Leo N. Tolstoy - Short Biography

Do you know Leo Tolstoy? A short and complete biography of this writer is studied in detail in school years. However, like great works. The first association of every person who hears the name famous writer, is the novel "War and Peace". Not everyone dared to overcome laziness and read it. And very in vain. This work has earned worldwide fame. This is a classic that every educated person should read. But first things first.

The biography of Leo Tolstoy tells that he was born in the 19th century, namely, in 1828. The surname of the future writer is the oldest aristocratic in Russia. Lev Nikolaevich received his education at home. When his parents died, he moved to the city of Kazan with his sister and three brothers. P. Yushkova became Tolstoy's guardian. At the age of 16, he entered the local university. He studied first at the Faculty of Philosophy, and then at the Faculty of Law. But Tolstoy never graduated from the university. He settled on the estate Yasnaya Polyana- where he was born.

The biography of Leo Tolstoy tells that the next 4 years became years of searching for him. First, he reorganized the life of the estate, then went to Moscow, where he was waiting for Savor. He received the degree of candidate of law at St. Petersburg University, and then got a job - he became an office worker in the noble deputy assembly of Tula.

Biography of Leo Tolstoy describes his trip to the Caucasus in 1851. There he even fought with the Chechens. Episodes of this particular war were later described in various stories and the story "Cossacks". Then Leo passed the exam for a cadet in order to be an officer in the future. And already in this rank in 1854, Tolstoy served in the Danube army, which acted in those days against the Turks.

Lev Nikolaevich began to seriously engage in literary work precisely during a trip to the Caucasus. His story "Childhood" was written there, and then published in the Sovremennik magazine. In the same edition, the story "Boyhood" subsequently appeared.

Leo also fought in Sevastopol during the time there and showed real fearlessness, participating in the defense of the city, which was under siege. For this he was awarded the Order "For Courage". bloody picture The writer recreated the war in his Sevastopol Tales. This work made an indelible impression on the entire Russian society.

From 1855 Tolstoy lived in St. Petersburg. There he often talked with Chernyshevsky, Turgenev, Ostrovsky and others. legendary figures. And a year later he retired. Then the writer traveled, he opened a school for the children of peasants on his native estate and even conducted classes there himself. With his help, another two dozen schools were opened nearby. This was followed by a second trip abroad. The works that immortalized the writer's name throughout the world were created by him in the 70s. This, of course, is "Anna Karenina" and the novel "War and Peace" described at the beginning of the article.

The biography of Leo Tolstoy tells that he married in 1862. With his wife, he subsequently raised nine children. The family moved to the capital in 1880.

Leo Tolstoy (biography Interesting Facts reports about it) spent the last years of his life torn apart by intrigues and squabbles in the family over the inheritance that would remain after him. At the age of 82, the writer leaves the estate and goes on a journey, away from the lordly way of life. But his health was too weak for that. On the way, he caught a cold and died. He was buried, of course, in his homeland - in Yasnaya Polyana.

TOLSTOY L.N.

Russian writer, count, public figure, classic Russian literature XIX V.

