| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A |
| |
| |
After the Dance |
| Description: |
|
After the Dance is a poignant story about innocence, love, and moral awakening. The narrator, Ivan Vasilievich, recalls a night of joy and romance at a grand ball, where he falls deeply in love with a colonel’s daughter. The next morning, he witnesses the same colonel brutally punishing a soldier, shattering his idealistic view of society and love. The story contrasts beauty and cruelty, showing how a single experience can change a person’s entire outlook on life. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1903 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 27 |
|
| Extent: |
|
8 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Albert |
| Description: |
|
Albert is a short and poignant story about a gifted but troubled violinist—Albert—who is both brilliant in his art and broken in his personal life. The narrative centers on the tension between artistic genius and social dysfunction, as Albert, a poor and erratic man, is dismissed by society despite his musical brilliance.
|
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1858 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3
|
|
| Extent: |
|
21 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Alyosha the Pot |
| Description: |
|
Alyosha the Pot is one of Tolstoy’s simplest yet most deeply moving stories. It tells of Alyosha, a humble and obedient young servant who lives a life of quiet duty, kindness, and innocence. Though unnoticed and unappreciated, he embodies true Christian virtues—humility, love, and selflessness—until his untimely death. Through Alyosha’s modest life, Tolstoy illustrates the moral greatness found in ordinary goodness and the purity of a heart unspoiled by pride or ambition. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1905 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 27 |
|
| Extent: |
|
5 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Anna Karenina |
| Description: |
|
Anna Karenina is a powerful and emotionally rich novel that explores the complexities of love, marriage, family, and society through two parallel storylines. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1873–77 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 9, 10, 11 |
|
| Extent: |
|
779 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novels |
|
| |
| |
An Appeal to Russians |
| Description: |
|
An Appeal to Russians is a passionate address in which Tolstoy urges his fellow countrymen to reject violence, military service, and participation in a corrupt state system. Emphasizing Christian nonresistance and moral responsibility, he calls on individuals to act according to conscience rather than compulsion. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1906 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Russian Revolution |
|
| Extent: |
|
12 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Appeal to Social Reformers |
| Description: |
|
In Appeal to Social Reformers, Tolstoy addresses those seeking to improve society through political or economic change. He argues that reforms based on force, laws, or institutions cannot solve social problems, because they ignore the moral roots of injustice. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1901 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Free Age Press (London) |
|
| Extent: |
|
14 |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Appeal to the Clergy |
| Description: |
|
In Appeal to the Clergy, Tolstoy addresses religious leaders, urging them to reconsider their role and teachings. He accuses the Church of distorting Christ’s message by supporting state power, violence, and ritual instead of true morality. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1903 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Appeal to the Clergy |
|
| Extent: |
|
15 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Approach of the End |
| Description: |
|
The Approach of the End is a contemplative essay in which Tolstoy reflects on death, aging, and spiritual readiness. Written in his later years, it expresses his growing awareness of mortality and the need to live in harmony with truth, love, and divine will. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
7 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
Apropos of A. I. Ershóv’s Book, “Recollections from Sevastopol |
| Description: |
|
In “Apropos of A. I. Ershóv’s Book, ‘Recollections from Sevastopol,’” Tolstoy critiques romanticized views of war, drawing on his own experience to expose its brutality and senseless suffering. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1889 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
5 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
Are the Peasant Children to Learn to Write from Us? |
| Description: |
|
In this sharp and reflective essay, Tolstoy poses a rhetorical and critical question: Should we, the educated elite, be the ones teaching peasant children to write? He challenges the assumption of cultural superiority held by the upper classes and questions whether the values and methods of elite society are appropriate—or even harmful—for the rural poor. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1862 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 4 |
|
| Extent: |
|
27 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
Articles and Reports on the Famine |
| Description: |
|
Articles and Reports on the Famine is a collection of Tolstoy’s firsthand journalistic writings during the Russian famine of 1891–1892. In these reports, he documents the severe hunger, poverty, and suffering across rural Russia, while exposing the inefficiency and indifference of government relief efforts. Tolstoy emphasizes that the famine is not merely a natural disaster but a symptom of social injustice and moral decay. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1891-93 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
39 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
|
| B |
| |
| |
Bethink Yourselves! |
| Description: |
|
Bethink Yourselves! powerful anti-war essay written during the Russo-Japanese War. Tolstoy condemns the war as a tragic result of government power, nationalism, and blind obedience. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1904 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Bethink Yourselves! (1904) |
|
| Extent: |
|
28 |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Boyhood |
| Description: |
|
Boyhood is the second part of Leo Tolstoy’s autobiographical trilogy (Childhood, Boyhood, Youth). It continues the story of Nikolenka, a young boy from the Russian aristocracy, as he transitions from childhood into adolescence. The novel delves into his growing self-awareness, emotional development, and social observations. It explores themes such as identity, pride, family dynamics, and the awkward confusion of becoming a young man. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1854 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 1 |
|
| Extent: |
|
140 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novels |
|
| |
| |
|
| C |
| |
| |
The Candle |
| Description: |
|
The Candle is a short, moral tale by Leo Tolstoy that emphasizes the spiritual value of kindness, honesty, and sincere intention. In the story, a peasant lights a candle in church as a humble offering. Though mocked by others and unnoticed by the clergy, his simple act is revealed to be more pleasing to God than the grand, prideful donations of the wealthy. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1885 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
8 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Carthago Delenda Est |
| Description: |
|
“Carthago Delenda Est” is Tolstoy’s forceful denunciation of militarism and state violence. Using the phrase “Carthage must be destroyed” as a symbol of blind hostility, he criticizes governments that perpetuate war and calls for moral awakening, urging individuals to reject violence and uphold principles of peace and conscience. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1898 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
7 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Cause of It All |
| Description: |
|
The Cause of It All is a play in two parts by Leo Tolstoy published in 1910, and later translated by Aylmer and Louise Maude. It heavily features anti-alcohol and teetotaling themes. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1910 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 26 |
|
| Extent: |
|
20 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Drama |
|
| |
| |
Childhood |
| Description: |
|
Childhood is Leo Tolstoy’s debut literary work, published when he was just 23 years old. It is a reflective and introspective novel narrated by a boy named Nikolenka, who is widely understood to be a fictionalized version of Tolstoy himself. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1852 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 1 |
|
| Extent: |
|
139 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novels |
|
| |
| |
The Christian Teaching |
| Description: |
|
The Christian Teaching presents Tolstoy’s mature understanding of Christ’s message as a moral guide for life, stripped of church dogma and superstition. He interprets Christianity as a practical code of love, nonviolence, humility, and truth, centered on living according to the Sermon on the Mount. Rejecting miracles, rituals, and institutional authority, Tolstoy focuses on the inner transformation of the individual through conscience and compassion. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1897 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
81 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy, Religion |
|
| |
| |
Christianity and Patriotism |
| Description: |
|
Christianity and Patriotism is a philosophical essay in which Tolstoy condemns patriotism as a false and destructive ideology incompatible with the teachings of Christ. He argues that true Christianity promotes universal love, peace, and brotherhood, while patriotism fosters division, violence, and war between nations. Tolstoy calls on individuals to reject national pride and military service in favor of moral conscience and compassion for all humanity. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1894 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 20 |
|
| Extent: |
|
45 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Philosophy, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Church and State |
| Description: |
|
In Church and State, Tolstoy strongly denounces the union between religious institutions and government power, arguing that the Church has betrayed the teachings of Christ by supporting violence, war, and inequality. He contends that true Christianity is incompatible with any alliance to political authority and must be based solely on love, peace, and individual conscience. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1882 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Cossacks |
| Description: |
|
The Cossacks is a semi-autobiographical novella based on Tolstoy’s own experiences as a young army officer stationed in the Caucasus. The story follows Dmitry Olenin, a disillusioned young aristocrat who seeks escape from the superficialities of Moscow high society by joining the Russian military and living among the Cossack people. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1863 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 2 |
|
| Extent: |
|
138 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
The Crisis in Russia |
| Description: |
|
|
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1906 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The End of the Age |
|
| Extent: |
|
8 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Critique of Dogmatic Theology |
| Description: |
|
In The Critique of Dogmatic Theology, Leo Tolstoy offers a powerful and systematic rejection of orthodox Christian doctrine, especially as presented by the Russian Orthodox Church. Drawing on the Gospels, especially the teachings of Jesus, he argues that institutional religion has distorted the true moral and spiritual message of Christianity.
