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God Sees the Truth, But Waits

God Sees the Truth, But Waits: Short story by Leo TolstoyThis is one of Leo Tolstoy’s earlier short stories, published between his two epic novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, and thirteen years before What Men Live By. It has themes of injustice, acceptance, forgiveness and redemption. The protagonist suffers a dramatic fall in worldly terms, which is more than matched by his growth in spiritual grace. The plot was not new. It is a re-working of an almost identical tale from War and Peace related by peasant character Platon Karataev. The novel was written for the Russian nobility; this version was targeted at its common people. More…

After the Ball / Dance

After the Ball / Dance: Short story by Leo TolstoyThe major themes of this story from Leo Tolstoy are the circumstances that determine “good” and “evil”, and the morality of blaming a child for the actions of his/her father. The protagonist is captivated by a beautiful woman. They attend an elegant ball, where he is impressed by the demeanor of her father, a senior military officer. His feelings change the next morning when he witnesses the father officiating at the brutal punishment of a deserting soldier. Other themes: romance, judging by appearances, point of view (cruelty or duty?), class, moral indignation vs. naivety. More…

The Death of Ivan Ilyich

The Death of Ivan Ilyich: Short story by Leo TolstoyThe major themes of this famous novella by Leo Tolstoy are the inevitability of death and the shallowness of Russia’s bourgeoisie. As Ivan Ilyich, a successful civil servant, faces an early, agonizing death he asks himself the inevitable question: How could that be, when I did everything [in life] properly? By bourgeoisie standards, his assessment is correct. However, by general social standards Ivan’s superficial, self-centered life lacked compassion, genuine connection, and spiritual meaning. As Ivan’s suffering strips away his delusions, he finds joy and redemption in death. Other themes: appearance and materialism, suffering, denial, isolation, acceptance and redemption. More…

How Much Land Does a Man Need?

How Much Land Does a Man Need?: Short story by Leo TolstoyIn this Leo Tolstoy story, a Russian peasant thinks to himself: Our only trouble is that we haven’t enough land. If I had a lot of land, I shouldn’t fear the Devil himself! The Devil ‘overhears’ this and puts him to the test. The more land the man gets, the more he thinks he needs. He hears of a place where for almost nothing you can buy all the land you can walk around in a day. In rushing to encircle as much land as possible, he learns the answer to the titular question. Themes: envy, avarice, class, exploitation.

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The Coffee-house of Surat

The Coffee-house of Surat: Short story by Leo TolstoyIn this story from Leo Tolstoy, customers in an Indian coffeehouse overhear a disillusioned religious scholar questioning his servant about the existence of God. This sparks a debate about which religion is God’s favorite. Arguments are put forward supporting most of the mainstream European and Asian religions of the day, as well as some unusual ones like idolatry and fire-walking. The answer (that God is not exclusive to any one system of beliefs) is provided in an allegorical tale from a Confucian scholar about a debate over the existence and path of the sun. Themes: diversity, bigotry, intolerance, religious pluralism.

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The Three Questions

The Three Questions: Short story by Leo TolstoyThis parable from Leo Tolstoy is about how to succeed in life. A king believes he would never fail in a task if he always knew three things: What is the best time to begin? Who are the most important people to have around you? and What is the most important thing to spend your time doing? He offers a reward for the answers, but neither his wisest counselors nor others who come to claim it can help. An experience with a forest hermit and injured assassin teach him what he needs to know. Themes: wisdom, humility, kindness, forgiveness, morality. More…

What Men Live By

What Men Live By: Short story by Leo TolstoyIn this story by Leo Tolstoy, God punishes a disobedient angel by casting him out of Heaven to live as a man. The only way he can get his job back is to learn the answers these questions: What dwells in man? What is not given to man? and What (do) men live by? He learns the answers from the family of a poor but compassionate shoemaker, an imperious rich man, and a kind, charitable woman who has adopted the two orphaned children of a dead neighbor. Themes: humanity, compassion, kindness, arrogance, duty, death. More…