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Appeal to the Clergy |
| Description: |
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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. |
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| Date: |
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1903 |
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| Reference: |
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Appeal to the Clergy |
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| Extent: |
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15 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Society & State |
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The Approach of the End |
| Description: |
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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. |
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| Date: |
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1896 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
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| Extent: |
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7 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
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The Christian Teaching |
| Description: |
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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. |
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| Date: |
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1897 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
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| Extent: |
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81 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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Church and State |
| Description: |
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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. |
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| Date: |
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1882 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
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| Extent: |
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p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Society & State |
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The Critique of Dogmatic Theology |
| Description: |
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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. |
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| Date: |
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1881-82 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 13 |
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| Extent: |
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228 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
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Epilogue to Drozhzhin's Life and Death |
| Description: |
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|
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1895 |
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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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15 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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Extracts (From Unpublished Diaries, Undated Letters, Etc.) |
| Description: |
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The Demands of Love; Tolstóyism; |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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--- |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
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| Extent: |
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24 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion, Autobiographical |
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The First Step |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
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| Date: |
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1892 |
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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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25 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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The Four Gospels Harmonized and Translated |
| Description: |
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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: |
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1881–82 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 14, 15 |
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| Extent: |
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989 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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How to Read the Gospel, and What Is Its Essence |
| Description: |
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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
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| Date: |
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1896 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 22 |
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| Extent: |
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3 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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The Kingdom of God Is within You |
| Description: |
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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
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| Date: |
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1893 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 20 |
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| Extent: |
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243 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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The Law of Violence and the Law of Love |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1909 |
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| Reference: |
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The Law of Violence and the Law of Love |
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| Extent: |
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45 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion, Philosophy |
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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
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| Date: |
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1887 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
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| Extent: |
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12 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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Letters to Friends on the Personal Christian Life |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
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| Date: |
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1900 |
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| Reference: |
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Pamphlets |
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| Extent: |
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32 |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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Letters to Various Persons |
| Description: |
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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: |
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1886-1903 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
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| Extent: |
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76 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion, Autobiographical |
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Love One Another |
| Description: |
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In Love One Another, Tolstoy emphasizes the central Christian commandment of love as the foundation of all moral life. |
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PDF
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| Date: |
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1907–1908 |
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| Reference: |
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| Extent: |
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6 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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My Confession |
| Description: |
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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: |
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1879–82 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 13 |
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| Extent: |
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50 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy, Autobiographical |
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My Religion |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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January 22, 1884 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 16 |
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| Extent: |
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137 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy, Autobiographical |
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My Reply To The Synod's Edict Of Excommunication And To Letters Concerning It |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1901 |
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| Reference: |
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My Reply To The Synod's Edict Of Excommunication And To Letters Concerning It |
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| Extent: |
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4 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion |
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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: |
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1888 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 16 |
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| Extent: |
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106 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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On Religious Toleration |
| Description: |
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An 1901 article in five chapters, prompted by a speech by Stakhovich at a missionary congress in September 1901 in the city of Oryol. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1902 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
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| Extent: |
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7 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Society & State, Religion |
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On the Meaning of Life |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1885-1900 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 16 |
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| Extent: |
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30 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
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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. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1896 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 20 |
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| Extent: |
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4 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Philosophy, Religion |
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Religion and Morality |
| Description: |
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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. |
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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. 19 |
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| Extent: |
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16 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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Teaching of the Twelve Apostles |
| Description: |
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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: |
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1885 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 19 |
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| Extent: |
|
5 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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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: |
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1886-93 |
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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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88 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Philosophy |
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Thoughts on God |
| Description: |
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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: |
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1885-1900 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 16 |
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| Extent: |
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16 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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To N. N. Ge’s (Gay’s) Painting |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 23 |
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| Extent: |
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3 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Art |
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To the Dear Youth |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1886 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
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| Extent: |
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4 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion, Society & State |
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Two Letters on Orthodoxy |
| Description: |
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Two Letters on Orthodoxy contains Tolstoy’s critical reflections on the Russian Orthodox Church following his excommunication. |
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 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
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1904 |
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| Reference: |
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Two Letters on Orthodoxy |
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| Extent: |
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4 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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What a Christian May Do, and What Not |
| Description: |
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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. |
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PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1887 |
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| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 17 |
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| Extent: |
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3 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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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. |
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 |
PDF
EPUB |
| Date: |
|
1902 |
|
| Reference: |
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The complete works of Count Tolstoy. Vol. 24 |
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| Extent: |
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32 p. |
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| Tags: |
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Non-fiction, Religion |
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