He condemns dogmas such as the Trinity, original sin, and eternal punishment as incompatible with reason and Christ’s teachings. The essay reflects Tolstoy’s commitment to a rational, ethical, and nonviolent interpretation of Christianity, forming the basis of his later religious philosophy and Christian anarchism. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1881-82 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 13 |
|
| Extent: |
|
228 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
The Cutting of the Forest |
| Description: |
|
The Cutting of the Forest is an early short story by Leo Tolstoy based on his experiences as a soldier in the Caucasus. It describes a Russian military operation to clear forest land held by mountain tribes during the imperial conquest of the region.
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1855 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 2
|
|
| Extent: |
|
33 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
|
| D |
| |
| |
Death of Iván Ílich |
| Description: |
|
The Death of Ivan Ilyich is one of Tolstoy’s most profound works, exploring the spiritual awakening of a man facing death. Ivan Ilyich, a successful but shallow government official, lives a life devoted to comfort, routine, and social approval. When he becomes terminally ill, he confronts the emptiness of his existence and the inevitability of death. Through suffering, he comes to understand compassion, truth, and the meaning of life. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1884-86 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 18 |
|
| Extent: |
|
49 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
The Decembrists (Fragments of a Novel) |
| Description: |
|
The Decembrists is an unfinished novel by Leo Tolstoy intended as a sequel to War and Peace. It was meant to follow Pierre Bezukhov, Natasha Rostova, and other characters into the 1825 Decembrist uprising, when Russian army officers attempted to reform the autocracy. Tolstoy planned to explore the tension between revolutionary ideals and personal morality, but he abandoned the project early, leaving only a brief fragment. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1863-78 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
42 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novels, Unfinished |
|
| |
| |
Demands of Love and Reason |
| Description: |
|
In The Demands of Love and Reason, Tolstoy argues that both human reason and the moral law of love lead to the same conclusion: one must reject violence, injustice, and participation in systems of coercion. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1902 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Demands of Love and Reason |
|
| Extent: |
|
12 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
The Devil |
| Description: |
|
A novella from 1889 consisting of 21 chapters, devoted to the theme of the spiritual and physical destruction of a person by carnal passions. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1889–1909 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Devil |
|
| Extent: |
|
42 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
|
| E |
| |
| |
Education and Culture |
| Description: |
|
In Education and Culture, Tolstoy challenges conventional views that equate formal education with true cultural development. He argues that genuine culture arises organically from the life and values of the people, not from imposed systems or academic instruction. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1862 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 4 |
|
| Extent: |
|
30 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Art, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
The End of the Age
(An Essay on the Approaching Revolution) |
| Description: |
|
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1906 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The End of the Age |
|
| Extent: |
|
26 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Epilogue to Drozhzhin's Life and Death |
| Description: |
|
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1895 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
15 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion |
|
| |
| |
Extracts (From Unpublished Diaries, Undated Letters, Etc.) |
| Description: |
|
The Demands of Love; Tolstóyism; |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
--- |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
24 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
|
| F |
| |
| |
Fables For Children |
| Description: |
|
Fables for Children is a collection of short moral tales written by Leo Tolstoy to teach ethical values in a simple, engaging way. Inspired by Aesop and Russian folk traditions, the stories often feature animals, peasants, or children and convey lessons about honesty, humility, kindness, greed, and justice. Though written for young readers, the fables carry timeless truths and reflect Tolstoy’s deep commitment to moral education and social reform. They remain popular for their clarity, humanity, and universal wisdom.
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1869-72 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
36 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Children |
|
| |
| |
A Fairy-Tale About Ivan the Fool and His Two Brothers |
| Description: |
|
This satirical fairy tale by Tolstoy follows Ivan the Fool, a kind-hearted, simple peasant, and his two ambitious brothers—a proud soldier and a greedy merchant. When the Devil tries to tempt and ruin all three, only Ivan resists through his honesty, humility, and goodness. Despite his seeming foolishness, Ivan prospers by helping others and rejecting violence, wealth, and power.
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1885 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
27 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Family Happiness |
| Description: |
|
Domestic Happiness is a novella that explores the evolving emotional and psychological landscape of a young marriage. The story is told from the perspective of Masha, a 17-year-old orphan who marries an older family friend, Sergey Mikhaylych.
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1859 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3 |
|
| Extent: |
|
66 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
Famine or No Famine |
| Description: |
|
Famine or No Famine is a brief but forceful essay in which Tolstoy challenges official claims that the widespread hunger in Russia was exaggerated or nonexistent. Drawing on firsthand observation, he exposes the suffering of peasants and condemns the government’s denial and indifference. Tolstoy argues that famine is not merely a natural disaster but a moral and social failure, caused by greed, inequality, and neglect of the poor. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1898 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
13 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Father Sergius |
| Description: |
|
Father Sergius tells the story of Prince Stepan Kasatsky, a proud nobleman who renounces worldly life to become a monk after learning that his fiancée once belonged to the Tsar. As Father Sergius, he struggles with spiritual pride, temptation, and disillusionment, seeking holiness but discovering hypocrisy within himself. After years of inner torment, he finds peace through humility and service to others. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1890-98 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
|
| Extent: |
|
40 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
Father Vasily: A Fragment |
| Description: |
|
Father Vasily: A Fragment is an unfinished piece that reflects Tolstoy’s late religious thought and moral concerns. The story centers on Father Vasily, a priest who begins to question the truth and purpose of church rituals and his own role within the institution. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1902 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
|
| Extent: |
|
7 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories, Unfinished |
|
| |
| |
The First Distiller |
| Description: |
|
The First Distiller is a short satirical play written by Tolstoy to expose the moral and social harm of alcohol. Blending humor with allegory, it tells how the devil teaches a peasant to distill vodka, bringing greed, violence, and misery into human life. Through this simple tale, Tolstoy denounces drunkenness, exploitation, and hypocrisy, showing how vice spreads from personal weakness to social decay. The play ends with a call for repentance and moral renewal. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 24 |
|
| Extent: |
|
16 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Drama |
|
| |
| |
The First Step |
| Description: |
|
The First Step is an essay in which Tolstoy explores the idea that moral progress begins with the rejection of violence against animals, specifically through vegetarianism. He argues that killing animals for food contradicts the principles of love, compassion, and nonviolence taught by Christ. For Tolstoy, abstaining from meat is not only a dietary choice but a moral imperative, representing the "first step" toward a life of righteousness. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1892 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
25 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Forged Coupon |
| Description: |
|
The Forged Coupon is one of Tolstoy’s final and most profound works, a two-part novella illustrating how evil and goodness ripple through society. It begins with a small act of deceit—a boy forging a coupon—which sets off a chain of injustice, violence, and moral corruption. In the second part, a moment of forgiveness sparks an opposite chain of redemption and spiritual renewal. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1904 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 27 |
|
| Extent: |
|
124 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
The Four Gospels Harmonized and Translated |
| Description: |
|
The Four Gospels Harmonized and Translated is Leo Tolstoy’s bold attempt to reconstruct the life and teachings of Jesus by merging the canonical Gospels into a single, continuous narrative. He removes what he saw as later church distortions and focuses on five key commandments of Christ, such as resisting evil, rejecting violence, and living simply. |