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born in 1828 in the family estate Yasnaya Polyana under Tula. Tolstoy was left without parents early and was brought up by his father's sister. In 1844 he entered the oriental faculty of Kazan University, then transferred to the law faculty. He did not like the curriculum, he left the university, went to Yasnaya Polyana and began to educate himself.
In 1851 he entered military service and left for the current army. Then it began literary activity Tolstoy. Episodes Caucasian war he described in short stories and in the story "Cossacks". During this period, the stories "Childhood" and "Boyhood" were also written.
Tolstoy was a member Crimean War 1853-1856, the impressions of which were reflected in the cycle "Sevastopol stories", which describes the courage and dedication of ordinary Russian people - participants defense of Sevastopol, their soul feelings in extreme situations. "Sevastopol Tales" is united by the idea of ​​complete rejection of the war.
In the autumn of 1856 Tolstoy retired and went on a trip abroad to France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Returning to Russia, opened school for peasant ( cm.) children in Yasnaya Polyana, and then more than 20 schools in the surrounding villages ( cm.). Pedagogy became Tolstoy's second vocation: he created textbooks for schools and wrote pedagogical articles.
In 1862, Tolstoy married the daughter of a Moscow doctor, Sofya Andreevna Bers, who became his lifelong companion and assistant in his work.
In the 1860s the writer worked on the main work of his life - a novel. After the release of the book, Tolstoy was recognized as the largest Russian prose writer. A few years later, the writer created the following big romance(1873–1877).
In 1873 he was elected a corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
At the end of the 1870s. Tolstoy experienced a spiritual crisis. During these years, his "Confession" was written, in which the writer-philosopher reflected on the transformation of society through the religious and moral self-improvement of man, universal love, non-resistance to evil by violence. For this, in his opinion, people must give up an idle life, wealth and live by their own work. Tolstoy himself abandoned luxury, hunting, horseback riding, eating meat, began to wear simple clothes, actively engage in physical labor, plow the land. In the same period, the attitude of the writer to art and his own works changed. Heroes of Tolstoy's stories of the 1880s. there were people trying to reconsider their views on the state, family, God (“The Kreutzer Sonata”, “Father Sergius”).
IN late period creativity, the writer sharply criticized the social structure Russian state And Russian Orthodox Church. The ideal of mutual assistance and spiritual brotherhood of people seemed to him a peasant community. These ideas were reflected in the novel Resurrection (1889-1899). Tolstoy's conflict with the official church led to the fact that in 1900 Holy Synod excommunicated Tolstoy from the church by his decision.
IN last decade In his life, the writer created the story "Hadji Murad" and the play, stories, among which is the famous story "After the Ball".
Dissatisfaction with his life gradually became unbearable for Tolstoy. He wanted to give up the estate and fees, which could deprive the financial support of all big family writer. The conflict strained the writer's relationship with his wife. In October 1910 Tolstoy made a difficult decision for him to leave his estate and on the night of October 28 he left Yasnaya Polyana. On railway station Astapovo he spent his last days and died of pneumonia on 7 November. Funeral Tolstoy turned into a mass public demonstration. Tolstoy, at his request, was buried without a gravestone and cross, V forest, on the outskirts of Yasnaya Polyana.
Tolstoy is one of the most famous Russian writers abroad. His works have been translated into almost all languages ​​of the world. A. France, T. Mann, E. Hemingway recognized the influence of Tolstoy on their work.
The first collected works of Tolstoy were published during the life of the writer. In 1928–1958 his complete ninety-volume collected works were published.
Many of the writer's works are constantly included in school ( cm.) program in literature. IN Soviet time (cm. Soviet Union ) the study of Tolstoy's work at school was associated with articles IN AND. Lenin who named the writer mirror of the Russian revolution.
Plays by Tolstoy and dramatizations of his stories and novels are constantly staged. drama theaters. In 1952 based on the novel "War and Peace" S.S. Prokofiev wrote an opera of the same name. The novels Anna Karenina and War and Peace have been filmed many times in Russia and abroad.
in Yasnaya Polyana and Moscow houses-museums of Tolstoy were created. Two opened in Moscow literary museums. Monuments to the writer stand in many cities of Russia. Most famous portraits Tolstoy are written I.N. Kramskoy(1873) and N.N. Ge(1884). Even during Tolstoy's lifetime, Yasnaya Polyana became a place of pilgrimage. Workers of art and science, numerous tourists come here.
Tolstoy's ideas about the internal self-improvement of a person, which underlie his teachings, are called tolstoyanism . The followers of this teaching (and movement) are called Tolstoyans.
Noun derived from Tolstoy's surname sweatshirt - the name of a wide long men's pleated blouse with a belt, which the writer liked to wear.
Tolstoy introduced the word into the Russian language formed(in the novel "Anna Karenina") in the meaning of "everything will be settled, everything will be fine." He owns the words that have become winged: I can't be silent(the title of an article in 1908 in which Tolstoy, addressing the government, demands the abolition of the death penalty and harsh punishments); the expression is used in any situation when a person does not agree with any decisions, actively expresses his protest. The fruits of enlightenment(the title of Tolstoy's 1891 comedy) will ironically name the unsuccessful results of someone's activity; a living corpse(the title of Tolstoy's 1902 play) will name a person who has lost his human appearance, as well as sick and emaciated. Expression Everything is mixed up in the Oblonskys' house(from the novel "Anna Karenina") they use it when they want to say that everything has gone beyond the usual state of affairs, has become confused. Phrase he scares me but i'm not scared(from Tolstoy's review of L.N. Andreev's story "The Abyss", which is filled with all sorts of horrors) is used ironically as a description of a person who strives to scare someone. Words power of darkness became winged after the release of the drama "The Power of Darkness" in 1886. They are used in the meaning: "the triumph of evil, ignorance, lack of spirituality"; indicate the dominance of inhumane phenomena in society, as well as rooted ignorance, inertia, and a decline in morals. The expression became especially popular after impromptu V.A. Gilyarovsky: There are two misfortunes in Russia: Below is the power of darkness, And above - the darkness of power.
Portrait of the writer L.N. Tolstoy. Artist I.N. Kramskoy. 1873:

