Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born August 28,1828 (old style) at his family's estate at Yasnaya Polyana. His mother shortly passed away and having no surviving photographs Tolstoy had no recollection of what his mother looked liked. While still a young boy Tolstoy's older brother, Nikolai, told him he had written the secret how to make all men happy on a green stick and hid it by a road in the Zakaz forest. Tolstoy later asked to be buried where the mystical green stick was thought to have been hidden.
At age nine the family rented a house and moved to Moscow. Soon after his father "turned up dead" while en route to visit a friend. Shortly afterwards his grandmother passed away. Losing two close family member in such a short period of time Tolstoy began formulating serious ideas about death and happiness.
His large nose, bushy eyebrows, and big lips made an already quite Tolstoy self conscious about his looks. Other than his brothers he had few close friends and most of the girls found him boring. It was however, at this time that Tolstoy lost his innocence of women. He tells the story of being taken to a brothel by his brothers only to weep at the side of her bed "after the act."
Discourage socially and academically Tolstoy returned home and spent the next four years doing very little.
Timeline:
1828: Tolstoy is born
Leo Tolstoy is born August 28,1828 at his family's estate known as Yasnaya Polyana
1830: Mother dies
Their aunt becomes the head mother figure of the house
1835: The Green Stick
Tolstoy's older brother Nikolai tells an impressionable Tolstoy he has written the secret that will make all men happy on a green stick and buried by the ravine in the Kakaz forest.
1837: Father dies
He passes away on June 21st leaving the eldest daughter as the legal guardian.
1844 : Formal education begins
Tolstoy enters the University of Kazan but is a poor student. This same year his brothers take him to a brothol where he loses his virginity. This has a profound impact on him.
1847: Leaves the university
Without a degree Tolstoy leaves the University. Heinherits the 4,000 acre estate of Yasnaya Polyana and begins to keep a journal. This same year he moves to Moscow and becomes obsessed with gambling.
1849: Moves to St. Petersburg
Tolstoy moves to St. Petersburg to take his law exams but runs up a huge gambling debts. He sells some of his estate to cover the cost.
Tolstoy 1849
1850: Returns to Moscow
His gambling debts continue to grow forcing him to log his forests and pawn his watch. He is unable to live the virtuous life he wants and spends many nights drinking and gambling.
1852: Joins the army
Enlisted in the army he is transferred with his brother to the Caucuses. He begins to write Chilhood.
1854: Writes Boyhood
The army transfers him to Sevastopal.
1856: His brother dies
Demitry dies of tuberculosis. Tolstoy tries to free his serfs and transfer the land they work. Suspicious they refuse the offer.
Tosltoy 1856
1859: Opens a school
At Yasnaya Polyana he creates a school founded on his own pedagogical ideas. Has a relationship with a married peasant who bears him a son, Timothy.
1862: Marries Sophia Behrs
Tolstoy falls in love with Sonya, age 17. Much of their courtship is reflected in Levin and Kitty's relationship in Anna Karenina.
1863: His Son is born
His first son from Sonya is born in June. He begins writing War and Peace.
1864: His Daugter is born
Tanya, his first daughter, is born.
1866: Another son
Ilya is born.
1869: Third son
His third son, second from Sonya, is named Leo. Finishes War and Peace, six years after he began it.
1871: Second Daughter
The Tolstoy's second daughter and fifth child is named Marya
1872: Fourth Son
Petya is born but will die 18 months later.
1873: Begins writing Anna Karenina
1874: Fifth Son is born
Nicholas is born in June but dies the following year.
Tolstoy 1874
1875: Third daughter
Sonya gives birth to their 8th child prematurley who does not survive.
1877: 6th Son
Andrey is born. Finishes Anna Karenina.
1878: Converts to Christianity
At age 50 Tolstoy is finaly able to resolve a significant internal conflict and accepts christianity. Most scholars divide his life into pre and post conversion.
1881: 7th Son
Alexis is born.
1883: Sonya given power of attorney
To prevent Sonya from leaving she is given power of attorney. Tolstoy meets and forms a close bond with Chertkov, an officer in the army, who becomes Sonya's main rival.
1884: Alexandra is born
She becomes the 11 child and 3rd daughter.
Tolstoy 1885
1886: Alexis dies
Sonya and Leo burry their fourth child.
1888: Ivan is born
This makes him the 8th son and 12th, and last, child.
1891: Renounces his copyrights
Tolstoy declares he will give all his possesions to his serfs. After his sons and Sonya object he agrees to leave the estate to the family.
1895: Ivan dies
In March Ivan dies of scarlet fever. This deeply effects Sonya. Tolstoy writes, but does not sign, a letter releasing his copyrights.