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 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1881–82 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 14, 15 |
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| Extent: |
|
989 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion |
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| |
| |
From the Memoirs of Prince D. Nekhlyudov (Lucerne) |
| Description: |
|
This short piece features Prince Dmitri Nekhlyudov, a recurring character in Tolstoy’s fiction and a semi-autobiographical figure representing the author’s moral and spiritual development. The story is written as a reflective narrative, recalling past events, often with a philosophical or ethical lens. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1857 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3
|
|
| Extent: |
|
21 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
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| |
| |
The Fruits of Enlightenment |
| Description: |
|
The Fruits of Enlightenment is a satirical comedy by Leo Tolstoy that ridicules the pretensions and spiritual emptiness of Russia’s upper class. The play centers on a wealthy family obsessed with spiritualism and séances, contrasting their shallow “enlightenment” with the sincerity and wisdom of their peasant servants. Through humor and irony, Tolstoy exposes the absurdities of fashionable intellectualism and class hypocrisy. |
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 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1889 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 18 |
|
| Extent: |
|
91 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Drama |
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| |
| |
|
| G |
| |
| |
God or Mammon? |
| Description: |
|
The author denounces greed, social inequality, and the hypocrisy of society, calling for a simple, honest life grounded in love, conscience, and adherence to Christian ideals. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1895 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
6 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
A Great Iniquity |
| Description: |
|
A Great Iniquity is Tolstoy’s condemnation of war, state violence, and social injustice, especially in the context of early 20th-century Russia. He argues that the greatest evil lies in organized violence justified by governments, which corrupts both individuals and society. |
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 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1905 |
|
| Reference: |
|
A Great Iniquity |
|
| Extent: |
|
54 |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
|
| H |
| |
| |
Hadji Murad |
| Description: |
|
Hadji Murad is Tolstoy’s final major work, a powerful story set during the Russian-Caucasian War. Based on real events, it follows Hadji Murad, a legendary Avar rebel caught between loyalty to his people and survival under Russian rule. Tolstoy portrays him as a tragic hero—brave, noble, and doomed by the cruelty of both empires. Through vivid realism and moral depth, the story explores violence, power, honor, and the futility of war. Written in his late years, Hadji Murad reflects Tolstoy’s condemnation of imperialism and his profound sympathy for human dignity amid conflict. |
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 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896-1904 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 25 |
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| Extent: |
|
120 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
Help! |
| Description: |
|
Help! is a brief but passionate essay by Tolstoy written during his active humanitarian period. In it, he calls on readers to recognize their moral duty to aid those in need, especially the poor and suffering. Tolstoy criticizes the indifference of the wealthy and institutions, arguing that true help arises not from charity or pity but from genuine compassion and personal sacrifice. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Holiday of Enlightenment of the 12th of January |
| Description: |
|
The Holiday of Enlightenment of the 12th of January is Tolstoy’s critical reflection on an official Russian celebration meant to honor education and culture. Rather than praising the event, Tolstoy uses it to expose the gap between ceremonial rhetoric and the reality of widespread ignorance and inequality. He argues that true enlightenment is not achieved through state pomp or elite gatherings, but through free, accessible, and moral education for all, especially the poor. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1889 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
How to Read the Gospel, and What Is Its Essence |
| Description: |
|
How to Read the Gospel, and What Is Its Essence is Tolstoy’s reflective guide to understanding the true meaning of the Gospels. He urges readers to approach Scripture not as church dogma or divine mystery, but as a practical moral teaching revealed through the life and words of Jesus. Tolstoy focuses on Christ’s commandments of love, humility, forgiveness, and nonresistance to evil, arguing that these principles form the heart of authentic Christianity. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
3 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion |
|
| |
| |
|
| I |
| |
| |
The Incursion |
| Description: |
|
The Incursion is one of Tolstoy’s earliest published stories, based on his own experiences as a young artillery officer in the Caucasus. It follows a Russian military unit during a campaign against local mountaineers and presents a vivid, realistic account of life in the army, the brutality of war, and the tension between cultures. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1852 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
|
| Extent: |
|
53 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Inevitable Revolution |
| Description: |
|
The Inevitable Revolution is Tolstoy’s reflection on the coming transformation of society. He argues that true revolution is not political or violent, but moral and spiritual, arising from a growing awareness of the injustice and falsehood of existing systems. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1909 |
|
| Reference: |
|
|
|
| Extent: |
|
19 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Introductions to Books |
| Description: |
|
Includes: A. Stockham’s Tokology; Amiel’s Diary; S. T. Seménov’s Peasant Stories; Works of Guy de Maupassant; |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1890-94 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 20 |
|
| Extent: |
|
22 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Art Philosophy |
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| |
| |
Introduction to the Collected Articles, What Is the Truth in Art? |
| Description: |
|
In Introduction to the Collected Articles, What Is the Truth in Art, Tolstoy outlines his belief that the purpose of art is to communicate sincere emotion that fosters moral and spiritual unity among people. Rejecting the formalism and elitism of much contemporary art, he argues that truth in art lies not in beauty for its own sake, but in ethical content and universal accessibility. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1887 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
2 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Art |
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| |
| |
Introduction to T. M. Bondarev’s Teaching |
| Description: |
|
In Introduction to T. M. Bondarev’s Teaching, Tolstoy presents and praises the ideas of Timofei Bondarev, a self-taught peasant philosopher who wrote about the moral and social necessity of physical labor. Tolstoy highlights Bondarev’s central belief that all able-bodied people must work with their hands and that exploitation occurs when some live off the labor of others. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1888 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
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| Extent: |
|
11 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
Introduction to W. von Polenz’s “Der Büttnerbauer” |
| Description: |
|
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1902 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
6 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Art |
|
| |
| |
|
| J |
| |
|
| K |
| |
| |
Khodinka: An Incident of the Coronation of Nicholas II |
| Description: |
|
Khodinka: An Incident of the Coronation of Nicholas II is Tolstoy’s somber reflection on the Khodynka Tragedy, when over a thousand people were crushed to death during the coronation festivities of Tsar Nicholas II in Moscow. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1910 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
|
| Extent: |
|
8 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Kingdom of God Is within You |
| Description: |
|
The Kingdom of God Is Within You is the most influential work of Christian anarchism. It might be considered the founding work of that tradition if it didn’t itself claim to merely be pointing out Christian anarchism as the plain meaning of the gospels. Tolstoy argues that institutional Christianity with its doctrines, church hierarchies, and ritual practices, is anti-Christian. Christ, he says, explicitly told his followers to reject doctrines, church institutions and hierarchies, and ritual practices, and instead to love truth, to honor God, and to treat all people as your family and as you would want to be treated. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1893 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 20 |
|
| Extent: |
|
243 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion |
|
| |
| |
The Kreutzer Sonata |
| Description: |
|
The Kreutzer Sonata is a powerful and controversial novella in which Tolstoy explores the dark side of love, jealousy, and sexuality. The story is narrated by Pozdnyshev, a man who recounts how he murdered his wife in a fit of jealousy after suspecting her of infidelity. Influenced by Tolstoy’s own moral and spiritual crisis, the work condemns lust and the hypocrisy of modern marriage, advocating chastity and moral purity. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1889 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 18 |
|
| Extent: |
|
73 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
|
| L |
| |
| |
Labourer Emelyán and the Empty Drum |
| Description: |
|