House Museum of Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana:

Russia. Large linguo-cultural dictionary. - M.: State Institute Russian language them. A.S. Pushkin. AST-Press. T.N. Chernyavskaya, K.S. Miloslavskaya, E.G. Rostova, O.E. Frolova, V.I. Borisenko, Yu.A. Vyunov, V.P. Chudnov. 2007 .

See what "TOLSTOY LN" is in other dictionaries:

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Biography and episodes of life Lev Tolstoy. When born and died Lev Tolstoy, memorable places and dates important events his life. writer quotes, Photo and video.

Years of Leo Tolstoy's life:

born September 9, 1828, died November 20, 1910

Epitaph

"I hear the sound of his speeches...
In the midst of all the confusion
Great old man of our days
Calls to the path of non-resistance.
Simple, clear words -
And who was imbued with their rays,
How to touch the deity
And speaks through his mouth.
From a poem by Arkady Kots dedicated to the memory of Tolstoy

Biography

The biography of Leo Tolstoy is a biography of the most famous Russian writer, whose works are still read all over the world. Even during Tolstoy's lifetime, his books were translated into many languages, and today his immortal works are included in the golden fund of world literature. But no less interesting and personal, not writer's biography Tolstoy, who all his life tried to understand what is the essence of the destiny of man.

He was born on the Yasnaya Polyana estate, which today houses the Tolstoy Museum. The writer, who comes from a rich and noble count family, lost his mother as a child, and when it came time to enter the university, his father, who left the family's financial affairs in poor condition. Before entering Kazan University, Leo Tolstoy was brought up by relatives in Yasnaya Polyana. Studying Tolstoy was easy, after Kazan University he studied Arabic-Turkish literature, but a conflict with one of the teachers forced him to quit his studies and return to Yasnaya Polyana. Already in those years, Tolstoy began to think about what his purpose was, who he should become. In his diaries, he set himself goals for self-improvement. He continued to keep diaries all his life, trying to answer important questions in them, analyzing his actions and judgments. Then, in Yasnaya Polyana, he began to feel guilty towards the peasants - for the first time he opened a school for serf children, where he himself often conducted classes. Soon Tolstoy again left for Moscow to prepare for candidate exams, but the young landowner was carried away by social life and card games which inevitably led to debt. And then, on the advice of his brother, Lev Nikolaevich left for the Caucasus, where he served for four years. In the Caucasus, he began to write his famous trilogy "Childhood", "Adolescence" and "Youth", which later brought him great fame in literary circles Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Despite the fact that Tolstoy was warmly received after his return and he was well received in all the secular salons of both capitals, over time the writer began to experience disappointment in his environment. Did not bring him pleasure and a trip to Europe. He returned to Yasnaya Polyana and began to improve it, and soon married - a girl who was much younger than him. And at the same time he finished his story "The Cossacks", after which Tolstoy's talent as a brilliant writer was recognized. Sofya Andreevna Bers bore Tolstoy 13 children, and over the years he wrote Anna Karenina and War and Peace.

In Yasnaya Polyana, surrounded by his family and his peasants, Tolstoy again began to think about the destiny of man, about religion and theology, about pedagogy. His desire to get to the very core of religion and human existence, and the theological writings that followed, caused a backlash in the Orthodox Church. spiritual crisis the writer was reflected in everything - both in his relationship with his family and in his success in writing. The well-being of Count Tolstoy ceased to bring him joy - he became a vegetarian, walked barefoot, engaged in physical labor, renounced the rights to his literary works, gave all his property to his family. Before his death, Tolstoy quarreled with his wife and, wanting to live the last years of his life in accordance with his spiritual views, secretly left Yasnaya Polyana. On the way, the writer fell seriously ill and died.

