/r/tolstoy

Photograph via snooOG

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

[From Three Methods Of Reform]

For discussion of anything relating to Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy: whether the man himself, his socio-cultural context, his fiction and nonfiction writings, or the communal religious movement he inspired.

/r/tolstoy

3,967 Subscribers

4

Need help finding a scene in war and peace

Need help with finding a para. tried looking this on internet and couldn't find much. have to dive in to the book my self but it will take some time considering the page's and I need help.

I need to find a specific paragraph in war and peace. I read it 2 years back and couldn't recall much.. So, the paragraph am looking for is The soldier looking at the Alexander like godly figure, and describes his appearance in such a admiring way that he will do anything for him. This happens in a war background. just have flashes of the sentence.

I really love the description of Alexander by Tolstoy here. And want to use this allusion for the person personally admire. Ps. I read the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky version. And will Mark this as answered when find the page's am looking for.

1 Comment
2024/11/09
01:13 UTC

1

I can't remember details of war & peace

So last month i travelled and left my book war and peace at home. I'm currently at the 100th page (I left it at the 70th circa) and the characters that I remember and have a picture in my head are prince vasilij, Pierre, Andréi, boris, nikolai, but I really don't have an image of natasa so i don't know her description, also I rarely know which family any of these characters are part of, and how are related. So the main question is, will I get caught up later in the book or should I read again? And for the record, my career as a novel reader is bad, I only read 1984 basically. But It's a fluid read (as we say in italian) and i'm enjoying it even if i'm getting annoyed by this

0 Comments
2024/11/06
08:29 UTC

7

Best film version of Anna Karenina (Russian)

I've seen two versions that leave Levin's story out completely! What versions have you all seen that you like most? - Russian or English, but Russian preferred.

3 Comments
2024/11/03
20:15 UTC

4

Kreuzer sonata

What is your opinion about the Kreutzer Sonata? This piece is very controversial? Do you agree with Tolstoy's thoughts?

0 Comments
2024/11/03
09:14 UTC

14

Oblonsky

Why do many readers dislike this character? I understand that he does bad things, but he is so cute and funny that I find it impossible not to love him. Even virtuous Levin considers her his best friend.

26 Comments
2024/11/01
08:06 UTC

5

Tolstoy college class

Hi everyone,
I’m taking a class next semester called Tolstoy: Art, Faith, philosophy, politics*,* and I’m really excited to dive into his works. I was wondering what I should read to prepare – both by Tolstoy and maybe even about Tolstoy. Are there specific novels, essays, or secondary sources that might help me get a solid foundation for the class? Any tips or favorite pieces would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!"

8 Comments
2024/10/31
03:16 UTC

3

Title of the novel

Why did Tolstoy name his novel Anna Karenina instead of Konstantin Levin? Although it is Levin who reflects Tolstoy's views on every issue.

11 Comments
2024/10/30
06:18 UTC

28

Upcoming Book discussion: Hadji Murat (date to be decided). Please comment if interested.

Ever wondered why Tolstoy's lesser-known novel, Hadji Murat, feels eerily relevant today? With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the simmering tensions in Chechnya, this historical novella offers a chilling glimpse into the complexities of war, power, and the human cost of conflict. Join us as we delve into Tolstoy's masterful storytelling, exploring themes of nationalism, loyalty, and the futility of violence. Let's discuss how this 19th-century tale mirrors the struggles of our time and why it's more important than ever to revisit this forgotten masterpiece.

11 Comments
2024/10/29
10:12 UTC

5

War and Piece Small copy?

Hello I recently bought War and Peace the penguin classic paperback edition now of course I know its a huge book but wanted to see if there is any smaller version paperback of this book as I am studying abroad in France I noticed how small they make French editions was wondering the same for English?

6 Comments
2024/10/28
08:26 UTC

25

It took me 1year to finish Anna Karenina

AND just the first part. To be fair i was also busy and read books in between but still, the book is good so far but feels so dense, and a very slow burn. Not the type you can binge read.

I decided to stop here and read other stuff then maybe come back to it on holidays.

Did anyone have a similar experience?

15 Comments
2024/10/27
19:54 UTC

7

Planning to name my kid Alina Karenina

My wife and I have been going back and forth on baby names, and it feels like we're stuck in a loop! Initially, we thought about "Karenina," a name we really like for its uniqueness and elegance. But when people ask, "Why Karenina?" we get blank stares or reactions that feel a bit off. It’s like no one’s heard it before, and we’re worried it might be too unusual or too long for our daughter to appreciate when she grows up (We’re aware that Karenina is technically a surname, but we also know there are quite a few people out there with Karenina as a first name! It feels unique and beautiful, and we're drawn to it despite its origins)

However, there’s this nagging feeling in the back of my mind. I know some people have named their baby girl this way, but I'd like to know your opinion on the name—or any other names you like. Some say it's a bad choice because it's associated with a tragic character. Having read Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, though, I find Karenina quite likable.