Labourer Emelyán and the Empty Drum is a satirical parable in which a poor laborer named Emelyán learns that the noise of an empty drum is used to frighten and control people. Discovering the trick, he exposes it, showing that the power of oppressors often depends on illusion and fear rather than real strength. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1892 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
9 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Law of Violence and the Law of Love |
| Description: |
|
The Law of Violence and the Law of Love is one of Tolstoy’s most important late works, contrasting two opposing principles: violence, which underlies states, armies, and authority, and love, taught by Christ as the true law of life. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1909 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Law of Violence and the Law of Love |
|
| Extent: |
|
45 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
Letter to a Chinese Gentleman |
| Description: |
|
In Letter to a Chinese Gentleman, Tolstoy responds to a question from a Chinese seeker about the essence of true religion and morality. He explains that genuine religion is not bound to rituals or institutions, but is universal and rooted in love, truth, compassion, and nonviolence. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1906 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Russian Revolution |
|
| Extent: |
|
9 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Letter to a Frenchman |
| Description: |
|
Leo Tolstoy's Letter to Romain Rolland argues that in corrupt "civilized" society, sincere people must prioritize manual labor to avoid exploiting others, while viewing most intellectual/artistic pursuits as often useless or privileged. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1889 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
7 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Letter to a Hindu |
| Description: |
|
“Letter to a Hindu” is Tolstoy’s appeal for India’s liberation through nonviolent resistance. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1908 |
|
| Reference: |
|
|
|
| Extent: |
|
12 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Letter to Ernest Howard Crosby (On Non-Resistance) |
| Description: |
|
Letter to Ernest Howard Crosby is Tolstoy’s response to the American reformer and pacifist Ernest Crosby, expanding on his views of nonviolence, moral duty, and Christian ethics. In the letter, Tolstoy denounces war, government coercion, and social hypocrisy, arguing that true progress depends on individuals living by Christ’s commandment of love and nonresistance to evil. He praises Crosby’s dedication to peace while urging him to remain steadfast against public opinion and institutional pressure. The letter stands as a concise and heartfelt expression of Tolstoy’s universal pacifism and his belief in the transformative power of moral example. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 20 |
|
| Extent: |
|
8 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Letter to N. N. (To Engelhard) |
| Description: |
|
Letter to N. N. (To Engelhard) is a personal correspondence in which Tolstoy responds to questions or reflections from his acquaintance N. N. Engelhard. The letter discusses moral responsibility, the purpose of life, and the practical application of Christian principles. Tolstoy emphasizes living truthfully, rejecting violence and material excess, and focusing on love and service to others. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1887 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
12 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
Letter to the Chief of the IrkIjtsk Disciplinary Battalion |
| Description: |
|
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
2 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Letters on and to the Dukhobors |
| Description: |
|
An open letter from 1895 describing the persecution of the Doukhobors, based on information reported to Tolstoy by D. A. Khilkov. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1895-1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
26 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Letters on the Famine |
| Description: |
|
Letters on the Famine is a series of writings by Tolstoy during the devastating Russian famine of 1891–1892. In these letters, he reports on the suffering of peasants, criticizes government inaction, and urges moral and practical responsibility among the wealthy and educated. Tolstoy organized large-scale relief efforts, raising funds and distributing food, but also used his letters to express his conviction that true charity lies in justice and compassion, not pity or bureaucracy. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1892 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
35 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Letters On War |
| Description: |
|
Letters on War is a series of writings in which Tolstoy condemns war as a moral crime and a product of state power and deception. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Pamphlets |
|
| Extent: |
|
17 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Letters to Friends on the Personal Christian Life |
| Description: |
|
Letters to Friends on the Personal Christian Life is a collection of Tolstoy’s letters discussing how to live according to true Christian principles in everyday life. He emphasizes inner faith, love, humility, and nonviolence, rejecting church rituals and external authority. Tolstoy encourages individuals to follow their conscience and the teachings of Christ directly, focusing on personal moral responsibility rather than institutional religion. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Pamphlets |
|
| Extent: |
|
32 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion |
|
| |
| |
Letters to Various Persons |
| Description: |
|
On the Deception of the Church; Three Phases of Life; The Commune and the World; Concerning the Congress of Peace; Letter to A. V. Vlásov; Letter to a Corporal; Who Is to Blame?; On Suicide; A Message to the American People; Three Letters on Reason, Faith, and Prayer; To the Tsar and His Associates; Three Letters Concerning Shopov; The Tolstóy Society of Manchester, England; Letter to an Orthodox Priest; Letter to a French Pastor; On the Franco-Russian Alliance; On the Street Riots; Expressions on the Kishinév Tragedy; Letters since January, 1902; |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886-1903 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
76 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
The Light That Shines in the Darkness |
| Description: |
|
The Light That Shines in the Darkness is an unfinished autobiographical play that dramatizes Tolstoy’s inner spiritual crisis and growing conflict with family, society, and the Church. The protagonist, a landowner named Nikolai Ivanovich, mirrors Tolstoy himself as he struggles to live according to Christian ideals of love, poverty, and nonviolence, while facing misunderstanding from those closest to him. The play explores themes of faith, conscience, moral duty, and the cost of truth. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1894-96, 1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 26 |
|
| Extent: |
|
103 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Drama, Unfinished |
|
| |
| |
Linen-Measurer (Kholstomer: The Story of a Horse)
|
| Description: |
|
Kholstomer is one of Tolstoy’s most original and poignant short stories, narrated from the point of view of a horse. The protagonist, Kholstomer, is an old, once-proud steed reflecting on his life of labor, mistreatment, and neglect. Despite being strong and noble, he was judged negatively because of his unusual piebald coloring, which made him "ugly" in human eyes. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1861 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 4 |
|
| Extent: |
|
30 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Love One Another |
| Description: |
|
In Love One Another, Tolstoy emphasizes the central Christian commandment of love as the foundation of all moral life. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1907–1908 |
|
| Reference: |
|
|
|
| Extent: |
|
6 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion |
|
| |
| |
|
| M |
| |
| |
The Man Who Was Dead (The Living Corpse) |
| Description: |
|
The Man Who Was Dead is a moral and spiritual tale about a man who experiences a profound inner resurrection after living a selfish and meaningless life. Believed to be dead by others, he awakens to a new understanding of truth, love, and moral duty. Through this symbolic narrative, Tolstoy explores the themes of spiritual rebirth, conscience, and redemption, illustrating his conviction that true life begins only when one lives for others rather than oneself. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 26 |
|
| Extent: |
|
86 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Drama, Unfinished |
|
| |
| |
Master and Workman |
| Description: |
|
Master and Workman is a powerful moral story about a wealthy landowner, Brekhunov, and his servant, Nikita, who set out on a journey during a snowstorm. When they become lost in the freezing wilderness, Brekhunov initially thinks only of saving himself. But as death approaches, he experiences a profound spiritual awakening and sacrifices his life to save Nikita, discovering the meaning of love and selflessness in his final moments. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1895 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
43 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Meaning of the Russian Revolution |
| Description: |
|
The Meaning of the Russian Revolution is Tolstoy’s interpretation of the 1905 revolutionary events in Russia. He views the revolution not merely as a political upheaval but as a moral and spiritual crisis, revealing the injustice of both autocracy and violent resistance. Tolstoy rejects all forms of violence—state or revolutionary—and urges a transformation through conscience, love, and nonviolence. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1906 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Russian Revolution |
|
| Extent: |
|
39 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Meeting a Moscow Acquaintance in the Detachment: From the Caucasian Notes of Prince Nekhlyudov |
| Description: |
|
This short story is part of Tolstoy’s Caucasian cycle and is narrated through the voice of Prince Dmitri Nekhlyudov, a recurring character and semi-autobiographical stand-in for the author.
