Leo Tolstoy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leo Tolstoy
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Tolstoy in 1908
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| Native name |
Лев Толстой
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| Born | 9 September [O.S. 28 August] 1828 Yasnaya Polyana, Russia |
| Died | 20 November [O.S. 7 November] 1910 (aged 82) Astapovo, Russia |
| Occupation |
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| Education | Imperial Kazan University (dropped out) |
| Period | Modern |
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| Literary movement | Realism |
| Years active | 1847–1910 |
| Notable works | List |
| Notable awards | Griboyedov Prize (1892) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 14 |
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Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (born September 9, 1828 – died November 20, 1910), known in English as Leo Tolstoy, was a famous Russian writer. Many people consider him one of the greatest and most important authors of all time.
Tolstoy was born into a wealthy family. He became well-known in his twenties with his stories about growing up, like Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth (1852–1856). He also wrote Sevastopol Sketches (1855), which were based on his time in the Crimean War. His most famous books, War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1878), are seen as masterpieces of realistic writing. He also wrote many short stories and plays.
Later in his life, Tolstoy had a big change in his beliefs. He became very spiritual and believed strongly in the teachings of Jesus, especially about peace and kindness. He thought people should live without violence. His ideas about nonviolent resistance greatly influenced important leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.. Tolstoy also believed in sharing land fairly among everyone.
Many writers and critics praised Tolstoy. Some called him "the greatest of all novelists." He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times but never won, which is still a topic of discussion.
Who Was Leo Tolstoy?
Leo Tolstoy was a Russian writer and thinker whose stories and ideas changed the world. He wrote about life in Russia, war, love, and how people can live together peacefully.
Early Life and Family
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Tolstoy was born in 1828 at Yasnaya Polyana, his family's large estate in Russia. He was the fourth of five children. Sadly, his mother passed away when he was two, and his father when he was nine. Relatives then raised Tolstoy and his siblings.
In 1844, he started studying at Kazan University. However, he found it difficult and left before finishing his studies. He then spent time in big cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Becoming a Writer
Tolstoy began writing during his early adult years. His first novel, Childhood, was published in 1852. It was a fictional story inspired by his own youth. In 1851, he joined the army with his older brother. He served as an artillery officer during the Crimean War. He was at the siege of Sevastopol and was recognized for his bravery. However, he was deeply saddened by the many deaths in war. After the war ended, he left the army.
His experiences in the army and travels in Europe made Tolstoy think deeply about life. He started to believe strongly in non-violence. He saw a sad event in Paris that made him think deeply about government power. He decided he would never support any government that used force.
During his travels, Tolstoy met famous writer Victor Hugo. He also met French thinker Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, who influenced his ideas about education. Inspired by these meetings, Tolstoy returned to Yasnaya Polyana. He opened 13 schools for the children of peasants, who had recently become free from serfdom. His schools were unique because they focused on democratic education, where children had a say in their learning.
Personal Life and Family
In 1862, Tolstoy married Sophia Andreevna Behrs, who was called Sonya by her family. She was 16 years younger than him. They had 13 children together, though eight survived childhood. Sonya was a great help to Tolstoy. She acted as his secretary, editor, and manager, copying his long books like War and Peace many times by hand.
Later in their lives, Tolstoy and Sonya faced many difficulties. Tolstoy's beliefs became very strong, and he wanted to give up his wealth and the rights to his books. This caused tension in their family.
Many of Tolstoy's relatives and descendants live in different countries today, including Sweden, Germany, and the United States. His great-great-grandson, Vladimir Tolstoy, is a director of the Yasnaya Polyana museum. Another descendant, Pyotr Tolstoy, is a well-known journalist in Russia.
Famous Books and Stories
Tolstoy is known for his amazing novels and short stories. His early works, Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth, tell the story of a rich boy who slowly realizes the differences between himself and the poor people around him. These stories are still important today because they show what it's like to grow up.
His book The Cossacks (1863) describes the life of the Cossack people. Anna Karenina (1877) tells two stories: one about a woman facing difficult choices in society, and another about a landowner who works with peasants and tries to improve their lives. Tolstoy often put parts of his own life into his characters.
War and Peace is considered one of the greatest novels ever written. It has many characters and covers a huge historical period, from family life to the battlefields of Napoleon. Tolstoy used this book to share his ideas about history and how individuals, even powerful leaders, fit into big events.
