The life and death of Leo Tolstoy: a brief biography, books, interesting and unusual facts about the life of the writer, date, place and cause of death

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The death of Leo Tolstoy shocked the whole world. The 82-year-old writer died not in his own house, but in the house of a railway employee, at the Astapovo station, 500 km from Yasnaya Polyana. Despite his advanced age, in the last days of his life he was full of determination and, as always, was in search of the truth. Leo Tolstoy was overtaken by death on the way to Rostov-on-Don. Why did the writer suddenly leave the house? What preceded the event that took place in Astapovo?

The whole world learned about the death of the Russian prose writer in November 1910. It is worth considering: in those days, the media did not work as fast as they do today. Astapovo station, later named after the great humanist, became a place of pilgrimage for journalists from all over the world. Years of birth and death of Leo Tolstoy - 1828-1910. It is very difficult to summarize a detailed biography of one of the most influential personalities of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. But here are the main facts from the life of the great classic.

Manyremember from school times, thanks to the story "Childhood", about some events from the early period in the biography of Leo Tolstoy. The following is known about the death: the writer left the house, boarded the train, suddenly felt ill on the way, went to Astapovo, died in the house of a station employee. Tolstoy was a unique personality, and therefore the last days of his life raise many questions. Why did he go on a long journey at the age of 83? Was it a whim of an old genius or an irrepressible passion for change?

Childhood and youth

Permanent fever is a concept that was common in the days when Leo Tolstoy was born. The date of death of the writer's mother is August 4, 1830. She died when he was less than two years old. He was a late child. Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya should have turned forty on November 10, 1790.

A distant relative took up the upbringing of Count Tolstoy's children. Soon the father also died. The early years of Leo Tolstoy were spent in Yasnaya Polyana, where he lived until 1840. Then the children were taken to the guardian Yushkov in Kazan.

The young man wanted to shine in society. But he was shy, did not have an attractive appearance. In addition, already in his early years he was visited by thoughts about the meaning of life, which, as you know, kill everything carefree, light in a person.

University

In 1844, the future writer entered the Faculty of Mathematics. He did not show special abilities and, according to the results of the first academic year, he had to take a second course. Then Tolstoytransferred to the Faculty of Law. But even here he did not become the best student. He did not graduate from the Faculty of Law. Dropped out of university two years later.

The beginning of the literary path

In 1847 Tolstoy returned to Yasnaya Polyana, where he wrote his first works. One of them is "Morning of the landowner". In 1848, the young writer left for Moscow and settled in a house on the Arbat. He planned to start preparing for the PhD exams. But failed. Social life distracted the count from his studies. In addition, during this period, Tolstoy became interested in a card game.

He was a very gambling man, and therefore often found himself in a difficult financial situation. Leo Tolstoy loved music, played the piano well. No wonder one of his famous works is called the Kreutzer Sonata. True, most of the time was spent not on making music, but on playing, reveling and hunting.

Tolstoy has been working on the story "Childhood" since 1850. It took a year to write this piece. Then there was a break in Tolstoy's literary activity. The brother of Lev Nikolaevich, who served in the Caucasus, came to Yasnaya Polyana. He invited him to join the military service. He agreed, but not because he was looking for thrills, but because of card debts, which by that time had accumulated a lot.

In the Caucasus

So, the young writer, the future author of "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina", became a cadet. He spent two years in the Caucasus. The death of Leo Tolstoy was waiting at every step. He participated in numerous skirmishes with the mountaineers, almostEvery day he was exposed to the dangers of military life. He could have received the George Cross, but refused the honorary award in favor of a colleague.

During the Crimean War, Tolstoy was transferred to the Danube army, where he participated in the battle of Oltenitsa. He spent almost a year in Sevastopol, where he witnessed the events that formed the basis of the famous collection of stories. In 1855 Tolstoy commanded a battery at the Battle of Chernaya. Despite the horrors of the siege and the hardships of military life, he managed to write the story "Cutting the Forest" during this period. He sent this work to the Sovremennik magazine, whose editor-in-chief already knew him from the story Childhood. The story was published, all of Russia read it. The work "Cutting down the forest" was appreciated by Alexander II himself. For participation in the defense of Sevastopol, Leo Tolstoy received the Order of St. Anna, 4th degree.

He had every chance to make a brilliant military career. However, Lev Nikolaevich had the imprudence to write several soldiers' songs in a sharp satirical spirit, which insulted prominent generals.

"Sevastopol Tales" was published in 1855, after which Tolstoy's reputation as a representative of a new literary generation was strengthened. He retired with the rank of lieutenant.

In Europe

Lieutenant Tolstoy spent some time in St. Petersburg. Here he met Ivan Turgenev. A friendship developed between the writers. However, Tolstoy's character was not easy. Once there was a serious quarrel between colleagues.

Turgenev had the imprudence to boast of the generosity of his daughter, whodarns clothes for the poor. Tolstoy commented on this as: "A dressed-up girl looks ridiculous when she holds miserable rags in her tender hands." The writer hinted at the ostentatious virtue of Turgenev's daughter, which, of course, did not please him. Russian classics did not speak after this quarrel for many years. However, this story happened later. And in the late fifties, Tolstoy went on a trip to Europe, from where he wrote letters to a friend full of warmth and participation.

First of all, the retired lieutenant went to France. In Paris, he was struck by the cult of Napoleon. However, he liked a lot in the way of life of the French aristocrats. He enjoyed visiting museums, balls and enjoying "a sense of social freedom". At the same time, in France, and in Germany, and in England, he was able to see through the brilliant veil of European culture the deep contrast between we alth and poverty.