The tale recounts a chance encounter between Nekhlyudov and an old Moscow acquaintance while serving in a military detachment in the Caucasus. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1856 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3 |
|
| Extent: |
|
20 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Memoirs of a Lunatic |
| Description: |
|
Memoirs of a Lunatic is a deeply introspective story in which Tolstoy explores the spiritual awakening of a man deemed insane by society. The narrator, after a moral and existential crisis, comes to see that the world’s values—wealth, ambition, and social approval—are forms of collective madness. Branded a lunatic for rejecting them, he attains a higher understanding of truth, love, and divine purpose. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1884-1903 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
|
| Extent: |
|
11 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Memoirs of a Marker |
| Description: |
|
Memoirs of a Marker is an early satirical short story by Tolstoy, narrated by a professional "marker"—a person hired to keep score during gambling games, often in elite social circles. The story offers a sharp critique of aristocratic decadence, gambling culture, and moral decay among Russia’s upper classes. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1855 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3 |
|
| Extent: |
|
14 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Memoirs of a Mother |
| Description: |
|
The Memoirs of a Mother is a poignant short story in which Tolstoy explores maternal love, grief, and moral awakening. Told through the reflections of a mother who has lost her child, the story examines the depth of human sorrow and the search for spiritual meaning amid suffering. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1893 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
|
| Extent: |
|
10 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Modern Science |
| Description: |
|
In Modern Science, Tolstoy criticizes contemporary science for being detached from moral purpose and human needs. He argues that scientific progress often serves power, wealth, and abstract curiosity, rather than improving the lives of ordinary people. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1897 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Modern Science |
|
| Extent: |
|
6 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
A Morning of a Landed Proprietor |
| Description: |
|
A Morning of a Landed Proprietor is one of Tolstoy’s earliest published stories. It follows Prince Nekhlyudov (a character who reappears in later works) as he tries to manage his estate and improve the lives of his serfs. The story explores the moral and social challenges faced by a young nobleman trying to do good within the rigid and exploitative system of serfdom in 19th-century Russia. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1856 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 2 |
|
| Extent: |
|
47 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
My Confession |
| Description: |
|
My Confession is Tolstoy’s deeply personal spiritual autobiography, in which he reflects on his existential crisis during midlife. Despite fame and literary success, he found himself haunted by the question: “What is the meaning of life?” Struggling with despair and thoughts of suicide, Tolstoy turned away from the Church and intellectual philosophy, ultimately discovering purpose in the faith and simplicity of the common people. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1879–82 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 13 |
|
| Extent: |
|
50 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
My Dream |
| Description: |
|
My Dream is a brief allegorical story in which Tolstoy recounts a vivid dream that reveals his deepest moral and spiritual concerns. In the dream, he witnesses the suffering, injustice, and moral blindness of humanity, leading him to reflect on the illusion of progress and the need for inner transformation. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1906 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 27 |
|
| Extent: |
|
10 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
My Religion |
| Description: |
|
My Religion is Tolstoy’s bold declaration of his personal faith, written after a deep spiritual crisis. Rejecting the doctrines of the Orthodox Church, he embraces the moral teachings of Jesus—especially the command to resist not evil—as the core of true Christianity. He calls for nonviolence, love for all people, rejection of war, oaths, and state authority. The book articulates the foundation of Tolstoy’s Christian anarchism and his belief that living according to Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is the only path to spiritual truth. Its radical message influenced pacifists worldwide, including Gandhi. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
January 22, 1884 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 16 |
|
| Extent: |
|
137 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
My Reply To The Synod's Edict Of Excommunication And To Letters Concerning It |
| Description: |
|
In this reply, Tolstoy responds to his excommunication by the Russian Orthodox Church, firmly rejecting its authority while affirming his commitment to the teachings of Christ. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1901 |
|
| Reference: |
|
My Reply To The Synod's Edict Of Excommunication And To Letters Concerning It |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion |
|
| |
| |
|
| N |
| |
| |
Natural Science Stories |
| Description: |
|
Natural Science Stories is a collection of short, educational tales written by Leo Tolstoy to introduce children to scientific and natural concepts through engaging narratives. These stories cover topics such as animals, plants, weather, the seasons, and the human body, blending factual information with moral or philosophical reflections. Intended for use in peasant schools, they reflect Tolstoy’s belief in accessible, practical education rooted in observation and respect for nature. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1869-72 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
22 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Children |
|
| |
| |
Need It Be So? |
| Description: |
|
An 1900 article in eight chapters on the root cause of the people’s suffering. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
19 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Neglect the Fire and You Cannot Put It Out |
| Description: |
|
Neglect the Fire and You Cannot Put It Out is a brief moral parable by Leo Tolstoy that warns of the danger of ignoring small moral failings or early signs of wrongdoing. Using the metaphor of an unattended fire, Tolstoy illustrates how neglecting to address spiritual or ethical issues early on can lead to destruction that becomes impossible to control. The story reflects his later belief in personal responsibility, moral vigilance, and the importance of inner purity and timely action. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1885 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
14 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Nicholas Stick |
| Description: |
|
Nicholas Stick is a short moral tale written for children, in which Tolstoy tells the story of a boy named Nicholas who carves a stick to help him remember to correct his faults. Each notch represents a bad action he hopes to overcome. As he improves, the stick becomes smoother, symbolizing his moral progress. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
8 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Children |
|
| |
| |
The Non-Acting |
| Description: |
|
“The Non-Acting” presents Tolstoy’s idea that true moral action often lies in refraining from participation in evil. He argues that individuals should resist injustice not through force, but by consciously refusing to take part in violence, coercion, or wrongdoing, emphasizing personal responsibility and ethical self-restraint. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1893 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
12 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
|
| O |
| |
| |
The Officers’ Memento |
| Description: |
|
An 1901 article calling on officers to renounce the criminality of military service. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1901 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
6 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
On Insanity |
| Description: |
|
This article represents the fulfillment of Tolstoy’s long-standing idea: to write about the “madness of the world’s structure,” which arose in 1907 and found expression in the articles “A Newspaper Issue” (1909) and “On Madness” (1910). The immediate occasion for this article was a letter from Labkovskaya concerning the question of suicide, to which Tolstoy replied on March 19–25, 1910. The article’s original title was indeed “On Suicide.”
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1909 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. |
|
| Extent: |
|
p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
On Labor And Luxury |
| Description: |
|
In On Labor and Luxury, Tolstoy contrasts the honest, necessary labor of the poor with the idle, excessive lifestyle of the wealthy. He argues that luxury is sustained by the exploitation of others and leads to moral corruption and spiritual emptiness. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1887 |
|
| Reference: |
|
What To Do? |
|
| Extent: |
|
8 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
On Life |
| Description: |
|
On Life is a philosophical treatise in which Tolstoy examines the purpose and meaning of human existence. Rejecting materialism, self-interest, and institutional religion, he argues that true life is found in unity with the divine will, expressed through love, selflessness, and service to others. Tolstoy distinguishes between the “animal life” of bodily desires and the “true life” of the spirit. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1888 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 16 |
|
| Extent: |
|
106 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
On Methods of Teaching the Rudiments |
| Description: |
|
On Methods of Teaching the Rudiments is one of Tolstoy’s key educational essays, in which he reflects on how best to teach basic literacy—reading and writing—to children, especially in rural schools. Based on his hands-on experience at his peasant school in Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy advocates for a natural, flexible, and student-led approach rather than rigid, rote memorization. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1862 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 4 |
|
| Extent: |
|
17 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
On Popular Education |
| Description: |
|
On Popular Education is an essay in which Tolstoy outlines his progressive and then-radical views on education for the Russian peasantry. Drawing on his own experience founding and teaching at a school for peasant children at his Yasnaya Polyana estate, Tolstoy argues that true education must be voluntary, free from coercion, and tailored to the interests and needs of the people.