The funeral of Leo Tolstoy was held in Yasnaya Polyana, several thousand people came to say goodbye to the great writer - friends, admirers, peasants, students. The ceremony was not Orthodox rite, since the writer was excommunicated in the early 1900s. Tolstoy's grave is located in Yasnaya Polyana - in the forest where once, as a child, Lev Nikolayevich was looking for a "green stick" that kept the secret of universal happiness.

life line

September 9, 1828 Date of birth of Leo Tolstoy.
1844 Admission to Kazan University in the Department of Oriental Languages.
1847 Dismissal from the university.
1851 Departure for the Caucasus.
1852-1857 Writing an autobiographical trilogy "Childhood", "Adolescence" and "Youth".
1855 Moving to St. Petersburg, joining the Sovremennik circle.
1856 Retirement, return to Yasnaya Polyana.
1859 The opening of a school for peasant children by Tolstoy.
1862 Marriage to Sophia Bers.
1863-1869 Writing the novel "War and Peace".
1873-1877 Writing the novel "Anna Karenina".
1889-1899 Writing the novel "Resurrection".
November 10, 1910 Secret departure of Tolstoy from Yasnaya Polyana.
November 20, 1910 Date of Tolstoy's death.
November 22, 1910 Farewell ceremony for the writer.
November 23, 1910 Funeral of Tolstoy.

Memorable places

1. Yasnaya Polyana, the estate of Leo Tolstoy, the state memorial and natural reserve where Tolstoy is buried.
2. Museum-estate of Leo Tolstoy in Khamovniki.
3. Tolstoy's house in childhood, the first Moscow address of the writer, where he was brought at the age of 7 and where he lived until 1838.
4. Tolstoy's house in Moscow in 1850-1851, where his literary activity began.
5. The former Chevalier Hotel, where Tolstoy stayed, including shortly after his marriage with Sophia Tolstaya.
6. State Museum L. N. Tolstoy in Moscow.
7. Tolstoy Center on Pyatnitskaya, former home Vargin, where Tolstoy lived in 1857-1858.
8. Monument to Tolstoy in Moscow.
9. Kochakovsky necropolis, Tolstoy family cemetery.

Episodes of life

Tolstoy married Sofya Bers when she was 18 years old and he was 34. Before they got married, he confessed to his bride in his premarital affairs - the hero of his work Anna Karenina, Konstantin Levin, did the same later. Tolstoy admitted in his letters to his grandmother: “I constantly have the feeling that I have stolen undeserved happiness that was not assigned to me. Here she comes, I hear her, and so well. Long years Sofya Tolstaya was a friend and colleague of her husband, they were very happy, but with Tolstoy's passion for theology and spiritual quest, omissions began to arise between the spouses.

Leo Tolstoy did not like War and Peace, his largest and most significant work. Once, in correspondence with Fet, the writer even called his famous epic " verbose rubbish».

It is known that the last years of his life Tolstoy refused meat. He believed that meat-eating was not humane, and he hoped that one day people would look at him with the same disgust that they now look at cannibalism.

Tolstoy believed that education in Russia was fundamentally wrong, and tried to contribute to its change: he opened a school for peasant children, published a pedagogical magazine, wrote the ABC, New ABC and Books for Reading. Despite the fact that he wrote these textbooks primarily for peasant children, more than one generation of children, including noble ones, learned from them. According to the ABC, Tolstoy was taught letters by the Russian poetess Anna Akhmatova.

Covenant

"Everything comes to those who know how to wait."

"Beware of everything that your conscience disapproves of."

