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The 10 Books By Leo Tolstoy You Have To Read

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10 must-read books by Leo Tolstoy - Russia Beyond

A household in Moscow is in turmoil due to infidelity. Dolly has discovered her husband, Stiva, was unfaithful with the former nanny of their children, and is considering leaving him. Stiva's sister, Anna, married to a government official from St. Petersburg, comes to mediate between the couple. In the meantime, Dolly's younger sister, Kitty, is being pursued by two men - Konstantin Levin, a socially awkward landowner, and Alexei Vronsky, a charismatic military officer. Kitty rejects Levin for Vronsky, but the latter falls for Anna, leaving Kitty heartbroken and ill. Levin retreats to his country estate, while Anna goes home, contemplating her feelings for Vronsky, but initially dismissing them.

Vronsky follows Anna home, and their attraction escalates as Anna starts socializing with Vronsky's progressive cousin and her circle. At a social gathering, Anna urges Vronsky to seek Kitty's forgiveness, to which he confesses his love for Anna instead. Anna's husband, Karenin, suspects an affair, but Anna refutes his suspicions. However, after Vronsky injures his horse in a race, Anna confesses her affair and her love for Vronsky to Karenin. Meanwhile, Kitty recovers in a German spa, where she encounters Levin's ailing brother, Nikolai. Levin, criticized by his half-brother for resigning from his local administrative council post, contemplates reigniting his relationship with Kitty, with whom he eventually gets engaged and marries.

Despite the turmoil, Karenin rejects Anna's plea for divorce, insisting they maintain their public facade. Anna retreats to their country home, where her relationship with Vronsky becomes strained after she reveals her pregnancy. Karenin finally agrees to divorce after catching Vronsky at his country home, but the decision remains in the hands of a resentful Anna, who doesn't request the divorce. She and Vronsky move to Italy, leading a purposeless life, and upon their return to Russia are shunned by society. Anna, trapped and scorned, grows jealous of Vronsky's freedom. Meanwhile, Levin's married life unfolds with its surprises, including a lack of freedom he hadn’t anticipated. Levin and Kitty start a family, while Anna's life takes a tragic turn when she throws herself under a train. Despite the tragedy, Levin finds comfort and meaning in faith, love for his family, and the good he can put into his life.

Anna Karenina

Ana Karenina

The tale begins in the year 1805, amidst Napoleon’s expanding reign over Western Europe, which is causing distress in Russia. At a social gathering in St. Petersburg, we meet key players such as Pierre Bezukhov, the socially inept but kind illegitimate son of a wealthy count, and Andrew Bolkonski, the bright and ambitious progeny of a retired military officer. In addition, we encounter the deceptive and superficial Kuragin family and the Rostovs, a noble family from Moscow. As Napoleon's threat continues to loom, Russia allies with the Austrian empire, and both Andrew and Nicholas, the Rostov’s headstrong son, join the frontlines.

As the conflict escalates, Andrew gets wounded and presumed dead, while Pierre inherits his father’s wealth and ends up marrying the attractive but deceitful Helene Kuragina. Concurrently, the Rostov’s fortunes start to dwindle, leading them to consider selling their beloved estate. The narrative then shifts to Natasha, the vivacious daughter of the Rostovs, who experiences love, heartbreak, and the societal pressures of marriage. Meanwhile, Pierre grows disillusioned with his marriage and seeks solace in the spiritual practices of Freemasonry.

In 1812, Napoleon invades Russia, prompting Tsar Alexander to reluctantly declare war. Andrew returns to active duty, while Pierre grapples with a peculiar obsession to assassinate Napoleon. As the French draw near, the Bolkonski estate is advised to evacuate. However, Andrew’s father dies just as the French troops reach their doorstep. After the Russian army surprisingly defeats the French forces at Borodino, Pierre, overcome with distress, roams through Moscow witnessing widespread chaos. The story concludes on a hopeful note with Pierre and Natasha confessing their love for each other, leading to their subsequent marriage, and Nicholas marrying Mary, thus securing his family’s financial stability.


War And Peace

Guerra y Paz

The narrative begins with the passing of Ivan Ilych, a respected judge, as announced by Peter Ivanovich, his colleague and friend, during a meeting. The judges contemplate the career opportunities that Ivan's demise might offer them, and Peter later attends Ivan's funeral. Upon observing Ivan's body, Peter notices an expression of disapproval and warning on Ivan's face, which unsettles him. Meanwhile, Ivan's wife Praskovya discusses with Peter about maximizing her late husband's government pension. As Peter departs, he shares a conversation with Gerasim, Ivan's nurse, who makes a profound remark about the inevitability of death.

Flashback to Ivan's life, he is portrayed as an ordinary individual who, at the age of thirteen, enters law school and learns to mimic the behavior of the socially elite. He eventually becomes an examining magistrate and moves to a new province where he marries and starts a family. However, when Praskovya's pregnancy disrupts his cherished lifestyle, Ivan retreats further into his work and becomes increasingly distant from his family. With time, Ivan ascends the professional ladder, but when he is overlooked for a significant promotion, he moves his family to the countryside and goes to St. Petersburg in search of a higher paying job. Upon securing a high-ranking position through a friend, Ivan moves alone to the city to prepare a new house for his family, but during the preparations, he falls, hitting his side against the window frame.

Following the incident, Ivan starts experiencing discomfort and unusual taste in his mouth, which gradually intensifies, making him irritable. The doctors he consults provide no consensus about his condition, intensifying Ivan's fear and depression. As Ivan's health deteriorates, he is visited by thoughts of mortality. His wife, Praskovya, seems oblivious to his predicament, causing Ivan to despise her. Amid his suffering, Gerasim, his humble servant, provides Ivan with much-needed compassion and honesty. As his condition worsens, Ivan realizes that his existence is filled with artificiality, with everyone around him denying his impending death. He experiences a profound connection with his son, Vasya, and Gerasim, who understand his situation. After days of introspection, Ivan starts questioning the meaning of his life and suffering, and in a moment of epiphany, he realizes that his official life and social relations were all superficial. At the brink of death, Ivan experiences a moment of intense joy and clarity before he expires.

10 Best Leo Tolstoy Books of All Time

Anna Karenina

War And Peace

The Death of Ivan Ilych

The Kreutzer Sonata

Resurrection

The Kingdom of God is Within You

Sevastopol Sketches

Hadji Murad

Childhood, Boyhood, Youth

A Confession

Sources

What To Read Next

10 Best Leo Tolstoy Books of All Time

Anna Karenina

War And Peace

The Death of Ivan Ilych

The Kreutzer Sonata

Resurrection

The Kingdom of God is Within You

Sevastopol Sketches

Hadji Murad

Childhood, Boyhood, Youth

A Confession

Sources

What To Read Next

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