The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy. Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. The Death of Ivan Ilyich first published in 1886, is a novella by Leo Tolstoy, one of the masterpieces of his late fiction, written shortly after his religious conversion of the late 1870s. The novella tells the story of the death, at age 45, of a high-court judge in 19th-century Russia. Living what seems to be a good life, his dreadful relationship with his wife notwithstanding, Ivan Ilyich Golovin injures his side while hanging up curtains in a new apartment intended to reflect his family's superior status in society. Within weeks, he has developed a strange taste in his mouth and a pain that will not go away. Several expensive doctors are consulted, but beyond muttering about blind gut and floating kidneys, they can neither explain nor treat his condition, and it soon becomes clear that Ivan Ilyich is dying. The second half of the narrative records his terror as he battles with the idea of his own death. "I have been here. Now I am going there. Where? ... No, I won't have it!" Oppressed by the length of the process, his wife, daughter, colleagues, and even the physicians, decide in the end not to speak of it, but advise him to stay calm and follow doctors' orders, leaving him to wrestle with how this terrible thing could befall a man who had lived so well. He spends his last three days screaming. He realizes he is "done for, there was no way back, the end was here, the absolute end ..." One hour before his death, in a moment of clarity, he sees that he has not, after all, lived well, but has lived only for himself. After months of dwelling on his own anguish, he suddenly feels pity for the people he's leaving behind, and hopes his death will set them free. With that thought, his pain disappears. He hears someone say, "He's gone." He whispers to himself, "Death has gone," and draws his last breath.

Product Description: It is not well-known that "The Devil" is a semi-autobiographical work, based on an episode of sexual temptation Tolstoy experienced towards a young woman named Domna in 1880. Fully aware of the consequences awaiting him should he act on his impulses, Tolstoy resisted, finding emotional solace in the confidences of friends...read more

Product Description: This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work...read more

Product Description: Hadji Murad - Leo Tolstoy - Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. Hadji Murat is a short novel written by Leo Tolstoy from 1896 to 1904 and published posthumously in 1912 (though not in full until 1917). It is Tolstoy’s final work...read more

Product Description: This collection of literature attempts to compile many of the classic, timeless works that have stood the test of time and offer them at a reduced, affordable price, in an attractive volume so that everyone can enjoy them.

Resurrection is a sombre but powerful Tolstoy novel that reveals many problems of the Russia of Tolstoy’s time. It displays the flair of Anna Karenina delivered with a more mature fully realized understanding of human character.

Product Description: "Sevastopol Sketches (Sebastopol Sketches)" is a collection of three works of historical fiction in which Tolstoy draws upon his real life experiences during the Siege of Sevastopol. The titular location draws its name from that of a city in Crimea and takes place during the Crimean war...read more

Product Description: Featured title on PBS's The Great American Read in 2018WAR & PEACE, Volume IThe Neville Jason performance of Tolstoy’s War & Peace was selected as a Top 12 Fiction title for Best Audiobooks of 2007 by AudioFile Magazine. War and Peace is one of the greatest monuments in world literature...read more

Product Description: Paperback cover has repaired corners and bumps on the spine; text does have some underlining and highlighting which does not affect readability; binding is tight; page edges have some soiling. (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

A collection of Tolstoy's lesser known, shorter works, What Men Live By and Other Tales is a worthwhile, excellent read that will leave you wiser for the experience.