day of the month to a certain topic (for example, day 1 was dedicated to Faith, day 2 to Soul, day 3 to One Soul in All, and so on for every month).

Am I right so far? I still haven't really understood where "Путь жизни" stands in all of this... where can I find something more? What are the most valuable sources online regarding Tolstoj? How and why did "Путь жизни" come to exist?

Of coure, I will ask for help to one of my professors at University as well, but so far I'm just curious on my own. Thanks in advance for any help!

I read it for the first time a year ago - a very cheap paperback Signet edition translated by Ann Dunnigan. I liked the translation. Since it's such a big tome - hard to find anything again when it's over 1000 pages - I ended up putting mini-post it notes on the pages where I found interesting passages. I enjoyed it but felt a need to plow through it just because it was so big so obviously there was stuff I missed.

I recently picked up a copy of the Oxford World's Classics edition (translated by the Maudes). It has a beautiful cover and is really nicely bound. Wanted to read more Tolstoy and even though there's other unread material I do want to read - his last novel Resurrection (I have Penguin classics, translated by Anthony Briggs) and several short stories - I kept looking at the Oxford War and Peace and decided to start again.

One big difference with the Signet translation is there's a lot more French in it (with footnotes translating) but I'm trying to develop a reading ability in French and decided to take advantage of that. An additional advantage of a second read is I don't feel the urge to get to the end.

I'm even excited again to read that second epilogue!

The back of the Oxford edition has a great quote from Russian writer Isaac Babel: "If life could write, it would write like Tolstoy."

I recently read Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich in Dutch, where it’s titled De dood van een rechter (The Death of a Judge). In the introduction, the translator explained this fascinating choice to translate “Ivan Ilyich” as “rechter” (judge) in the title.

In Russian, “Ivan Ilyich” includes a patronym, a form of naming that emphasizes Ivan’s ordinary, middle-class identity. It’s a name that would immediately signal his typicality to Russian readers, according to the translator. However, in Dutch, this nuance would be lost, as patronyms aren’t common and wouldn’t evoke the same associations.

Instead, the Dutch translator opted for “rechter” to highlight Ivan’s profession, which ties deeply into the themes of judgment and self-reflection in the story. As a judge, Ivan spent his life passing judgment on others, but only on his deathbed does he confront the ultimate judgment of his own life. This change gives the title a symbolic resonance that might better connect with a Dutch audience.

Do you think this shift alters Tolstoy’s original meaning? Does it enrich the story or take something away? I’d love to hear your perspectives, especially if you’ve read this book in other languages!

We've had the weekend to digest the novella and now it's time for the wrap up discussion where we can talk about the overall story, themes, details and trivia.

Tentative prompts:

!1. What is your overall judgement of this novella?!<

!2. All the subplots makes the story more dense and richer despite it being short. What subplot did you like the most?!<

!3. The Murids were a recent influence on the Caucasian population (circa 1820s), they advocated muslim equality which clashed with the clan structure already in place. Did you experience that tension anywhere in the book?!<

!4. It's kind of strange that a story written a hundred years ago, is so insightful as to be the best there is to read about the current conflict about todays caucasian conflict. What would Tolstoy have said about the situation in Ukraine and Chechnya today?!<

!5. By choosing Hadji Murat as the protagonist, Tolstoy avoided taking a side. He is critical of both the Tsar and his Russian army as well as critical of Shamil and his mountain warriors. Do you think his approach was effective? Or do you think he's more sympathetic to one side of the conflict?!<

!6. Recent conflicts in the Caucasus region seem to eerily mirror the ones in the book. Here's a possibility to point those out and discuss.!<

Trivia: It's a odd and ironic fact that a place name in Chechnya has come to serve as a marker of the Russian presence in Chechnya. Tolstoy-yurt. What what Tolstoy himself say about this fact?

