Introduction
Literature is one of humanity’s greatest treasures and a unique art form that offers limitless opportunities to express emotions and address issues of the moment. Throughout history, the themes and ways of discussing them have changed, responding to changes in society and people’s mentalities. Furthermore, literature is closely linked to culture, meaning that every nation has unique works that reflect its values and morals.
At the same time, there are universal themes important to everyone, regardless of background. War, love, peace, faith, and relationships draw people in and inspire them to read and empathize with the main characters. Leo Tolstoy, a famous Russian novelist, encompasses all these topics in his works. The author became one of the most outstanding writers in world literature and contributed to its development.
About the Author
Leo Tolstoy is one of the most well-known Russian authors of the Golden Age of the country’s literature. He lived and worked during the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. His genius is evidenced by his being considered one of the most important novelists in Western literature (Ogden & Kalb 317). He significantly contributed to the development of global literature, forming a unique style. The scope of his creativity is significant as his 1928-1958 collected works comprise 90 volumes, while a newer edition will reach 134 volumes (Ogden & Kalb 317).
Describing the role Tolstoy played in Russia of that period, the editor of the literary journal said that Russia had two tsars, one in the capital, St. Petersburg, and the second, Iasanaia Poliana, Tolstoy’s residence (Ogden & Kalb 317). In this way, he was recognized in his time, and subsequent generations also acknowledge the importance of the creativity and style of an outstanding novelist. His works are the peak of Russian literature’s development and embody its unique style, values, reflections on life, and suffering.
Historical Context
A better understanding of the author’s creativity and style can be gained by analyzing the historical context and period in which he lived. Leo Tolstoy was born on 28 August 1828 in Iasnaia Poliana, in the province of Tula, 140 miles from Moscow (Ogden & Kalb 318). His family belonged to the oldest nobility of Russia, with numerous relatives in the most powerful and influential families of that time, such as the Trubetskoy or Golitsyn families (Ogden & Kalb 317). Since his birth, he had acquired the title of Graf, or Count, bestowed on the family by Peter I (Ogden & Kalb 317).
The peculiarities of his family explain how the author’s worldview and mentality formed. Which is more critical: Tolstoy was born during one of the periods of the Russian Empire’s greatest might? The state had just defeated Napoleon in 1812, saving Europe from his dominance. The war with the French invaders was critical to the rise of patriotism, the unification of the nation, and the realization of its unique place in world history. Russia transformed into a superstate with an outstanding impact on all global events.
At the same time, the country had numerous internal problems. The life of ordinary people, or serfs, was highly complex. The nation entered a phase of political debate over its future and the necessity of freeing the serfs (Ogden & Kalb 321). It contributed to the emergence of various moods in society and the uncertainty about the future.
It means that Tolstoy was born during Russia’s outstanding achievements and, at the same time, the upcoming troubles. As a result, his creativity devotes much attention to people’s moods, their visions of the state, and cogitations about the nature of human life and being. Today, similar ideas remain important, as the question of how individuals should live remains essential.
Important Facts About Life
Understanding Tolstoy’s life and creativity can be enhanced by outlining the most important facts that shaped his outlook. Thus, like many representatives of the noble families of that period, Tolstoy served in the army. First, he joined Russian troops in the Caucasus to fight the Chechens, which led to the 1853 publication of the story “The Raid” (Ogden & Kalb 318).
Furthermore, Tolstoy became a commissioned officer and participated in the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War, where he showed outstanding bravery (Ogden & Kalb 318). It means the author had experienced real battles and the impressions they left. It allowed Tolstoy to create realistic and breathtaking battle scenes in his novels, such as “War and Peace,” as veterans found his descriptions accurate (Ogden & Kalb 322). It means that taking part in military campaigns became critical for his life and work.
Another important fact is the radical spiritual change Tolstoy experienced in the second half of his life. It happened between 1875 and 1877, soon after the publication of his well-known “Anna Karenina” (Ogden & Kalb 330). He was a wealthy man with a loving wife and children; however, he did not see a purpose in his life (Ogden & Kalb 3330).
At the same time, he noted that his peasants were poor but happy, regardless of the hardships they faced (Ogden & Kalb 331). The reconsideration of his values and his life led to a new vision of happiness, a sense of a person’s place in the world, and a new lifestyle. Tolstoy tried to become a peasant and see the world from another angle. As a result, he stopped writing fiction, which shocked the public but corresponded to this inner world and motifs.
Most Interesting About a Person
In such a way, a closer look at Tolstoy’s life shows that he was not an ordinary person. As a representative of a noble, rich, and famous family, he refused to benefit from his background. It evidences his attempts to find new meaning in life and to avoid the stereotypical path his peers have chosen.
Furthermore, after becoming a peasant, Tolstoy focused on analyzing and reevaluating every aspect of contemporary life, resulting in works on art, education, and economic and social relations (Ogden & Kalb 331). His unusual views on religion, state, and relations between individuals attracted significant public attention.
Furthermore, another exciting thing about Tolstoy is his attempt to define true art, which he believed was based on the communication of emotion, felt and received sincerely (Ogden & Kalb 331). It means that, as an outstanding novelist, Tolstoy avoided focusing solely on this aspect. It shows the complexity of his personality and his desire to investigate the world, which he describes perfectly in his works.
Most Important Books
As previously mentioned, Tolstoy wrote numerous novels and short stories that demonstrate the power of his gift and his ability to depict reality with perfect accuracy. He touched upon various problems and aspects of social life. Thus, the books are most important for his creativity. These include “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina,” and “Resurrection”. The first one is the masterpiece of world literature translated into numerous languages, and its importance cannot be doubted.
