On Life
A Critical Edition
by Leo Tolstoy
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Pub Date 15 Nov 2018 | Archive Date 23 Oct 2018
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Description
After its completion, On Life was suppressed by the tsars, attacked by the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, and then censored by the Stalinist regime. This critical edition is the first accurate translation of this unsung classic of Russian thought into English, based on a study of manuscript pages of Tolstoy's drafts, and the first scholarly edition of this work in any language. It includes a detailed introduction and annotations, as well as historical material, such as early drafts, documents related to the presentation of an early version at the Moscow Psychological Society, and responses to the work by philosophers, religious leaders, journalists, and ordinary readers of Tolstoy's day.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780810138032 |
| PRICE | US$27.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 264 |
Featured Reviews
Lee S, Bookseller
This is my first reading of Tolstoy and I was not disappointed. I will be reading more of his work. Tolstoy observes and analyzes death in a way that is completely human. He has a deep perception of human life and what it means to suffer. Very enjoyable, but there is a lot in this book. I will be returning again and again to reread this one.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Nadine H, Reviewer
Wonderful, accessible translation. Having developed a love of Russian literature in my teen years it was interesting to visit this work by such a master of human nature, offering insight into the way Tolstoy considered life and death and providing much food for thought. This is a book that would benefit from repeated readings as there is so much here, it can feel quite dense in places, but frequently engaging with interesting ideas.
Adam D, Librarian
A great collection on the philosophy of life. There is a lot to unpack in the pages of anything Tolstoy has written.
Reviewer 247162
Essential reading for anyone interesting in Tolstoy and his philosophy. Tolstoy is often underrated for his philosophical writings but it is how he started out. I'd echo the value of re-reading this. Great edition.
Reviewer 486666
A beautiful translation for Tolstoy's key meditation on what it means to be fundamentally human: death. Tolstoy examines death in a way that is wholly human, which is no surprise given his ability to craft characters such as Pierre Bezoukov and Andrei Bolkonsky. Clearly, he has a profound understanding of the human condition and what it means to suffer, and what it means to be retributed by our personal suffering. If there was anyone, no matter how long ago published, you could look into to offer a profound work of that which is profoundly human as death, it would be Tolstoy, which he proves in this piece.
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