After Anna Karenina, Tolstoy focused more on Christian themes. His later books, like The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1886), explored his strong beliefs about peace and living simply. These strong beliefs led to disagreements with the Russian Orthodox Church. In his novel Resurrection, Tolstoy showed how he thought human laws could be unfair. He also explored ideas about how land should be shared.
Tolstoy also tried writing poetry and fairy tales for children. He believed that writing poetry was like "ploughing and dancing at the same time," meaning it was hard to combine deep meaning with rhythm.
How Other Authors Saw His Work
Many famous writers admired Tolstoy. Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Gustave Flaubert praised his novels. Anton Chekhov said that having a writer like Tolstoy made it easier for all other writers. Later authors like Virginia Woolf called him "the greatest of all novelists." Even though some writers had small criticisms, most agreed that Tolstoy was an incredible artist.
His Big Ideas
Tolstoy's later life was dedicated to exploring his ethical, political, and religious beliefs.
A Change of Heart
Tolstoy was influenced by the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, who believed in living a simple life and finding inner peace. Tolstoy began to believe that true happiness came from denying selfish desires.
Standing Up for Peace
In 1884, Tolstoy wrote What I Believe, sharing his Christian faith. He was especially inspired by Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, which taught him about non-resistance to evil and pacifism. He believed that true Christians should strive for inner goodness and love their neighbors and God, rather than following strict church or state rules.
Tolstoy's idea of nonresistance to conflict had a huge impact. His book The Kingdom of God Is Within You directly influenced Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi called Tolstoy "the greatest apostle of non-violence." They wrote letters to each other, and Gandhi even named his second community in South Africa "Tolstoy Colony."
Tolstoy also believed that wealthy people were a burden on the poor. He thought that land should not be privately owned, but shared by everyone. He also criticized the harsh actions of armies during conflicts, such as the Boxer Rebellion in China and other wars. He wrote letters to leaders, urging them to choose peace.
Simple Living and Food Choices
Tolstoy was introduced to hunting by his father and enjoyed it for many years. However, in the 1880s, he stopped hunting because he felt it was wrong to kill animals. He became a strong opponent of hunting.
He also became interested in vegetarianism in 1882. After a gradual change, he adopted a strict vegetarian diet from 1890 onwards. He believed that eating meat was immoral because it involved cruelty to animals. He even visited a slaughterhouse once, and the experience confirmed his belief that people should not eat meat. He eventually stopped eating eggs and dairy too, believing his health improved with a plant-based diet.
His Final Years
Tolstoy passed away on November 20, 1910, at the age of 82. He died of pneumonia at a railway station called Astapovo, after traveling by train.
His funeral was attended by thousands of people. There were no speeches, as his family requested. Tolstoy's grave is at his beloved estate, Yasnaya Polyana.
Tolstoy's Legacy Today
Tolstoy's ideas about non-violence and living simply continue to inspire people around the world. He believed that governments often used force and that people could live better lives by focusing on farming and small communities.
His philosophy of non-violence greatly influenced Mahatma Gandhi's fight for India's independence. Gandhi believed that truth and love were the most powerful tools for change, a concept he learned from Tolstoy.
Tolstoy in Movies and TV
Tolstoy's stories have been adapted into many films and TV shows. For example, his novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich inspired the Japanese film Ikiru (1952) and the recent British film Living (2022).
In 2009, a movie called The Last Station was made about Tolstoy's final year. Christopher Plummer played Tolstoy and Helen Mirren played his wife, Sofya. Both actors were nominated for Oscars for their performances. There have been other films about him too, showing how his life and works continue to fascinate people.
Leo Tolstoy Quotes
- "The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience."
- "All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
- "Respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be."
- "There is only one time that is important—Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power."
- "By words one transmits thoughts to another, by means of art, one transmits feelings."
- "Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us."
- "Pure and complete sorrow is as impossible as pure and complete joy."
- "To love life is to love God."
- "You will die and find out everything — or cease asking."
- "The vocation of every man and woman is to serve other people."
Images for kids
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Portrait of Nikolay Ilyich Tolstoy, 1823
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Tolstoy in 1906
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Captioned "War and Peace", caricature of Tolstoy in the London magazine Vanity Fair, February 1901
See also
In Spanish: León Tolstói para niños
- Anarchism and religion
- Christian vegetarianism
- Leo Tolstoy and Theosophy
- List of peace activists
- Henry David Thoreau
- Tolstovka
- War & Peace (2016 TV series)
 | Leon Lynch |
 | Milton P. Webster |
 | Ferdinand Smith |
