L n thick biography for elementary school. The best works of Tolstoy for children

The classic of Russian literature, Leo Tolstoy, was born on September 9, 1828, into the noble family of Nikolai Tolstoy and his wife Maria Nikolaevna. The father and mother of the future writer were nobles and belonged to revered families, so the family lived comfortably in their own estate, Yasnaya Polyana, located in the Tula region.

Leo Tolstoy spent his childhood in the family estate. In these places, he first saw the course of life of the working people, heard the abundance of old legends, parables, fairy tales, and here his first attraction to literature arose. Yasnaya Polyana is a place to which the writer returned at all stages of his life, drawing wisdom, beauty, and inspiration.

Despite his noble origin, Tolstoy had to learn the bitterness of orphanhood since childhood, because the mother of the future writer died when the boy was only two years old. The father passed away not much later, when Leo was seven years old. First, the grandmother took custody of the children, and after her death - aunt Palageya Yushkova, who took the four children of the Tolstoy family with her to Kazan.

growing up

Six years of living in Kazan became the informal years of the writer's growing up, because at this time his character and worldview are formed. In 1844, Leo Tolstoy entered Kazan University, first at the eastern department, then, not finding himself in the study of Arabic and Turkish, at the Faculty of Law.

The writer did not show significant interest in studying law, but he understood the need for a diploma. After passing the exams externally, in 1847 Lev Nikolayevich received the long-awaited document and returned to Yasnaya Polyana, and then to Moscow, where he began to engage in literary work.

Military service

Not having time to finish the two conceived stories, in the spring of 1851 Tolstoy went to the Caucasus with his brother Nikolai and began military service. The young writer takes part in the military operations of the Russian army, acts among the defenders of the Crimean peninsula, liberates his native land from Turkish and Anglo-French troops. Years of service gave Leo Tolstoy invaluable experience, knowledge of the life of ordinary soldiers and citizens, their characters, heroism, aspirations.

The years of service are vividly reflected in Tolstoy's stories "The Cossacks", "Hadji Murad", as well as in the stories "Degraded", "Cutting the Forest", "Raid".

Literary and social activities

Returning to St. Petersburg in 1855, Leo Tolstoy was already well-known in literary circles. Remembering the respectful attitude towards serfs in his father's house, the writer strongly supports the abolition of serfdom, clarifying this issue in the stories "Polikushka", "Morning of the landowner", etc.

In an effort to see the world, in 1857 Lev Nikolayevich went on a trip abroad, visiting the countries of Western Europe. Getting acquainted with the cultural traditions of the peoples, the master of the word fixes the information in his memory in order to display the most important moments in his work later.

Actively engaged in social activities, Tolstoy opens a school in Yasnaya Polyana. The writer strongly criticizes corporal punishment, which was widely practiced at that time in educational institutions in Europe and Russia. In order to improve the educational system, Lev Nikolaevich publishes a pedagogical magazine called Yasnaya Polyana, and in the early 70s he compiled several textbooks for younger students, including Arithmetic, ABC, Books for Reading. These developments were effectively used in the education of several more generations of children.

Personal life and creativity

In 1862, the writer connected his fate with the daughter of the doctor Andrei Bers, Sophia. The young family settled in Yasnaya Polyana, where Sofya Andreevna diligently tried to provide an atmosphere for her husband's literary work. At this time, Leo Tolstoy is actively working on the creation of the epic "War and Peace", and also, reflecting life in Russia after the reform, writes the novel "Anna Karenina".

In the 1980s, Tolstoy moved with his family to Moscow, seeking to educate his growing children. Observing the hungry life of ordinary people, Lev Nikolayevich contributes to the opening of about 200 free tables for those in need. Also at this time, the writer publishes a number of topical articles about the famine, vividly condemning the policies of the rulers.

The period of literature of the 80-90s includes: the story "The Death of Ivan Ilyich", the drama "The Power of Darkness", the comedy "The Fruits of Enlightenment", the novel "Sunday". For a bright attitude against religion and autocracy, Leo Tolstoy is excommunicated from the church.

last years of life

In 1901-1902 the writer was seriously ill. For the purpose of a speedy recovery, the doctor strongly recommends a trip to the Crimea, where Leo Tolstoy spends six months. The prose writer's last trip to Moscow took place in 1909.