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1862 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 4 |
|
| Extent: |
|
19 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
On Popular Education |
| Description: |
|
On Popular Education is a foundational essay in which Leo Tolstoy challenges the structure and purpose of state-run education. Drawing from his experience teaching peasant children, he argues that true education must be voluntary, free, and adapted to the lives of the people it serves. He opposes rigid curriculums and top-down authority in favor of freedom, creativity, and mutual respect between teacher and student. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1875 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
44 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
On Religious Toleration |
| Description: |
|
An 1901 article in five chapters, prompted by a speech by Stakhovich at a missionary congress in September 1901 in the city of Oryol. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1902 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
7 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion |
|
| |
| |
On the Meaning of Life |
| Description: |
|
On the Meaning of Life is a concise but profound statement of Tolstoy’s mature philosophy, drawn from his later writings. In it, he argues that life’s meaning cannot be found in wealth, fame, or pleasure, but only in living according to love, moral truth, and service to others. He rejects institutional religion, advocating instead for a personal faith grounded in the teachings of Jesus and the unity of all people. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1885-1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 16 |
|
| Extent: |
|
30 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
On the Moscow Census |
| Description: |
|
On the Moscow Census is Tolstoy’s reflective account of his participation in the 1882 Moscow census. Assigned to survey one of the city’s poorest districts, he was confronted with shocking poverty, overcrowding, and human suffering. The experience led him to question the effectiveness of statistical studies that fail to address the causes of misery. The essay blends firsthand observation, moral questioning, and social criticism, laying the groundwork for his later works on poverty and moral duty, including What Shall We Do Then?. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1882 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
8 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
On the Relation Between the Sexes |
| Description: |
|
On the Relation Between the Sexes is a moral and philosophical essay in which Tolstoy reflects on the ethical dimensions of sexual relationships and the institution of marriage. Written during his later, ascetic period, the essay condemns sensual indulgence and advocates for chastity, self-control, and spiritual purity. Tolstoy argues that lust corrupts both personal integrity and social harmony, calling for a higher, love-based understanding of human relations. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
188_- 1890 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 18 |
|
| Extent: |
|
41 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Philosophy, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
On the Relation to the State |
| Description: |
|
Letter to Eugen Heinrich Schmitt; Letter to the Liberals; Letter to the Editor of the Daily Chronicle; |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1894-96 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
15 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Philosophy, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
On the Significance of Science and Art |
| Description: |
|
In On the Significance of Science and Art, Tolstoy examines the true purpose of intellectual and artistic activity. He criticizes both science and art when they are detached from moral meaning and serve only curiosity, pleasure, or elite interests. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1887 |
|
| Reference: |
|
What To Do? |
|
| Extent: |
|
44 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Art |
|
| |
| |
The Only Means |
| Description: |
|
An article from 1901, in nine chapters, written in the form of a message from the Russian working people to the ruling classes. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1901 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
14 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Overthrow of Hell and Its Restoration |
| Description: |
|
A retelling of a legend written by Tolstoy in 1903 as an “illustration” to the article “Appeal to the Clergy.” The source was a legend told to him in 1879 by V. P. Shchegolenok. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1903 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Overthrow of Hell and Its Restoration |
|
| Extent: |
|
3 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
|
| P |
| |
| |
Patriotism and Government |
| Description: |
|
Patriotism and Government is a strong critique of nationalism and state power, in which Tolstoy argues that patriotism is not a virtue but a harmful illusion used to justify war and division. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Pamphlets |
|
| Extent: |
|
17 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Patriotism or Peace (Letter to Manson) |
| Description: |
|
Patriotism or Peace? Letter to Manson is a short but powerful letter in which Tolstoy expands on his condemnation of patriotism as a cause of war and moral corruption. Written to his English correspondent, Ernest Howard Crosby (sometimes cited as “Manson”), Tolstoy argues that true Christianity is incompatible with national pride or military service. He insists that loyalty to humanity and divine love must replace loyalty to any one nation. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 20 |
|
| Extent: |
|
7 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Polikushka |
| Description: |
|
Polikushka is a poignant short story about a poor, timid peasant named Polikushka, who is given a rare chance to prove his trustworthiness by being sent to town to retrieve a large sum of money for his mistress. Though the errand appears simple, it becomes a test of his fragile self-confidence and his ability to rise above his reputation as unreliable and weak.
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1863 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3 |
|
| Extent: |
|
51 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
Popular Legends |
| Description: |
|
How the Devil Redeemed the Crust of Bread; The Repentant Sinner; The Kernel of the Size of a Hen’s Egg; How Much Land a Man Needs; The Godson; |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
36 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Posthumous Papers of the Hermit, Fedor Kusmich |
| Description: |
|
The Posthumous Papers of the Hermit, Fedor Kusmich is a reflective tale inspired by a Russian legend that Tsar Alexander I did not die in 1825 but lived on in secret as a humble hermit named Fedor Kusmich. Tolstoy uses this story to explore themes of repentance, spiritual transformation, and the rejection of worldly power. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1905 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
|
| Extent: |
|
16 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Power of Darkness |
| Description: |
|
The Power of Darkness is a tragic play by Leo Tolstoy that exposes the moral and social decay of Russian peasant life. It tells the story of Nikita, a weak-willed farmhand who becomes involved in adultery, deceit, and murder under the influence of those around him. Through his downfall and eventual confession, Tolstoy explores themes of guilt, sin, repentance, and spiritual redemption. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 18 |
|
| Extent: |
|
78 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Drama |
|
| |
| |
Preface to Carpenter’s Article, “Modern Science” |
| Description: |
|
In “Preface to Carpenter’s Article, ‘Modern Science,’” Tolstoy criticizes contemporary science for neglecting moral and spiritual questions. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1898 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
7 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
Progress and the Definition of Education |
| Description: |
|
In Progress and the Definition of Education, Tolstoy critically examines what is meant by "progress" in society and how education is often wrongly used to enforce narrow or elitist notions of advancement. He argues that education should not be defined by the standards of the upper classes or by blind faith in technological or institutional development. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1862 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 4 |
|
| Extent: |
|
24 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
A Project of a General Plan for the Establishment of Popular Schools |
| Description: |
|
In this essay, Tolstoy presents a practical and philosophical proposal for creating a system of popular (public) schools for Russia’s rural population. Based on his work at his experimental school in Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy outlines a non-coercive, decentralized, and flexible model of education that prioritizes the freedom and individuality of both teachers and students. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1862 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 4 |
|
| Extent: |
|
28 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
|
| Q |
| |
| |
|
| R |
| |
| |
Reason and Religion |
| Description: |
|
Reason and Religion is an essay in which Tolstoy examines the conflict between rational understanding and organized religion. He argues that true faith must align with reason and moral conscience, not blind obedience to church dogma or superstition. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 20 |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
Religion and Morality |
| Description: |
|
The essay argues that “religion” is each person’s felt relationship to the infinite and that any genuine morality grows from that relationship; to divorce the two is impossible. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1894 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
16 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
Resurrection |
| Description: |
|
Resurrection is Tolstoy’s final major novel, telling the story of Prince Dmitri Nekhlyudov, who seeks redemption after realizing he wronged a woman, Katyusha Maslova, now condemned to a life of suffering. Through his moral awakening and efforts to help her, Nekhlyudov confronts the hypocrisy of society, church, and the legal system. The novel explores themes of sin, repentance, and spiritual renewal, reflecting Tolstoy’s mature Christian philosophy and his belief in the power of moral transformation. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1899 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 21, 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
409 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novels |
|
| |
| |
The Root of the Evil |
| Description: |
|
The Root of the Evil is Tolstoy’s analysis of the fundamental cause of human suffering and injustice. He argues that the true source of evil lies in people’s willingness to participate in systems based on violence, authority, and false beliefs, especially those upheld by the state and society. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1901 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Root of the Evil |
|
| Extent: |
|
16 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
|
| S |
| |
| |
The School at Yásnaya Polyána |
| Description: |
|
The School at Yásnaya Polyána is an essay in which Tolstoy describes the founding, philosophy, and daily operations of the free school he established for peasant children on his estate at Yasnaya Polyana.
