Showing results by author "Leo Tolstoy" in All Categories

Dostoyevsky & Tolstoy: The Major Novels, masterfully read by two Audie award-winning narrators - Jonathan Keeble and David Rintoul - includes unabridged recordings of four of the greatest novels of all time and the great authors' lasting masterpieces: The Brothers Karamazov; Crime and Punishment, WAr & Peace, and Anna Karenina. Translations by Constance Garnett and Aylmer & Louise Maude.

In the winter of 1854 Tolstoy, then an officer in the Russian army, arranged to be transferred to the besieged town of Sebastopol. Wishing to see at first hand the action of what would become known as the Crimean War, he was spurred on by a fierce patriotism, but also by an equally fierce desire to alert the authorities to appalling conditions in the army. The three Sebastopol Sketches - 'December', 'May' and 'August' - re-create what happened during different phases of the siege and its effect on the ordinary men around him.

Unlike his two brothers, a merchant and a militarist, Ivan lacks insight into the ways of the materialistic world. He stays on the farm to look after his parents and sister. The story idealizes peasant life while pointing out the devious and destructive aspects of commerce and the military.

Leo Tolstoy's late masterpiece on dying and the unravelling of the values of his middle-class protagonist.

This short but powerful novel was acclaimed by Vladimir Nabokov and Mahatma Gandhi as the greatest in the whole of Russian literature. It is one of Tolstoy's most celebrated pieces of late fiction. At the center of the story is an examination of the nature of both life and death and how man can come to terms with death's inevitability. It was widely acclaimed when it was published in 1886 and remains a compelling narrative today.

When Marshal of the Nobility Pozdnyshev suspects his wife of having an affair with her music partner, his jealousy consumes him and drives him to murder. Controversial upon publication in 1890, The Kreutzer Sonata illuminates Tolstoy's then-feverish Christian ideals, his conflicts with lust and the hypocrisies of nineteenth-century marriage, and his thinking on the role of art and music in society.

This is Leo Tolstoy's integration of the four biblical gospels into a single account of the life of Jesus. The Gospel in Brief is an intriguing fusion of biblical texts and Tolstoy's own religious views. Tolstoy explains that his goal is a “solution to the problem of life," not a theological or historical statement. He therefore ignores issues like Jesus' genealogy and divinity, focusing instead on the words and teachings of Jesus, stripped of what he regarded as the Church's distortions and focus on dogma and ritual.

The Gospel in Brief is a 1902 synthesis of the four gospels of the New Testament into one narrative of the life of Jesus by Russian author Leo Tolstoy. The work focuses on Jesus's teachings to his followers, presumably those which Tolstoy found most compelling. The Gospel in Brief is thought by some to be deeply reflective of Tolstoy's own interpretation of Christianity. The account presented in Tolstoy's gospel is also notable in its sharp contrast with the contemporaneous views of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In Tolstoy's final novel, a privileged nobleman by the name of Dmitri Nekhlyudov seeks to make amends for a bad deed he committed in the past. In the process, he discovers that he has been living in a world far removed from the reality of the average person.

A Selection of Short Stories by Leo Tolstoy read by Bart Wolffe.

In these unabridged readings, Tolstoy's stories are returned to the living voice, as they were first imagined: spoken slowly, as one might speak by firelight. They tell of human hearts in search of truth - of suffering that softens us, love that redeems us, and the unseen bonds that join one life to another. Listen patiently. Let the words pass through you. What is true will remain, and what is false will fall away.

In this captivating exploration of Count Tolstoys genius, we find him not confined to the realms of realism or naturalism, but rather soaring as an impressionist. His storytelling, while occasionally lacking in precise detail, paints vivid scenes that transcend historical accuracy. Imagine an artist crafting a battle with colors and emotions rather than exact lines; this is Tolstoys gift. One is drawn into a mesmerizing flow of life, where the court and camp, towns and countrysides, nobles and peasants are all brought to life with striking clarity. As we journey through the pages, we encounter...

In Master and Man, the story follows Vasili Andreevich, a landowner, as he embarks on a seemingly straightforward journey with his peasant, Nikita, to conduct some business in a nearby town. However, as they traverse through a fierce blizzard, the masters greed compels him to push forward despite the worsening conditions. Soon, they lose their way and are forced to camp in the harsh wilderness. As Nikita succumbs to hypothermia, Vasilis stubbornness drives him to seek the road alone. Upon his return, he undergoes a profound spiritual awakening, revealing one of Tolstoys enduring themes true ...

“War and Peace” is an epic literary journey that stands as its own testament, perhaps needing no introduction at all. It evokes the image of a grand river, flowing powerfully with the weight of destiny. As you navigate its waters, you encounter floating remnants—logs, ice, and even the shadows of lives lost, all of which are markers of the current’s relentless force. The landscapes unfold before you, revealing bustling cities, harrowing terrains, and breathtaking rapids. Whether the waters are murky or crystal clear, they surge forward unceasingly. This is the essence of “War and ...

Grab yourselves a hot chocolate, a warm blanket and settle down to a collection of entertaining Christmas Stories that will get your little ones in the spirit of Christmas. Each of these traditional tales are the perfect length for listening at quiet time, bedtime and the classroom.

Leo Tolstoy began his trilogy Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth in his early twenties. Although he would in his old age famously dismiss it as an ‘awkward mixture of fact and fiction’, generations of readers and listeners have not agreed, finding the series to be a charming and insightful portrait of inner growth against the background of a world limned with extraordinary clarity, grace and color.

Martin is an old cobbler with a good trade, but he has had a hard life. His soul is now embittered against God. When he hears a mysterious voice calling him in the middle of the night, his soul seems to lighten and awaken to answer the call.

Anna Karenina has been described as the perfect Russian novel. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Anna Karenina is defenseless against the power of her passions once they are unleashed by the adoration of Count Vronsky. Having defied the rules of 19th century Russian society, Anna is forced to pay a heavy price. Human nature, with all its failings, is the fabric of which this great and passionate work is composed.

A guard had stepped back into the path of a train and been crushed beneath the wheels. He had been killed instantly. When Anna Karenina arrives at the scene of the horrible accident, it is the beginning of a new and troubling time in her life. Will she ever find happiness with the man she loves? Anna's sister-in-law, Darya Oblonsky, is threatening to leave her selfish husband. Is Anna able to save their marriage?

In this gripping second part, Kitty grapples with the weight of regret and heartbreak as her health declines, while Levin retreats to the solace of his country estate. Meanwhile, Anna and Vronskys passionate affair ignites gossip among the elite, much to the dismay of Karenin. Join us as we delve deeper into the complexities of love and societal expectations. (Summary by Mary Ann)