Tolstoy returned to Russia. But not for long. The next trip to Europe was no longer so idle. This time Tolstoy was seriously concerned about the public education of Germany and France. He observed, talked with experts. Ideas about rapprochement with the people of Tolstoy began to visit already in the late fifties. He even started an affair with a peasant woman and was going to marry her. But these plans were not destined to come true.

During his stay in France, Nikolai, Leo Tolstoy's brother, died of tuberculosis. The death of the closest person made a strong impression on the young writer.

In 1860, Tolstoy worked hard, but criticism of him cooled. The writer was able to return interestonly after the release of Anna Karenina. However, Tolstoy did not seek to communicate with his colleagues. He made an exception only for the poet Afanasy Fet. In the early sixties, the aforementioned quarrel with Turgenev occurred, which spoiled relations between writers for a long seventeen years.

Karalyk

In 1862 Tolstoy married Sofya Andreevna. In the same year, he came to the Karalyk farm, located in the Samara region. The writer suffered from depression, and doctors recommended koumiss therapy to him. It is not known what helped - the use of a fermented milk product or the Bashkir air, but the writer's state of mind improved. Ten years later, when the novel "War and Peace" was already published, Tolstoy bought an estate here.

Leo Tolstoy School

The writer took up public education even before the Peasant Reform. First of all, he organized a school in Yasnaya Polyana. It was an institution unusual for Russia in the 19th century. Tolstoy rejected rigid discipline. The children in his school were seated the way they were comfortable. There was no specific educational program. The task of the teacher was to interest their wards. The school was going well. In 1862, the writer began publishing the Yasnaya Polyana magazine, dedicated to pedagogy.

However, the schools had to be closed. Tolstoy had children, in addition, he began work on the novel War and Peace. Ten years later, he returned to pedagogy, created his own alphabet and released a series of Russian books for reading.

The heyday of literary creativity

For twelve years, novels were written that glorified the author not only in Russia, but also abroad. These are the works "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina". The release of the first was preceded by work on the "Decembrists". This novel was never finished.

In 1861, an excerpt from "War and Peace" was published in the journal "Russian Messenger". The release of the full version of the novel caused a resonance in society. The book has become a unique phenomenon in world literature. Critics and readers greeted Anna Karenina with no less pleasure.

Spiritual Crisis

Every year Tolstoy asked himself more and more questions. What will happen if he surpasses Gogol, Pushkin, Molière? What will change in his life if he acquires six thousand acres in the Samara province? Why is it important to think about raising children? To find answers to these questions, he took up the study of theology. Tolstoy talked with priests, monks, elders, visited Optina Hermitage, which gained wide popularity in Russia in the second half of the 19th century. But all this did not help him find answers to exciting questions.

Slowly he gave up the comforts of a rich life. He did a lot of physical labor, dressed in simple clothes, became a vegetarian. Moreover, he renounced the rights to literary property. In the 70s a new period began in his work. Most of the works written during these years are journalism, reflections on religion, morality, family.

Tolstoy turned to Alexander III with a request to pardon the terrorists of the People's Volunteers,involved in organizing the assassination of Alexander II. But he refused. Vigorous social activity led to the fact that in the autumn of 1882 Tolstoy was placed under secret surveillance. However, by that time his ideas had managed to penetrate society. His works were banned, but they continued to be published underground.

Excommunication

In his mature years, Leo Tolstoy actively attended services and fasted. But over the years he began to oppose the Church. In 1901, the Synod publicly condemned the writer. Theologians argue that this was not an anathema, but a statement of the fact that Tolstoy, of his own free will, ceases to be a member of the Church.

The writer in the “Response to the Synod” said that he really renounces the church, but he does this not because he rebels against the Lord, but on the contrary, because he wants to serve him with all his might.

Departure and death of Leo Tolstoy

On November 10, 1910, the writer left Yasnaya Polyana, and he did it secretly. He decided to spend the rest of his life in accordance with his views. However, he did not have a clear plan of action.

He went to the Shchekino station, drove to Gorbachevo, where he changed to another train. I made one more transfer, got to Kozelsk, from there I went to Optina Pustyn. But he did not dare to enter the monastery. Leo Tolstoy did not have a specific purpose of travel.

The cause of the writer's death was pneumonia, which was caused by a seemingly harmless cold. On the way, he felt unwell. His condition deteriorated to such an extent thatAstapovo station carried him out. Doctors arrived immediately. They fought for the life of the writer, but he only replied, “God will arrange everything.”

September 9, 1828 - November 20, 1910 - the dates of the life and death of Leo Tolstoy. He died at the age of 82. The circumstances of the death of Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy were briefly described in all Russian and foreign newspapers. But the death itself did not come as a surprise. The whole world knew about his serious illness.

In an inconspicuous house in Astapovo, death overtook Leo Tolstoy. In the biography of the station chief, this short period became the most remarkable. His name was Ivan Ozolin. For seven days, journalists gathered around his house in order to collect information about what was happening and be the first to write about the death of Leo Tolstoy. Shortly before his death, Elder Barsanuphius tried to talk to the writer. The Optina clergyman hoped to reconcile Tolstoy with the Church. But he was not allowed near the dying writer.

The death of Leo Tolstoy at the Astapovo station did not leave anyone indifferent. Fans of his work, Moscow students, and local peasants gathered at the funeral. In Russia, this was the first public farewell to a celebrity. The authorities were afraid of the rally, and therefore representatives of state bodies were sent to Yasnaya Polyana.

Shortly before his death, Leo Tolstoy briefly outlined in his will how the funeral should take place. He was against the funeral, but it was not a categorical requirement. At the same time, in the will, Leo Tolstoy insisted onthat his funeral should be as simple and cheap as possible.

The station chief's house, where the great writer died, is today included in the list of federal monuments. The station was renamed in honor of Leo Tolstoy eight years after his death.