Tolstoy and wife 1895
1901: Excommunicated from the Russian Orthodox Church
After writing Resurrection the church excommunicates Tolstoy. He writes his own religious model and others follow.
1902: Warns of civil war
Writes a letter to the Tsar warning him of civil war unless the tsar grant Russia it's freedom.
1907: Chertkov returns from exile
Having been exciled 10 years earlier Tolstoy and Chertkov resume their friendship. Tolstoy grants him increasingly more editorial priveledges. Sonya and Chertkov remain enemies.
1908: Writes a will
Tolstoy writes a will relenquishing all copyrights.
1909: "Chertkov's" will
Behind Sonya's back Chertkov writes a new will for Tolstoy. This will gives Chertkov rights to Tolstoy's works and diaries.
1910: Leo Tolstoy dies
Escaping his wife by train Tolstoy falls ill forcing him to stop in a small town named Astapovo. A few days latter he passes away. He is burried, as requested, by the "green stick" his brother told him about in his childhood.
Tolstoy's funeral 1910
Reading Recommendations:
The Portable Tolstoy - General Introduction
Over 15 of Tolstoy's short stories in addtion to a few of his essays and other writings. This compilation has a good selection of easy to read yet important works by Tolstoy. (ISNB No. 0140150919)
Great Short Works of Leo Tolstoy - General Introduction
Similar to the previously mentioned work but with far fewer, yet larger and more indepth, writings. (ISBN No. 0060830719)
Anna Karenina - Significant Piece
While by no means a typicall "girly" love story Anna Karenina is considered by some to be the best love story ever written. Love, passion, loyalty, happiness, and marriage are all dominant themes in this novel. There are several translations we recommend The Norton Crital Edition translated by Alymer Maude and edited by George Gibian (ISBN No. 0393966429)
War and Peace - Significant Piece
Considered a standard in world literature. While the book is large most chapters read like a short story. (ISBN No. 039396647X)
Walk in the Light - Religous Short Stories
After his conversion to Christianity Tolstoy devoted most of his writings to smaller works with heavy Christian moral undertones. This compilation has more than 20 of his more significant pieces. (ISBN No. 0874869676)
A Confession - Autobiographical Essay
An very interesting account of how Tolstoy came to accept God through Christianity. This can be purchased separately or in The Portable Tolstoy as referenced above.
Short Stories
The following is a list of recommended short stories
• The Death of Ivan Ilych
• The Kreutzer Sonata
• God Sees the Truth but Waits
• Master and Man
• How Much Land Does a Man Need?
Hope you find this useful guys...
All the best here...
----------
عذاب نون:
At age nine the family rented a house and moved to Moscow. Soon after his father "turned up dead" while en route to visit a friend. Shortly afterwards his grandmother passed away. Losing two close family member in such a short period of time Tolstoy began formulating serious ideas about death and happiness.
His large nose, bushy eyebrows, and big lips made an already quite Tolstoy self conscious about his looks. Other than his brothers he had few close friends and most of the girls found him boring. It was however, at this time that Tolstoy lost his innocence of women. He tells the story of being taken to a brothel by his brothers only to weep at the side of her bed "after the act."
Discourage socially and academically Tolstoy returned home and spent the next four years doing very little.
Timeline:
1828: Tolstoy is born
Leo Tolstoy is born August 28,1828 at his family's estate known as Yasnaya Polyana
1830: Mother dies
Their aunt becomes the head mother figure of the house
1835: The Green Stick
Tolstoy's older brother Nikolai tells an impressionable Tolstoy he has written the secret that will make all men happy on a green stick and buried by the ravine in the Kakaz forest.
1837: Father dies
He passes away on June 21st leaving the eldest daughter as the legal guardian.
1844 : Formal education begins
Tolstoy enters the University of Kazan but is a poor student. This same year his brothers take him to a brothol where he loses his virginity. This has a profound impact on him.
1847: Leaves the university
Without a degree Tolstoy leaves the University. Heinherits the 4,000 acre estate of Yasnaya Polyana and begins to keep a journal. This same year he moves to Moscow and becomes obsessed with gambling.
1849: Moves to St. Petersburg
Tolstoy moves to St. Petersburg to take his law exams but runs up a huge gambling debts. He sells some of his estate to cover the cost.
Tolstoy 1849
1850: Returns to Moscow
His gambling debts continue to grow forcing him to log his forests and pawn his watch. He is unable to live the virtuous life he wants and spends many nights drinking and gambling.
1852: Joins the army
Enlisted in the army he is transferred with his brother to the Caucuses. He begins to write Chilhood.
1854: Writes Boyhood
The army transfers him to Sevastopal.
1856: His brother dies
Demitry dies of tuberculosis. Tolstoy tries to free his serfs and transfer the land they work. Suspicious they refuse the offer.