Rejecting traditional, authoritarian education methods, Tolstoy promoted a non-coercive, student-centered approach, where children learned voluntarily and creatively. The school allowed for freedom of choice, open discussion, moral development, and a curriculum responsive to the children’s interests. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1862 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 4 |
|
| Extent: |
|
104 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy |
|
| |
| |
Sevastopol Sketches |
| Description: |
|
Sevastopol Sketches is a powerful trio of semi-autobiographical stories written by Tolstoy during his time as an artillery officer in the Crimean War, specifically during the Siege of Sevastopol. The pieces depict the grim realities of war—not through glorified heroism but with brutal honesty. Tolstoy uses shifting perspectives and documentary-style realism to explore the psychological, moral, and emotional toll of war on soldiers and civilians alike. The work criticizes both military bureaucracy and the romanticized narratives of war common in his time. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1855–56 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 2 |
|
| Extent: |
|
104 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Shame! |
| Description: |
|
“Shame!” is Tolstoy’s passionate condemnation of social injustice and state violence. He denounces executions, oppression, and the moral indifference of society, calling them a disgrace to humanity and Christianity. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1895 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
5 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Slavery of Our Time |
| Description: |
|
The Slavery of Our Time is Tolstoy’s passionate denunciation of modern economic and social inequality. He argues that industrial labor, poverty, and dependence on money have created a new form of slavery—less visible but just as cruel as the old. Tolstoy contends that this slavery persists because society accepts the exploitation of workers as normal. He calls for simplicity, honest labor, and moral awakening, urging people to live according to Christ’s commandment of love rather than greed. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 24 |
|
| Extent: |
|
46 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Philosophy, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
The Snowstorm |
| Description: |
|
The Snow-Storm is a vivid, atmospheric short story drawn from Tolstoy’s early experiences traveling through Russia. It recounts a harrowing nighttime journey taken by a traveler (the narrator) who becomes lost with his guide in a blizzard. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1856 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3
|
|
| Extent: |
|
24 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Soldiers’ Memento |
| Description: |
|
An 1901 article urging soldiers to refuse military service, written in opposition to the official patriotic and monarchist “Soldier’s Manual” compiled by General M. Dragomirov. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1901 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Some Social Remedies |
| Description: |
|
In Some Social Remedies, Tolstoy examines proposed solutions to social injustice and inequality, rejecting reforms based on laws, institutions, or political programs. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Pamphlets |
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| Extent: |
|
17 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Stop and think! (also A letter on the Peace Conference) |
| Description: |
|
Stop and Think! is a forceful anti-war appeal in which Tolstoy urges people to pause and examine the moral meaning of obedience, patriotism, and violence. Written during a time of war and political unrest, the essay argues that people commit terrible acts because they follow custom and authority without listening to conscience. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1899 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Stop and think! (also A letter on the Peace Conference) |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Stories For Children |
| Description: |
|
Stories for Children is a collection of short, simple tales by Leo Tolstoy, written to educate and inspire young readers. These stories, often drawn from peasant life, folk wisdom, and everyday experiences, teach values like honesty, compassion, humility, hard work, and respect for others. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1869-72 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
61 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Children |
|
| |
| |
Superstition of the State |
| Description: |
|
The Superstition of the State is a sharp critique of the belief in the necessity and authority of government. Tolstoy argues that the state is maintained by violence, coercion, and illusion, yet people accept it as natural and inevitable. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1905 |
|
| Reference: |
|
|
|
| Extent: |
|
17 |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
|
| T |
| |
| |
Teaching of the Twelve Apostles |
| Description: |
|
Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, also known as the Didache, is an early Christian text outlining moral instructions, communal practices, and spiritual guidance. Tolstoy translated and commented on this work because he saw in it a clear, practical expression of Christ’s original teachings—simple, peaceful, and rooted in love and nonviolence. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1885 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
5 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion |
|
| |
| |
Texts for Chapbook Illustrations |
| Description: |
|
Texts for Chapbook Illustrations is a series of short, descriptive commentaries Leo Tolstoy wrote to accompany popular folk illustrations (lubok prints). Each text offers a moral, social, or spiritual reflection inspired by a traditional image, making them accessible for peasant readers. Tolstoy used these illustrations as a tool for popular education, pairing vivid pictures with brief texts that taught Christian values, social awareness, and ethical living. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1885 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
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| Extent: |
|
10 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
There Are No Guilty People |
| Description: |
|
There Are No Guilty People is one of Tolstoy’s final works, written shortly before his death. The story presents the reflections of a man sentenced to death, who comes to see that every person is both guilty and innocent, shaped by forces beyond individual control. Through this meditation on justice, punishment, and compassion, Tolstoy condemns the death penalty and all forms of retribution. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1909 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 27 |
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| Extent: |
|
10 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Thou Shalt Not Kill |
| Description: |
|
“Thou Shalt Not Kill” is a philosophical treatise in which Leo Tolstoy sharply condemns all violence and killing, including that sanctioned by the state. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
5 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Thoughts and Aphorisms |
| Description: |
|
Thoughts and Aphorisms is a collection of brief reflections drawn from Tolstoy’s journals, letters, and essays. Covering themes such as truth, love, humility, faith, death, and the meaning of life, these concise entries express his mature moral and spiritual philosophy. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886-93 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
88 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Philosophy, Autobiographical |
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| |
| |
Thoughts on Education and Instruction |
| Description: |
|
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1887-1901 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
16 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Pedagogy, Autobiographical |
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| |
| |
Thoughts on God |
| Description: |
|
Thoughts on God is a collection of Tolstoy’s brief reflections, drawn from his diaries, essays, and letters, expressing his mature understanding of God, faith, and moral duty. Rather than focusing on dogma, Tolstoy presents God as the spiritual essence present in all life, accessible through love, truth, and selflessness. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1885-1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 16 |
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| Extent: |
|
16 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
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| |
| |
Three Days in the Village |
| Description: |
|
Three Days In The Village; Singing In The Village; Traveller And Peasant; A Talk With A Wayfarer; From The Diary; |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1910 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Three Days in the Village |
|
| Extent: |
|
44 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Three Deaths |
| Description: |
|
Three Deaths is a short allegorical story in which three characters die—a noblewoman, a coachman, and a tree. Each death is portrayed differently, reflecting Tolstoy's philosophical views on truth, nature, and the human condition.
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1859 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3 |
|
| Extent: |
|
10 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
The Three Hermits |
| Description: |
|
The Three Hermits is a short spiritual parable by Leo Tolstoy that highlights the simplicity of true faith. It tells the story of a bishop who visits three humble hermits living on a remote island. Concerned they don’t know the proper prayers, he tries to teach them formal religious doctrine. Later, the hermits miraculously follow his ship across the sea—on foot—asking him to repeat the prayer because they’ve forgotten it. |
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|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1884 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
6 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Three Sons |
| Description: |
|
Three Sons is a short moral parable in which a father tests his three sons to see who is most capable of managing the household after him. Each son demonstrates different abilities—one in physical labor, one in financial matters, and one in caring for people and fostering harmony. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1892 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
3 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
To N. N. Ge’s (Gay’s) Painting |
| Description: |
|
In “To N. N. Ge’s Painting (Christ’s Last Discourse with His Disciples),” Tolstoy reflects on the spiritual depth of Ge’s work, emphasizing Christ’s teaching of love, humility, and unity. He interprets the scene as a call to inner moral transformation and sincere faith, contrasting true Christianity with formal, external religiosity. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
3 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Art |
|
| |
| |
To the Dear Youth |
| Description: |
|
To the Dear Youth is a short moral letter in which Tolstoy addresses young people directly, urging them to live with integrity, kindness, and a sense of moral responsibility. He warns against the temptations of vanity, selfish ambition, and materialism, encouraging a life guided by truth, compassion, and service to others. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
To the Working People |
| Description: |
|
To the Working People is a heartfelt appeal in which Tolstoy addresses the laboring classes directly, urging them to recognize the injustice of exploitation and the false promises of political and economic systems. He argues that true liberation cannot come through violence or revolution, but through moral awakening, self-reliance, and mutual love. Tolstoy encourages workers to reject hatred and revenge, instead embracing the teachings of Christ—especially nonresistance to evil and compassion for all. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1902 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 24 |
|
| Extent: |
|
25 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
To Women |
| Description: |
|
In To Women, Tolstoy addresses women directly, emphasizing their moral influence and responsibility in shaping society. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1887 |
|
| Reference: |
|
What To Do? |
|
| Extent: |
|
5 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Tolstoy on Shakespeare. A Critical Essay on Shakespeare |
| Description: |
|
In Tolstoy on Shakespeare, Tolstoy delivers a sharp critique of William Shakespeare’s works, rejecting their reputation as masterpieces. He argues that Shakespeare’s plays are artificial, exaggerated, and lacking moral purpose, and that their fame is sustained by uncritical admiration. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1906 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Tolstoy on Shakespeare. A Critical Essay on Shakespeare |
|
| Extent: |
|
61 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Art |
|
| |
| |
Tolstoy's Diaries, Vol. 1 (1847-1894) |
| Description: |
|
Edited and translated by R.F. Christian |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1847-94 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Tolstoy's Diaries, Vol. 1 (1847-1894) |
|
| Extent: |
|
497 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
Tolstoy’s Diaries, Vol. 2 (1895-1910) |
| Description: |
|
Edited and translated by R.F. Christian |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1895-1910 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Tolstoy’s Diaries, Vol. 2 (1895-1910) |
|
| Extent: |
|
477 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
Tolstoy’s Letters Vol. 1 (1828-1879) |
| Description: |
|
Edited and translated by R.F. Christian |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1828-79 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Tolstoy’s Letters Vol. 1 (1828-1879) |
|
| Extent: |
|
372 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
Tolstoy’s Letters Vol. 2 (1880-1910 ) |
| Description: |
|
Edited and translated by R.F. Christian |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1880-1910 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Tolstoy’s Letters Vol. 2 (1880-1910 ) |
|
| Extent: |
|
416 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
Two Hussars |
| Description: |
|
Two Hussars contrasts two generations of Russian military officers—a charming, bold, and generous old hussar (Count Turbin) and his more cautious, career-minded son. Set in a provincial town, the story compares their behavior, values, and how society responds to each.