Documentary "Living Tolstoy"

condolences

“On November 7, 1910, not only the life of one of the most extraordinary people who ever lived in the world ended at the Astapovo station, but also some extraordinary human feat ended, an extraordinary struggle in its strength, longitude and difficulty ...”
Ivan Bunin, writer

“It is remarkable that not a single one, not only from Russians, but also from foreign writers, had and still does not have such world significance as Tolstoy. None of the writers abroad was as popular as Tolstoy. This one fact in itself points to the significance of this man's talent."
Sergei Witte, statesman

“I sincerely regret the death of the great writer, who, during the heyday of his talent, embodied in his works the images of one of the glorious years of Russian life. May the Lord God be his merciful judge.”
Nicholas II Alexandrovich, Russian Emperor

Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828 in the Krapivensky district of the Tula province, in the hereditary estate of his mother - Yasnaya Polyana. For the birthday of one of the greatest writers of the world, we bring to your attention a set of postcards “L. N. Tolstoy in the photographs of his contemporaries” with some comments…

Lev Nikolaevich, being the fourth child in the family, was born in 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, the estate of Maria Nikolaevna's mother. Early enough, the children were left without parents and their father's relatives took care of them. Nevertheless, very bright feelings remained about the parents. Father, Nikolai Ilyich, was remembered as honest and never humiliated before anyone, a very cheerful and bright person, but with eternally sad eyes. About the mother, who died very early, I would like to note one found quote from the memoirs of Lev Nikolayevich:

“She seemed to me such a high, pure, spiritual being that often in the middle period of my life, during the struggle with the temptations that overwhelmed me, I prayed to her soul, asking her to help me, and this prayer always helped me”

P. I. Biryukov. Biography of L. N. Tolstoy.

Moscow, 1851. Photo from Mather's daguerreotype.

This biography is also notable for the fact that L.N. himself took part in editing and writing it.

In the photo above, Tolstoy is 23 years old. This is the year of the first literary attempts, the sprees, maps and random companions in life familiar to that time, which, later, were described in War and Peace. However, the first school for serfs was opened by him four years before. Also, 1851 is the year of entry into military service in the Caucasus.

Tolstoy the officer was very successful and, if not for the reaction of the authorities to the sharp pamphlet in 1855, the future philosopher would have been under stray bullets for a long time.

1854 Photo from a daguerreotype.

A brave warrior who showed himself with better side during the Crimean War, he finished writing "Sevastopol Tales" already in the rear, in St. Petersburg. Acquaintance with Turgenev brought Tolstoy close to the editorial board of the Sovremennik magazine, where some of his stories were also published.

Editorial board of the journal "Sovremennik", St. Petersburg. Standing from left to right: L. N. Tolstoy, D. V. Grigorovich. Seated: I.A. Goncharov, I.S. Turgenev, A.V. Druzhinin, A.N. Ostrovsky. Photo by S.L.Levitsky.

1862, Moscow. Photo by M.B. Tulinov.

Perhaps, Tolstoy is characterized in an important way by the fact that while in Paris, he, a participant in the heroic defense of Sevastopol, was unpleasantly struck by the cult of Napoleon I and the guillotining, at which he happened to be present. Later, the characteristics of the orders that reigned in the army will emerge in 1886, in the famous “Nikolai Palkin” - the story of the old veteran will again shock Tolstoy, who served only in the army and did not face the senseless cruelty of the army as a means of punishing the recalcitrant poor. The vicious judicial practice and their own inability to protect the innocent will also be mercilessly criticized in “Memoirs of the Trial of a Soldier”, which tells about 1966.

But sharp and irreconcilable criticism of the existing order is still ahead, the 60s became years of enjoying a happy family life with a loving and beloved wife, who did not always accept, but always understood the way of thinking and actions of her husband. At the same time, "War and Peace" was written - from 1865 to 68.

1868, Moscow.

It is difficult to find an epithet for Tolstoy's activities before the 80s. Anna Karenina is being written, many other works, which subsequently earned a low rating from the author in comparison with more late work. This is not yet the formulation of answers to fundamental questions, but the preparation of the foundation for them.

L. N. Tolstoy (1876)

And in 1879, the "Study of Dogmatic Theology" appeared. In the mid-80s, Tolstoy organized a publishing house for popular reading"Mediator", many stories are written for him. One of the milestones in the philosophy of Lev Nikolaevich comes out - the treatise “What is my faith?”

1885, Moscow. Photo of Scherer and Nabholz firm.

LN Tolstoy with his wife and children. 1887

The 20th century was marked by a sharp controversy with Orthodox Church and separation from her. Tolstoy took an active part in public life criticizing the Russo-Japanese War and the social structure of the empire, which was already beginning to burst at the seams.

1901, Crimea. Photo by S.A. Tolstoy.

