The Life of Tolstoy: First Fifty Years / Fifth Edition

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

52242

Title

The Life of Tolstoy: First Fifty Years / Fifth Edition

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A comprehensive biography by Aylmer Maude, this work chronicles the first fifty years of Leo Tolstoy's life, exploring his evolution from a privileged aristocrat to a moral reformer. Drawing on Maude's intimate knowledge gained from living in Russia and frequent visits to Yasnaya Polyana, the text offers an impartial yet deeply sympathetic portrait of a man whose life was defined by a relentless search for truth, simplicity, and spiritual meaning.

Summary up to 500 words

Aylmer Maude's biography, *The Life of Tolstoy: First Fifty Years*, offers a comprehensive portrait of Leo Tolstoy, tracing his journey from a privileged nobleman to a radical moralist. Maude, who lived in Russia for over two decades, skillfully weaves historical context with personal anecdotes to reveal the man behind the literary legend. The narrative begins with Tolstoy's aristocratic ancestry and his formative years in Kazan, followed by his military service in the Caucasus and Crimea, where the horrors of war deeply scarred his conscience. His early career saw him rise as a celebrated novelist, producing masterpieces like *War and Peace* and *Anna Karenina*, while navigating complex relationships with contemporaries such as Turgenev and Tchaikovsky. A central pillar of the biography is Tolstoy's profound spiritual crisis. This internal struggle led him to reject the official Russian Orthodox Church, renounce private property, and advocate for non-resistance to evil. Maude illustrates the intense tension between Tolstoy's public fame and his private, often radical, ethical principles. The text details his evolving views on art, music, and religion, including his controversial critiques of Beethoven and his advocacy for the simplicity of folk songs. Furthermore, the biography addresses his political stance regarding the Russo-Turkish War, highlighting his objection to private individuals pushing governments into conflict. The narrative culminates in Tolstoy's final years, characterized by poverty, public preaching, and a relentless pursuit of a life aligned with his strict moral code. Through careful revision and an impartial perspective, Maude presents a nuanced understanding of Tolstoy's life, capturing the full scope of his genius and his relentless quest for truth.

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Categories

• Classics
• Biography