Last but not least. Thanks to everybody for participating and making this read through so much richer and interesting!

https://preview.redd.it/qxp0pwpbjt5e1.jpg?width=2309&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f7a0f0a11478ddec48c2694ee5bfcba9c0c6bcd

And I LOVED it. I assumed I knew where it was going, but it zigged when I thought it would zag. It turned out to be so much more humane and emotionally complex than I anticipated. I had some big feelings when I got to the end of it.

I might not have known to seek it out if not for this sub. So thank you. I’m happy that a story could move me so much.

!Prompts:!<

1. !What did you think about Hadji Murat’s death scene?!<

2. !What is your opinion about the chapter and the end of the book?!<

3. !What was your favourite and least favourite aspects of the novel?!<

4. !Which character/s will leave a lasting impression on you?!<

5. !Favourite line / anything else to add?!<

Previous discussion:

Chapter 24

Please note that there will be a wrap up post on Monday for those interested in a general discussion about the striking similarities of the current conflicts in the Caucasus and those depicted in the book.

I read the death of Ivan ilyich and now I’m wondering if Tolstoy has anything else worth reading I asked someone who has read war and peace If it is worth reading and he said “it depends how much you value your time” he didn’t enjoy it and I’m not sure if I will.

!Last chapter Hadji Murat has made up his mind. He will escape from the Russian camp and take his men in a desperate attempt to rescue his family on his own. !<

Tomorrow is the last chapter but there will be an additional post on Monday to wrap up the book and enable a more general discussion about the book and compare the events to more recent events for anybody who is interested.

Previous discussion:

Chapter 23

Imagine the world in which all systems of authority have collapsed and the human race has been greatly thinned out. Specifically in a post nuclear landscape. Do you think maintaining a pacifist philosophy would be effective for survival? How would pacifism look in a world where people are struggling and desperate to survive?

!Last chapter Hadji Murat was contemplating his options, carefully going through the different scenarios. In this sense he isn’t completely leaving everything in the hands of god. Meanwhile the Russians don’t know what to do with him. The soldiers that have met him respect him as a soldier and tactician, but the far away Imperial Court is less interested.!<

Previous discussion:

Chapter 22

What is the best film version of Anna Karenina?

!Last chapter saw Butler visiting old soldier friends currently at the Vozdvizhenskoye fortress where a detachment were preparing to march towards Kurinskoye. Prince Vorontsov is there with his wife and she is still having an affair with Baryatinsky. We read about a farewell party for General Kozlovsky. Later on Butler is playing cards and gambles away money he doesn’t have. A common occurrence in Tolstoy’s world.!<

Previous discussion:

Chapter 21

"He soon felt that the realization of his longing gave him only one grain of the mountain of bliss he had anticipated. That realization showed him the eternal error men make by imagining that happiness consists in the gratification of their wishes."

!Last time we ended with Maria Dimitriyevna and Butler both agreeing that it was the right thing to defend Hadji Murat. They both liked him and found him honorable, caring, wise and just. We might add some slight calibrations to this point of view but essentially we've encountered a human being whose actions in the past we may object to but we are forced agree that from what we've seen so far, Maria does have a point in her assessment. !<

Let's get back to the frontline in Chechnya! Have a great read and please share your thoughts afterwards.

Previous discussion:

Chapter 20

No new chapter tomorrow, so we'll read chapter 21 on Monday December 2nd! Have a nice Sunday everyone!

hello, I am planning to read these three books now that I have finished Dostoevskys big novels. I have liked the everymans library hardcover versions of D’s works (P&V translations), but wanted to know what Tolstoy readers would recommend. Thanks.

—The death of Ivan illych doesn’t have to be hardcover since it is so short but for the other two hardcover would be much better.

!Last chapter we met Shamil for the first time. An Imam and warlord. He seems to be a man full of contradictions. We also briefly encounter Hadji’s family with a special focus on Hadji’s son.!< 

Previous discussion:

Chapter 19

!Last chapter Hadji Murat was housed together with Butler, Petrov and Maria Dimitriyevna. He and Butler get along because Hadji Murat recognises something in Butler that he understands and respects.!<

Previous discussion:

Chapter 18