21 Comments
2024/10/27
19:51 UTC

9

nikolai and kostya

so disclaimer: i love basically every part of anna karenina (minus the part where frou-frou dies a painful death obv), but the part where Nikolai visits Kostya and takes a steaming shit on his novel is such a subtle gem moment. dude really came to his brother's house, read his book, and told him he was an unoriginal poser piggybacking off communist ideology to make himself feel better for exploiting the serfs. nikolai dimitrich levin u will always be famous

1 Comment
2024/10/25
13:47 UTC

50

Just started Tolstoy and I am already so excited!

I am reading Penguin Classics Childhood, Boyhood, Youth rn.

4 Comments
2024/10/21
15:00 UTC

3

Letter of Tolstoy to Strakhov

Dear friends, does anyone have access to this book? I'm searching for a reference for the letter of Leo Tolstoy to Nikolai Strakhov (26 April 1876). There is one translation of it on the web, however there no reference from it is https://theamericanreader.com/26-april-1876-leo-tolstoy-to-nikolai-strakhov/

https://preview.redd.it/8q4d1se6wbvd1.png?width=1034&format=png&auto=webp&s=29cd184ed2954119e3413573b0d32ace55939757

2 Comments
2024/10/17
14:40 UTC

2 Comments
2024/10/13
12:10 UTC

1

Look for AK, Maude translation

And not finding much. I went to two bookstore (a local spot and a B&N and only found PV at each. There are more options on Amazon but it’s not clear if any are Maude.

To get ahead of the question, I really enjoy Maude’s translation of War and Peace and would like to try AK as well.

Any tips?

6 Comments
2024/10/13
01:00 UTC

7

Need help sourcing quote

This quote is widely attributed to Tolstoy but I can't manage to find its source. Any ideas?

"The idea, shared by many, that life is a vale of tears, is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority, the idea to which youth and health and riches incline you, that life is a place of entertainment. 
Life is a place of service, and in that service one has to suffer a great deal that is hard to bear, but more often to experience a great deal of joy. 
But that joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness."

Edit: Found the source

p. 324 of Ilya Tolstoy's Reminiscences of Tolstoy

5 Comments
2024/10/10
22:32 UTC

34

My favourite Tolstoy quote

I really resonate with this quote by Tolstoy in War and Peace: “She did not know and would not have believed it, but beneath the layer of slime that covered her soul and seemed to her impenetrable, delicate young shoots of grass were already sprouting, which, taking root, would soon cover with their living verdure the grief that weighed her down, so that it would no longer be seen or noticed. The wound had begun to heal from within.”

While I haven't personally experienced loss and grief, this quote strikes a chord with me in a different way. I struggle with anxiety and often find myself ruminating on situations. The imagery of grass growing and concealing negative feelings resonates with me, as it reminds me of how my overthinking can feel endless and all-consuming. However, without even realizing it, I eventually reach a point where recalling the incident fills me with no emotion at all. I recognize that I have moved on.

7 Comments
2024/10/06
22:59 UTC

3

Is the Marian Schwartz translation of Anna Karenina any good?

I’m wanting to re-read Anna Karenina and it has been some years since I first read it. This time around I wanted to try a different translation (my first read was of the P&V version). My local library only had the Marian Schwartz translation, which is from 2014. I’m wondering if anyone has read it and if it is any good? Or should I opt for a different version? I was initially thinking of going for the revised Maude translation or the Bartlett translation. Thanks.

2 Comments
2024/10/05
15:00 UTC

5

"The Life And Times Of Leo Tolstoy" | Rap Song

2 Comments
2024/10/02
19:04 UTC

9

Tolstoy’s novella Hadji Murat (1912) and The Mysterious Story of Hadji Murat's Stolen Remains

Who is Hadji Murat that famous Russian writer wrote a novella about him? And why his remains were stolen after 170 years. I visited the place, too pictures and wrote about it.

https://bookimov.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-mysterious-story-of-hadji-murats-stolen-remains.html

0 Comments
2024/09/30
07:12 UTC

3

Alexey Aleksandrovich's strange behavior

Can someone explain why Alexey Aleksandrovich completely ignores the fact that his wife is pregnant and her belly is getting fat? He doesn't notice it even when his wife tells him directly and when he talks to the lawyer. Why doesn't he tell the lawyer about this fact, after all, it should affect the divorce process one way or another? Is this just a plot hole or is there something else?

6 Comments
2024/09/22
11:05 UTC

1

Help with an assignment on Tolstoy

Hi! I am an english literature student. I have been asked to analyze two short stories of Tolstoy. Can someone help me out with two stories that have some similar theme/idea that I can explore for my assignment?

8 Comments
2024/09/16
18:06 UTC

5

Has anyone read the Shubin translation of War and Peace?

0 Comments
2024/09/13
19:59 UTC

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