1905, Yasnaya Polyana. Leo Tolstoy returns from swimming on the Voronka River. Photo by V. G. Chertkov.

1908, Yasnaya Polyana. Leo Tolstoy with his beloved horse Delir. Photo by K.K.Bulla.

1908, Yasnaya Polyana. At the terrace of the Yasnaya Polyana house. Photo by S.A. Baranov.

1909 In the village of Krekshino. Photo by V. G. Chertkov.

1909, Yasnaya Polyana. LN Tolstoy in the office at work. Photo by V. G. Chertkov.

The entire large family of Tolstoy often gathered at the family estate of Yasnaya Polyana.

1908 Leo Tolstoy's house in Yasnaya Polyana. Photo by K.K.Bulla.

1892, Yasnaya Polyana. Leo Tolstoy with his family at the tea table in the park. Photo by Scherer and Nabholz.

1908, Yasnaya Polyana. Leo Tolstoy with his granddaughter Tanechka. Photo by V. G. Chertkov.

1908, Yasnaya Polyana. LN Tolstoy plays chess with MS Sukhotin. From left to right: T.L. Tolstaya-Sukhotina with M.L. Tolstoy's daughter Tanya Tolstaya, Yu.I. Igumnova, L.N. Tolstoy, A.B. Vanya Tolstoy, M.S. Sukhotin, M.L. Tolstoy, A.L. Tolstoy. Photo by K.K.Bulla.

L. N. Tolstoy tells the tale of the cucumber to the grandchildren Ilyusha and Sonya, 1909,

Despite the pressure of the church, many famous and respected people maintained close relations with Lev Nikolayevich.

1900, Yasnaya Polyana. L.N. Tolstoy and A.M. Gorky. Photo by S.A. Tolstoy.

1901, Crimea. L.N. Tolstoy and A.P. Chekhov. Photo by S.A. Tolstoy.

1908, Yasnaya Polyana. L.N. Tolstoy and I.E. Repin. Photo by S.A. Tolstoy.

IN Last year life Tolstoy secretly left the family to live the rest of the time according to his own worldview. On the way, he fell ill with pneumonia and died at the Astapovo station in Lipetsk region which now bears his name.

Tolstoy with his granddaughter Tanya, Yasnaya Polyana, 1910

1910 In the village of Calm. Photo by V. G. Chertkov.

Most of the photographs presented above were taken by Karl Karlovich Bulla, Vladimir Grigorievich Chertkov and the wife of the writer Sofya Andreevna. Carl Bulla - famous photographer of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, which left a colossal legacy, which today largely determines the visual representation of that bygone era.

Carl Bulla (from Wikipedia)

Vladimir Chertkov is one of Tolstoy's closest friends and associates, who became one of the leaders of Tolstoyism and the publisher of many of Leo Nikolayevich's works.

Leo Tolstoy and Vladimir Chertkov

Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy. First color photography. First published in the Notes of the Russian Technical Society.

In the memoirs of another associate of Tolstoy - Pavel Alexandrovich Boulanger - a mathematician, engineer, writer, who introduced Russian readers to the biography of the Buddha (published to this day!) And the main ideas of his teaching, Tolstoy's words are quoted:

God gave me the highest happiness - he gave me such a friend as Chertkov.

Sofya Andreevna, nee Bers, was a faithful companion of Lev Nikolaevich and it is difficult to overestimate all the support she gave him.

S. A. Tolstaya, ur. Bers (from Wikipedia)

to be one of best writers world history - an honorable right, and Leo Tolstoy deserved it, leaving behind a huge creative heritage. Stories, novellas, novels, which are presented in a whole series of volumes, were appreciated not only by the writer's contemporaries, but also by his descendants. What is the secret of this brilliant author, who was able to fit in his life and ""?

In contact with

Writer's childhood

Where was the future novelist born? Pen Master came into being in September 9, 1828 in the estate of his mother Yasnaya Polyana, located in Tula province. The family of Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy was large. father had county title and mother was born Princess Volkonskaya. When he was two years old, his mother died, and after another 7 years, his father.

Leo was the fourth child in a noble family, so he was not deprived of the attention of relatives. The literary genius never thought of his losses with heartache. On the contrary, only warm memories of his childhood were preserved, because his mother and father were very affectionate with him. IN work of the same name the author idealizes his childhood and writes that it was the most wonderful time of his life.