The second novel perfectly reveals the nature of relations within Russian society of that period and the soul of Russian women. The last one, “Resurrection,” appeared after a long pause caused by Tolstoy’s reconsideration of his life and showed that he preserved his talent while his creativity focused on new themes and ideas. It also became the author’s last major novel (Ogden & Kalb 334). The three books are critical when discussing Tolstoy, as they showcase the power of his style and the unique nature of his creativity.
“War and Peace”
“War and Peace” is one of the greatest novels of Russian literature and a work of world literature. It describes the society that experienced the patriotic war with Napoleon. Tolstoy creates images of noble people’s lives, with balls and their ordinary problems, such as love, fidelity, and marriage, and opposes them to battles and feelings of people who experienced them.
The challenges and hardships of that period helped the main characters to reconsider their lives and find a new meaning. For instance, Prince Andrew Bolkonski says, “Let the dead bury their dead, but while one has life, one must live and be happy!” (Tolstoy, “War and Peace” 404). This idea is essential to him, as he rejects a pessimistic view of the world and acknowledges the need to be happy.
Furthermore, one of the author’s characters, Prince Vasili, says, “Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the society of clever women” (Tolstoy, “War and Peace” 11). The phrase introduces the writer’s vision of the female’s role and his representations of the concept of a true woman. In general, “War and Peace” is the cross-section of the community with its problems, values, and essential themes.
“Anna Karenina”
“Anna Karenina” is another example of Tolstoy’s unique talent for describing the problems people face in their lives. The story revolves around the noble and wealthy Karenin family, who are unhappy. Anna finds a younger lover, Count Vronsky; however, she is not able to be happy and commits suicide. Tolstoy shows the abyss of despair the woman feels and the problem of being a married woman in a patriarchal society.
In the novel, the author presents one of the important and famous quotes: “All happy families resemble one another; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” (Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina” 1). It helps to understand the central idea of the plot and the author’s vision of how challenges shape people’s mentalities and their lives. Furthermore, Tolstoy shares his view on cheating: “I may be wicked, but at least I will not be a liar and deceiver!” (Tolstoy, “Anna Karenina” 306). The line shows that dishonesty is the worst sin and cannot be forgiven, which is also one of the central novel’s themes.
“Resurrection”
The third Tolstoy novel, “Resurrection,” is devoted to the problem of redemption for sin. A nobleman, Dmitri Nekhlyudov, wants to find forgiveness for his sins. He sexually assaulted the woman he loved, Katuysha, and left her pregnant. The story revolves around people reconsidering their lives, transforming, and growing spiritually.
The author also believes in the power of a human being. In the novel, Tolstoy’s character says, “There are many faiths, but the spirit is one—in me, and in you, and in him” (Tolstoy, “Resurrection” 533). The line underscores the importance of finding inner peace and understanding a person’s ability to grow. Another important line from the book says, “All these institutions seemed purposely devised for the production of depravity and vice, and for the spreading of this condensed depravity and vice broadcast among the whole population” (Tolstoy, “Resurrection” 525). Tolstoy shows the corruption of society; however, he also believes it can be saved.
Contribution to Literature
The three discussed books became a significant event in Russian and global literature. First, Tolstoy combined the historical narration with the personal drama of individuals who experienced battles and other hardships of war. As a result, “War and Peace” became an example of how society lives and develops in challenging times and how the moods and values alter. His realistic writing style became a new step in the development of literature.
At the same time, combining themes such as love, war, hatred, faith, and devotion helped create novels that would never lose their topicality and would trigger people’s attention (Ogden and Kalb 319). Tolstoy wrote his texts in a manner that represented real life with incredible realism and, at the same time, inspired readers through his style and descriptions (Ogden and Kalb 319). As a result, his prose became studied by scientists and other authors to learn how to achieve the given level of mastery and present essential ideas with clarity and power.
Experience
Scholars’ admiration for Tolstoy’s style and genius becomes apparent as they read his books. From the first lines, I, as a reader, submerged into the atmosphere created by the author. The clear, brilliant descriptions of places, people, and surroundings helped me visualize the rooms and the world around the main characters.
Furthermore, Tolstoy devotes much attention to creating his protagonists for readers to live their lives, understand their motives and problems, and feel the same emotions. Reading the chapters from “War and Peace” helped me understand how society’s mood changed when Napoleon approached Russia and how people changed. The text is full of descriptions but is not sophisticated, offering a clear picture of how the nobility lived.
Conclusion
Altogether, Leo Tolstoy is one of the most outstanding Russian writers, making an exceptional contribution to the development of world literature. His unusual life impacted the formation of his unique style. Most of his novels are easy to read and full of strong characters, perfectly rendered with a realistic approach.
Tolstoy touches on universal themes such as love, human relationships, peace, and faith, making his works more understandable to people from different countries. His “War and Peace,” “Anna Karenina,” and “Resurrection” are masterpieces that became the priceless heritage of global literature. They also inspired thousands of individuals to become writers and to speak about the events important to them, adopting a style similar to Tolstoy’s. It enriched literature and established the basis for its further evolution.
Works Cited
Ogden, Alexander, and Judith Kalb. “Russian Novelists in the Age of Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky.” Dictionary of Literary Biography, vol. 238. Gale Group, 2001.
Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. Translated by Nathan Dole. Thomas Crowell & Company Publishers, 1899.
—. War and Peace. Archive. PlanetPDF E-book.
—. Resurrection. Translated by Louise Maude. Francis Riddell Henderson, 1900.