Leo Tolstoy Biography

Leo Tolstoy Biography

Full Name: Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy
Date of Birth: August 28, 1828
Place of Birth: Yasnaya Polyana, Tula province, Russia
Died: November 7, 1910
Place of Death: Astapovo, Ryazan province, Russia
Classification: Artists & Entertainers


Regarded as the founder of realist fiction, Leo Tolstoy wrote War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which have gone down in history as two of the greatest novels ever written. His novels are so well planned, written, and executed that Tolstoy’s finished story is a perfectly formed narrative. And, critics agree that his work alone defines the true nature of an epic novel that eerily depicts the joys and sorrows of real life.

In addition to his long novels, Leo Tolstoy also had a gift for shorter works, including short stories. His novella, entitled The Death of Ivan Ilyich is often regarded as one of the best short novels ever written.

Born on his family’s estate near Moscow, the young Leo lived a privileged childhood due to the wealth of his parents, but they died before he could remember them. He and his brothers and sisters were transferred to the care of an aunt in western Russia where Tolstoy’s accounts, as seen in his first novel entitled Childhood, depict a happy time growing up.

After his teenage years and being educated at home, Tolstoy attended the University of Kazan and studied languages, but his true love lay in literature. So, he changed his studies to law and spent most of his time studying literature and ethics. He decided to quit the university and educated himself and managed his own estate. However, he joined the army and took part in the Crimean War. Following, he published Childhood under a pen name and later published stories about his time in war.

During the 1860s, and encouraged by his publisher, Tolstoy wrote War and Peace. During this time, he also endeavored to write a novel about Peter I the Great and about educational pedagogy, but thereafter finished what would become the greatest book of his time. Following, Tolstoy released Ana Karenina, which was considered as important as War and Peace, but with a slightly different focus – ethics and virtues can evolve and change over time.

Unhappy with the Russian Orthodox Church and its teachings, which he found blasphemous, Tolstoy started his own church based on five tenets. For this, he was excommunicated, but gained his own followers, who were more like cult members than clergymen. These five tenets inspired Gandhi in his passive approach to violence – evil cannot be combated with evil.

In his later years, Tolstoy suffered grievances at home, especially with his growing popularity. He and his wife both recorded their dealings with each other and the arguments they would have in their journals. Tolstoy and his family attempted to escape the media in order to live more peacefully. Tolstoy died while in transit.