The little count received education at home, where he was invited French and German teachers. After leaving school, Leo was fluent in three languages, and also had extensive knowledge in various fields. In addition, the young man was fond of musical creativity, could play the works of his favorite composers for a long time: Schumann, Bach, Chopin and Mozart.

Young years

In 1843 a young man becomes student of the Imperial Kazan University, chooses the Faculty of Oriental Languages, however, later changes his specialty due to poor academic performance and begins to practice law. Unable to complete the course. The young count returns to his estate in order to become real farmer.

But here, too, failure awaits him: frequent trips completely distract the owner from the important affairs of the estate. Keeping your diary- the only occupation that was done with amazing scrupulousness: a habit that lasted a lifetime and became the foundation of most future works.

Important! The unfortunate student did not become inactive for a long time. Having allowed himself to be persuaded by his brother, he went to serve as a cadet to the south, after which, having stayed in Caucasian mountains for some time, received a transfer to Sevastopol. There, from November 1854 to August 1855, the young count participated in.

Early work

The rich experience gained on the battlefields, as well as in the era of the Junkers, prompted the future writer to create the first literary works . Even in the years of service as a cadet, having a lot of free time, the count begins to work on his first autobiographical story "Childhood".

Natural observation, a special flair were clearly reflected in the style: the author wrote about what was close, understandable not only to him alone. Life and creativity merge together.

In the story "Childhood" every boy or young man would recognize himself. The story was originally a short story and was published in a magazine. "Contemporary" in 1852. It is noteworthy that already the first story was splendidly received by critics, and the young novelist was compared with Turgenev, Ostrovsky and Goncharov, which was already a real recognition. All these masters of the word were already quite famous and loved by the people.

What works did Leo Tolstoy write at that time?

The young count, feeling that he has finally found his calling, continues to work. Brilliant stories come out of the pen one after another, stories that instantly become popular due to their originality and amazing realistic approach to reality: “Cossacks” (1852), “Boyhood” (1854), “Sevastopol Tales” (1854 - 1855), "Youth" (1857).

IN literary world a new writer is rushing in Lev Tolstoy, which strikes the reader's imagination with detailed details, does not hide the truth and applies new technology letters: second collection "Sevastopol stories" written from the point of view of the soldiers, to bring the story even closer to the reader. The young author is not afraid to openly, frankly write about the horrors and contradictions of war. Characters are not heroes from paintings and canvases of artists, but simple people who are able to perform real feats in order to save the lives of others.

Belong to something literary movement or be a supporter of a particular philosophical school Lev Nikolaevich refused, declaring himself anarchist. Later, the master of the word in the course of a religious search will take the right path, but for now, before the young, successful genius lay the whole world, and did not want to be one of many.

Family status

In Russia, where he lived and was born, Tolstoy returns after a wild trip to Paris without a penny in his pocket. Here took place marriage to Sofya Andreevna Bers, daughter of a doctor. This woman was main companion in life Tolstoy, became his support to the very end.

Sophia expressed her readiness to be a secretary, wife, mother of his children, girlfriend and even a cleaning lady, although the estate, for which servants were a common thing, was always kept in exemplary order.

The count's title constantly obliged households to observe a certain status. Over time, the husband and wife diverged in religious views: Sophia did not understand and did not accept the attempts of a loved one to create their own philosophical dogma and follow it.

Attention! Only eldest daughter writer Alexandra supported her father's undertakings: in 1910 they made a pilgrimage trip together. Other children adored dad as a great storyteller, although a rather strict parent.

According to the recollections of descendants, the father could scold the little dirty trick, but after a moment he would put him on his knees, regret, writing an amusing story on the go. In the literary arsenal of the famous realist, there are many children's works recommended for study in preschool and junior school age- This "Book for reading" and "ABC". The first work contains stories by L.N. Tolstoy for the 4th grade of the school, which was organized in the Yasnaya Polyana estate.

How many children did Leo and Sophia have? A total of 13 children were born, three of whom died in infancy.

Maturity and creative flourishing of the writer

From the age of thirty-two, Tolstoy began work on his main work - an epic novel. The first part was published in 1865 in the Russky Vestnik magazine, and in 1869 the final edition of the epic saw the light of day. Most of the 1860s were devoted to this monumental work, which the count repeatedly rewrote, corrected, supplemented, and at the end of his life got so tired of it that he called War and Peace "verbose rubbish." The novel was written in Yasnaya Polyana.