Beginning in 1881, the writer seeks to leave Yasnaya Polyana and retire, but remains, not wanting to hurt his wife and children. On October 28, 1910, Leo Tolstoy still decides to take a conscious step and live the rest of the years in a simple hut, refusing all honors.

An unexpected illness on the road becomes an obstacle to the writer's plans and he spends his last seven days of his life in the house of the head of the station. The day of death of an outstanding literary and public figure was November 20, 1910.

The Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, Tula province, the fourth child in a wealthy aristocratic family. Tolstoy lost his parents early, his distant relative T. A. Ergolskaya was engaged in his further education. In 1844 Tolstoy entered Kazan University in the Department of Oriental Languages ​​of the Faculty of Philosophy, but since. classes did not arouse any interest in him, in 1847. submitted a letter of resignation from the university. At the age of 23, Tolstoy, together with his older brother Nikolai, left for the Caucasus, where he took part in the hostilities. These years of the writer's life were reflected in the autobiographical story "The Cossacks" (1852-63), in the stories "Raid" (1853), "Cutting the Forest" (1855), and also in the late story "Hadji Murad" (1896-1904, published in 1912). In the Caucasus, Tolstoy began to write the trilogy "Childhood", "Boyhood", "Youth".

During the Crimean War, he went to Sevastopol, where he continued to fight. After the end of the war, he left for St. Petersburg and immediately entered the Sovremennik circle (N. A. Nekrasov, I. S. Turgenev, A. N. Ostrovsky, I. A. Goncharov, etc.), where he was greeted as " great hope of Russian literature" (Nekrasov), published "Sevastopol Tales", which clearly reflected his outstanding writing talent. In 1857, Tolstoy went on a trip to Europe, which he was later disappointed with..

In the autumn of 1856, having retired, Tolstoy decided to interrupt his literary activity and become a landowner, went to Yasnaya Polyana, where he was engaged in educational work, opened a school, and created his own system of pedagogy. Tolstoy was so fascinated by this occupation that in 1860 he even went abroad in order to get acquainted with the schools of Europe.

In September 1862, Tolstoy married the eighteen-year-old daughter of a doctor, Sofya Andreevna Bers, and immediately after the wedding, he took his wife from Moscow to Yasnaya Polyana, where he completely devoted himself to family life and household chores, but by the autumn of 1863 he was captured by a new literary plan, as a result of which he was born the fundamental work "War and Peace" appeared. In 1873-1877 wrote the novel Anna Karenina. In the same years, the writer's worldview, known as "Tolstoyism", was fully formed, the essence of which can be seen in the works: "Confession", "What is my faith?", "The Kreutzer Sonata".

From all over Russia and the world, admirers of the writer's work came to Yasnaya Polyana, whom they treated as a spiritual mentor. In 1899, the novel "Resurrection" was published.

The last works of the writer were the stories "Father Sergius", "After the Ball", "The Posthumous Notes of the Elder Fyodor Kuzmich" and the drama "The Living Corpse".

Late in the autumn of 1910, at night, secretly from his family, 82-year-old Tolstoy, accompanied only by his personal doctor D.P. Makovitsky, left Yasnaya Polyana, fell ill on the way and was forced to leave the train at the small Astapovo railway station of the Ryazan-Ural railway. Here, in the house of the head of the station, he spent the last seven days of his life. November 7 (20) Leo Tolstoy died.

Conversation for children 5-9 years old: "Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy"

Dvoretskaya Tatyana Nikolaevna, GBOU School No. 1499 TO No. 7, educator
Description: The event is intended for children of senior preschool and primary school age, preschool teachers, primary school teachers and parents.
Purpose of work: The conversation will introduce children to the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, his work and personal contribution to children's literature.

Target: introducing children of senior preschool and primary school age to the world of book culture.
Tasks:
1. to acquaint children with the biography and work of the writer Leo Tolstoy;
2. to introduce children of senior preschool and primary school age to literary works;3. to form emotional responsiveness to a literary work;
4. educate children's interest in the book and its characters;
Attributes for games: rope, 2 baskets, dummies of mushrooms, a hat or mask - Bear.

