Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy is one of the most beloved authors of all time, and his influence on literature and the social sciences is undeniable. He was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and essayist who wrote some of the most acclaimed literature in Western history, including War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

Tolstoy was born in 1828 in the Tula Province of Russia. He was a part of a large and wealthy family, attending the University of Kazan at the age of 16. He returned to his family's estate in 1848 and there, he began to write. He initially wrote short stories and published his first novel, Childhood, in a local magazine in 1852. From then on, his literary career flourished, and he went on to write many famous novels that are considered classics in literature. In 1877, he published Anna Karenina, his masterpiece and considered one of the greatest novels of all time.

Tolstoy’s work was highly acclaimed and he received numerous awards, including being made an honorary member of the French Academy of Sciences, Arts and Literature. He was also honored with an honorary degree from the University of Cambridge when he visited England.

Tolstoy was deeply inspired by the philosophy of Ivan Turgenev and the work of the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, who was a contemporary of Tolstoy. He shared their appreciation of Russian culture and history, often referencing them in his stories.

Despite his fame and recognition, Tolstoy led a simple life and was quite critical of Russian society and its aristocracy. He believed in Christian pacifism and non-violence and wrote about these subjects in many of his works. Toward his later life, he became interested in the way religion and morality shaped society, which is evident in his work, The Kingdom of God is Within You. He was also very critical of technology and industrial progress and his views can be seen in his novel The Death of Ivan Ilych.

Leo Tolstoy was a popular writer of his time and still, his work is as acclaimed as it was before his passing in 1910. He created some of the world’s most beloved characters in fiction and took a captivating, yet realistic, look at life’s struggles. Many of his works portray the destructive side of human nature and illustrate the difficulty of finding, or understanding, a path in life.

His words often leave readers in awe and his stories carry valuable messages and lessons. Tolstoy’s timeless works continue to be read, discussed, and studied all over the world. He is without a doubt, one of the most influential authors of all time and the legacy of his work will live on for years to come.