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1856 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 3
|
|
| Extent: |
|
45 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
Two Letters on Orthodoxy |
| Description: |
|
Two Letters on Orthodoxy contains Tolstoy’s critical reflections on the Russian Orthodox Church following his excommunication. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1904 |
|
| Reference: |
|
Two Letters on Orthodoxy |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion |
|
| |
| |
The Two Old Men |
| Description: |
|
The Two Old Men is a short parable about faith, compassion, and the true meaning of pilgrimage. Two elderly neighbors, Efim and Elisha, set out to visit the Holy Land. Along the way, Elisha stops to help a starving, suffering family and gives away all his provisions, never completing the pilgrimage. Efim continues to Jerusalem and performs all the religious rites. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1885 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
19 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
Two Wars |
| Description: |
|
An 1898 article condemning the senselessness and horror of the imperialist Spanish–American and Anglo–Boer wars. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1898 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
4 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Two Wayfarers |
| Description: |
|
Two Wayfarers is a short moral parable about compassion, humility, and the meaning of true faith. It tells of two travelers—a proud, self-righteous man and a humble, kind one—who encounter hardship on their journey. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
|
| Extent: |
|
3 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
|
| U |
| |
| |
|
| V |
| |
| |
|
| W |
| |
| |
Walk in the Light While Ye Have Light |
| Description: |
|
Walk in the Light While Ye Have Light is a Christian allegory illustrating Tolstoy’s belief in living according to the true teachings of Christ. The story contrasts two groups of people: those who follow the “light” of divine truth through love and humility, and those who remain in the “darkness” of worldly power, greed, and hypocrisy. Through its simple narrative and moral clarity, Tolstoy urges readers to reject institutional religion and materialism, choosing instead a life of spiritual integrity and compassion. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1890 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
|
| Extent: |
|
43 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novellas |
|
| |
| |
War and Peace |
| Description: |
|
War and Peace is Leo Tolstoy’s masterpiece and one of the most celebrated novels in world literature. Set against the backdrop of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia (1805–1812), the novel follows the lives of several aristocratic families—primarily the Rostovs, Bolkonskys, and Bezukhovs—as they navigate love, war, personal loss, and philosophical searching. |
|
 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1865–69 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 5, 6, 7, 8 |
|
| Extent: |
|
1247 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Novels |
|
| |
| |
What a Christian May Do, and What Not |
| Description: |
|
What a Christian May Do, and What Not is a brief but direct statement of Tolstoy’s moral interpretation of Christianity. He rejects church dogma and focuses on the practical application of Christ’s teachings, especially the Sermon on the Mount. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1887 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
3 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
What Is Art? |
| Description: |
|
What Is Art? is Tolstoy’s influential treatise on aesthetics, in which he rejects the elitism and artificiality of modern art. He argues that true art is sincere, morally uplifting, and accessible to all people, not just the privileged. For Tolstoy, the value of art lies in its ability to communicate genuine human emotion and promote love, unity, and moral progress. He condemns works that serve vanity or sensual pleasure, calling instead for art that inspires goodness and compassion. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1897 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
|
| Extent: |
|
135 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Art, Philosophy, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
What Is Religion? |
| Description: |
|
What Is Religion? is one of Tolstoy’s final and most comprehensive statements on faith and morality. In this work, he defines true religion as a personal, inner relationship with the divine—expressed through love, truth, and service to others—rather than adherence to dogma, ritual, or institutional authority. He contrasts genuine faith with the hypocrisy of organized churches, which he believed corrupted Christ’s simple moral teaching. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1902 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 24 |
|
| Extent: |
|
32 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
|
| |
| |
What Is to Be Done? |
| Description: |
|
|
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1906 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The Russian Revolution |
|
| Extent: |
|
7 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
What Men Live By |
| Description: |
|
What Men Live By is one of Tolstoy’s most beloved moral tales, centered on faith, compassion, and the divine presence in everyday life. The story follows a poor shoemaker named Simon, who finds a mysterious, silent man—Michael—on the street and takes him in. As the story unfolds, Michael is revealed to be an angel, sent to learn three lessons about humanity: what dwells in man, what is not given to man, and what men live by. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1881 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
|
| Extent: |
|
41 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Fiction, Short Stories |
|
| |
| |
What Shall We Do Then? |
| Description: |
|
What Shall We Do Then? is Tolstoy’s urgent moral and social critique, written after he confronted the extreme poverty in Moscow. Disturbed by the contrast between wealthy elites and starving peasants, he asks how a moral person should live in such a society. Rejecting charity that preserves inequality, Tolstoy calls for personal renunciation of luxury, honest labor, and direct service to those in need. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
|
| Extent: |
|
207 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Philosophy, Society & State, Autobiographical |
|
| |
| |
Where Is the Way Out? |
| Description: |
|
An article written in 1900, in six chapters, about the vicious cycle of state violence. |
|
|
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1900 |
|
| Reference: |
|
The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
|
| Extent: |
|
9 p. |
|
| Tags: |
|
Non-fiction, Society & State |
|
| |
| |
Where Love Is, There God Is Also |
| Description: |
|
Where Love Is, There God Is Also is one of Tolstoy’s most famous Christian parables. It tells the story of Martin Avdeitch, a lonely, humble shoemaker who longs to see God. One night, he dreams that Christ will visit him. The next day, he welcomes several people in need—a poor man, a cold woman with a baby, and a hungry child—offering kindness and help to each. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1885 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 12 |
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| Extent: |
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11 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Fiction, Short Stories |
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Why People Become Intoxicated |
| Description: |
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Why People Become Intoxicated is a moral and philosophical essay in which Tolstoy examines the reasons people turn to alcohol and other intoxicants. He argues that intoxication is not simply a vice or habit, but a deliberate escape from moral awareness and spiritual responsibility. According to Tolstoy, people drink to silence their conscience and avoid confronting the emptiness or contradictions in their lives. He condemns intoxication as a barrier to true human development and social progress, calling for moral clarity, self-restraint, and the rejection of all forms of self-deception. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1890 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
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| Extent: |
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14 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Philosophy, Society & State |
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The Wisdom of Children |
| Description: |
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The Wisdom of Children is a gentle and reflective story in which Tolstoy contrasts the innocence and moral clarity of children with the corruption and hypocrisy of adults. Through simple dialogue and everyday scenes, he reveals how children often understand truth, kindness, and fairness more naturally than those burdened by pride or social ambition. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1908 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 28 |
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| Extent: |
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53 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Fiction, Short Stories |
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| X |
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| Y |
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The Young Tsar |
| Description: |
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The Young Tsar is an allegorical tale about a newly crowned ruler who dreams of the injustice and suffering caused by his power and privilege. In the dream, he witnesses the oppression of the poor and the moral corruption of those who serve him. Awaking in anguish, he realizes the heavy moral responsibility of leadership and vows to rule with compassion and justice. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1894 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 27 |
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| Extent: |
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11 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Fiction, Short Stories |
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Youth |
| Description: |
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Youth is the third and final part of Leo Tolstoy’s autobiographical trilogy, following Childhood and Boyhood. It continues the life story of Nikolenka as he enters university and begins confronting the responsibilities and contradictions of adulthood. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1856 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 1 |
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| Extent: |
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160 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Fiction, Novels |
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| Z |
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