by Samuel Solomonovitch Koteliansky
First published 2022
Samuel Solomonovitch Koteliansky sits across from Leo Tolstoy, notebook in hand, as the aging literary giant shares his thoughts on art, faith, and society. These intimate conversations reveal Tolstoy's evolving philosophy in his later years, when he had turned away from his aristocratic past to embrace simple living and spiritual seeking. Koteliansky captures the writer's voice as he reflects on his famous novels, his struggles with organized religion, and his vision for a more just world. The discussions move from Tolstoy's estate at Yasnaya Polyana to deeper questions about human nature and moral responsibility. Through these recorded exchanges, readers witness the mind of a literary master grappling with life's fundamental questions, offering insights that shaped his final works and influenced generations of writers and thinkers.
Genres: biography, philosophy, literary-fiction, 20th-century, non-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: intimate-conversation
Setting: Yasnaya Polyana, Russia
Period: Late 19th/Early 20th Century
182 pages · Paperback · Legare Street Press