The work, which is four volumes long, turned out to be truly unique. What are its advantages? This is first of all:

• historical truth;
• action in the novel is both realistic and fictional characters, the number of which has exceeded a thousand according to the calculations of philologists;
• interspersing the plot of three historical essays on the laws of history into the outline; accuracy in the description of life and everyday life.

This is the basis of the novel - the path of a person, his position and the meaning of life is made up of these ordinary actions.

After the success of the military-historical epic, the author begins to work on the novel "Anna Karenina" based on much of his autobiography. In particular, the relationship between Kitty and Levina- these are partial memories of the life of the author himself with his wife Sophia, a certain short biography writer, as well as a reflection of the canvas of real events of the Russian-Turkish war.

The novel was published in 1875 - 1877, and almost immediately became the most discussed literary event of that time. The story of Anna, written with amazing warmth, attention to female psychology, made a splash. Before him, only Ostrovsky in his poems turned to female soul And revealed the rich inner world beautiful half of humanity. Naturally, high fees for the work were not long in coming, because every educated person read Tolstoy's Karenina. After the release of this rather secular novel, the author was not at all happy, but was in constant mental torment.

Change of outlook and later literary successes

Many years of life were devoted search for the meaning of life, which led the writer to the Orthodox faith, however, this step only confuses the count. Lev Nikolaevich sees corruption in the church diaspora, complete subordination to personal convictions, which does not correspond to the dogma that his soul longed for.

Attention! Leo Tolstoy becomes an apostate and even publishes the incriminating magazine Posrednik (1883), because of which he is excommunicated and accused of "heresy".

However, Leo does not stop there and tries to follow the path of purification, taking rather bold steps. For example, gives all his possessions to the poor, which Sofya Andreevna categorically opposed. The husband reluctantly transferred all the property to her and gave the copyright to the works, but still did not give up the search for his destiny.

This period of creativity is characterized great religious enthusiasm- treatises are created and moral stories. What works with religious overtones did the author write? Among the most successful work between 1880 and 1990 were:

• the story "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" (1886), describing a man near death, who is trying to understand and comprehend his "empty" life;
• the story "Father Sergius" (1898), aimed at criticizing his own religious quest;
• the novel "Resurrection", which tells about the moral pain of Katyusha Maslova and the ways of her moral purification.

Completion of life

Having written many works in his life, the count appeared before his contemporaries and descendants as a strong religious leader and spiritual mentor, such as Mahatma Gandhi, with whom he corresponded. The life and work of the writer is permeated by the idea that it is necessary hourly resist evil with all the strength of your soul while demonstrating humility and saving thousands of lives. The master of the word has become a real teacher among the lost souls. Entire pilgrimage trips were organized to the Yasnaya Polyana estate, the students of the great Tolstoy came to “know themselves”, listening to their ideological guru for hours on end, which the writer became in his declining years.

The author-mentor accepted everyone who came with problems, questions and aspirations of the soul, he was ready to distribute his savings and shelter wanderers for any period. Unfortunately, this increased the degree of tension in relations with his wife Sophia and, in the end, resulted in the unwillingness of the great realist to live in his house. Together with his daughter, Lev Nikolaevich went on a pilgrimage to Russia, wanting to travel incognito, but often this was to no avail - they were recognized everywhere.

Where did Lev Nikolayevich die? November 1910 was fatal for the writer: already being ill, he stayed in the house of the head of the railway station, where he died on November 20. Lev Nikolaevich was a real idol. During the funeral of this truly national writer, according to the memoirs of contemporaries, people cried bitterly and followed the coffin crowd of thousands. There were so many people, as if they were burying a king.

Short biography of Leo Tolstoy

Lev Tolstoy. Short biography.

Conclusion

The story about the life and work of Leo Tolstoy can be endless, many monographs have been written about this. The novels of the writer still remain the standard literary art, and the military epic "War and Peace" was included in the golden collection greatest works peace. Lev Nikolaevich became the first writer who drew attention to the depths of the human subconscious, unconscious and refined motives of character, as well as to great role everyday life, which determines the whole essence of the personality.