Tosltoy 1856
1859: Opens a school
At Yasnaya Polyana he creates a school founded on his own pedagogical ideas. Has a relationship with a married peasant who bears him a son, Timothy.
1862: Marries Sophia Behrs
Tolstoy falls in love with Sonya, age 17. Much of their courtship is reflected in Levin and Kitty's relationship in Anna Karenina.
1863: His Son is born
His first son from Sonya is born in June. He begins writing War and Peace.
1864: His Daugter is born
Tanya, his first daughter, is born.
1866: Another son
Ilya is born.
1869: Third son
His third son, second from Sonya, is named Leo. Finishes War and Peace, six years after he began it.
1871: Second Daughter
The Tolstoy's second daughter and fifth child is named Marya
1872: Fourth Son
Petya is born but will die 18 months later.
1873: Begins writing Anna Karenina
1874: Fifth Son is born
Nicholas is born in June but dies the following year.
Tolstoy 1874
1875: Third daughter
Sonya gives birth to their 8th child prematurley who does not survive.
1877: 6th Son
Andrey is born. Finishes Anna Karenina.
1878: Converts to Christianity
At age 50 Tolstoy is finaly able to resolve a significant internal conflict and accepts christianity. Most scholars divide his life into pre and post conversion.
1881: 7th Son
Alexis is born.
1883: Sonya given power of attorney
To prevent Sonya from leaving she is given power of attorney. Tolstoy meets and forms a close bond with Chertkov, an officer in the army, who becomes Sonya's main rival.
1884: Alexandra is born
She becomes the 11 child and 3rd daughter.
Tolstoy 1885
1886: Alexis dies
Sonya and Leo burry their fourth child.
1888: Ivan is born
This makes him the 8th son and 12th, and last, child.
1891: Renounces his copyrights
Tolstoy declares he will give all his possesions to his serfs. After his sons and Sonya object he agrees to leave the estate to the family.
1895: Ivan dies
In March Ivan dies of scarlet fever. This deeply effects Sonya. Tolstoy writes, but does not sign, a letter releasing his copyrights.
Tolstoy and wife 1895
1901: Excommunicated from the Russian Orthodox Church
After writing Resurrection the church excommunicates Tolstoy. He writes his own religious model and others follow.
1902: Warns of civil war
Writes a letter to the Tsar warning him of civil war unless the tsar grant Russia it's freedom.
1907: Chertkov returns from exile
Having been exciled 10 years earlier Tolstoy and Chertkov resume their friendship. Tolstoy grants him increasingly more editorial priveledges. Sonya and Chertkov remain enemies.
1908: Writes a will
Tolstoy writes a will relenquishing all copyrights.
1909: "Chertkov's" will
Behind Sonya's back Chertkov writes a new will for Tolstoy. This will gives Chertkov rights to Tolstoy's works and diaries.
1910: Leo Tolstoy dies
Escaping his wife by train Tolstoy falls ill forcing him to stop in a small town named Astapovo. A few days latter he passes away. He is burried, as requested, by the "green stick" his brother told him about in his childhood.
Tolstoy's funeral 1910
Reading Recommendations:
The Portable Tolstoy - General Introduction
Over 15 of Tolstoy's short stories in addtion to a few of his essays and other writings. This compilation has a good selection of easy to read yet important works by Tolstoy. (ISNB No. 0140150919)
Great Short Works of Leo Tolstoy - General Introduction
Similar to the previously mentioned work but with far fewer, yet larger and more indepth, writings. (ISBN No. 0060830719)
Anna Karenina - Significant Piece
While by no means a typicall "girly" love story Anna Karenina is considered by some to be the best love story ever written. Love, passion, loyalty, happiness, and marriage are all dominant themes in this novel. There are several translations we recommend The Norton Crital Edition translated by Alymer Maude and edited by George Gibian (ISBN No. 0393966429)
War and Peace - Significant Piece
Considered a standard in world literature. While the book is large most chapters read like a short story. (ISBN No. 039396647X)
Walk in the Light - Religous Short Stories
After his conversion to Christianity Tolstoy devoted most of his writings to smaller works with heavy Christian moral undertones. This compilation has more than 20 of his more significant pieces. (ISBN No. 0874869676)
A Confession - Autobiographical Essay
An very interesting account of how Tolstoy came to accept God through Christianity. This can be purchased separately or in The Portable Tolstoy as referenced above.
Short Stories
The following is a list of recommended short stories
• The Death of Ivan Ilych
• The Kreutzer Sonata
• God Sees the Truth but Waits
• Master and Man
• How Much Land Does a Man Need?
Hope you find this useful guys...
All the best here...
----------
عذاب نون:
