Book details
The Death of Ivan Ilych
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Metadata
- Gutenberg ID
- —
- Title
- The Death of Ivan Ilych
- Language
- en
- Book source
- Global Grey
- Description max 80 words
-
Leo Tolstoy's profound novella follows a high-court judge in 19th-century Russia as he confronts terminal illness, societal indifference, and the hollow nature of his conventional life. Through a journey from despair to spiritual awakening, the story explores universal themes of mortality, the meaning of existence, and the necessity of living authentically.
- Summary up to 500 words
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Leo Tolstoy's *The Death of Ivan Ilych* chronicles the final days of a respected judge whose life, defined by legality, propriety, and social convention, proves to be a profound deception. Initially, his colleagues and acquaintances treat his impending death with casual indifference, focusing instead on career advancements and social obligations. As Ivan Ilych's physical pain intensifies, he is met not with genuine compassion but with the polite indifference of his family and friends, who view his suffering as a mere inconvenience. Isolated and misunderstood, he retreats into memories of his past, realizing that his meticulously constructed life of correctness hid the true essence of living. In his final hours, a profound shift occurs. Stripped of his social masks and facing the inevitability of death, Ivan Ilych experiences a moment of clarity where the fear of death vanishes. He realizes that while his life was not as it should have been, it can still be rectified through love and forgiveness. In his dying moments, he feels sorrow for his wife and son, wishing to release them from his suffering and free himself from his agony. The narrative concludes with his peaceful acceptance of death, revealing that the end of life is not a terrifying void but a simple, joyful transition. The story serves as a powerful critique of a life lived for appearances rather than authentic experience, suggesting that true life is found only when one stops deceiving oneself about the nature of existence.
- LLM editorial rating
- 4.2/5
- Download URL
- https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/leo-tolstoy_death-of-ivan-ilych.epub
- Local file path
-
data/epubs/url-520eae33fb2aab69.epub - Downloaded at
- 2026-07-01 01:23 UTC
People
Authors
- Leo Tolstoy
Classification
Categories
- Philosophy
- Fiction
- Russian Writers