Preliminary work:
- Read fairy tales, stories, fables of Leo Tolstoy
- Organize an exhibition of children's drawings based on read works

Introduction in verse

Dvoretskaya T.N.
big soul man
Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy.
The famous writer is talented from God.
A wise teacher with the soul of a teacher.
He was a generator of bold ideas.
The school was opened for peasant children.
Lev Nikolayevich is a great thinker.
Ancestor, philanthropist.
Noble family, count bloodlines.
He thought about the troubles of ordinary people.
Left behind a legacy
Knowledge has become an encyclopedia.
His work and experience is an invaluable asset.
For many generations, he became the foundation.
The writer is famous, and in the 21st century
We are proud to tell you about this man!

Conversation flow:
Presenter: Dear guys, today we will meet an amazing person and a great writer.
(Slide #1)
Near the city of Tula there is such a place as Yasnaya Polyana, where on September 9, 1828, the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy was born. He was the fourth child in a large noble family. His mother, Princess Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya. His father, Count Nikolai Ilyich, traced his lineage to Ivan Ivanovich Tolstoy, who served as governor under Tsar Ivan the Terrible.
(Slide #2)
The childhood years of the little writer passed in Yasnaya Polyana. Leo Tolstoy received his primary education at home, he was given lessons by French and German teachers. He lost his parents early. Leo Tolstoy's mother died when he was one and a half years old, and his father died when the boy was in his ninth year. Orphaned children (three brothers and a sister) were taken in by their aunt, who lived in Kazan. She became the guardian of the children. Leo Tolstoy lived in the city of Kazan for six years.
In 1844 he entered Kazan University. Classes in the program and textbooks weighed him down and after studying for 3 years, he decides to leave the institution. Leo Tolstoy left Kazan for the Caucasus, where his older brother Nikolai Nikolaevich Tolstoy served in the army as an artillery officer.

The young Leo Tolstoy wanted to test himself whether he was a brave man and see with his own eyes what war is. He entered the army, at first he was a cadet, then after passing the exams, he received a junior officer rank.
Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was a participant in the defense of the city of Sevastopol. He was awarded the Order of St. Anne with the inscription "For Courage" and medals "For the Defense of Sevastopol.
Russian people have long praised courage, bravery and courage.
Listen to what sayings were composed in Russia:
Where there is courage, there is victory.

Don't lose courage, don't step back.
The soldier's business is to fight bravely and skillfully.
Who has not been in battle, he did not experience courage.
Now we will check how brave and brave our boys are.
Exit to the center of the hall. The game is played: Tug of war.
Leo Tolstoy traveled abroad twice in 1850 and in 1860.
(Slide #3)
Returning back to Yasnaya Polyana, Leo Tolstoy's family estate opens a school for serf children. At that time, there was serfdom in the country - this is when all the peasants obeyed and belonged to the landowner. Previously, even in the cities there were not many schools, and only children from rich and noble families studied in them. People lived in the villages and they were completely illiterate.

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy announced that the school would be free and that there would be no corporal punishment. The fact is that in those days it was customary to punish children, they were beaten with rods (a thin twig) for bad behavior, for the wrong answer, for not learning a lesson, for disobedience.
(Slide number 4)
At first, the peasants shrugged their shoulders: where is it seen that they taught for free. People doubted whether such lessons would be of any use if not to flog a mischievous and lazy child.
In those days, there were many children in peasant families, 10-12 people each. And they all helped their parents with the housework.

But soon they saw that the school in Yasnaya Polyana was unlike any other.
(Slide number 5)
“If,” wrote L.N. Tolstoy, “the lesson is too difficult, the student will lose hope of fulfilling the task, will take up another, and will not make any effort; if the lesson is too easy, it will be the same. It is necessary to try so that all the attention of the student can be absorbed by the given lesson. To do this, give the student such work so that each lesson feels like a step forward in learning.
(Slide number 6)
About the power of knowledge, folk proverbs have survived and survived to this day:
From time immemorial, the book raises a person.
Good to teach who listens.
Alphabet - the wisdom of the step.
Live and learn.
The world is illuminated by the sun, and man by knowledge.
Without patience there is no learning.
Learning to read and write is always useful.
(Slide number 7)

At the Tolstoy school, the children learned to read, write, count, they had lessons in history, natural science, drawing and singing. Children felt at school freely and cheerfully. In the classroom, little students sat down wherever they wanted: on benches, on tables, on the windowsill, on the floor. Everyone could ask the teacher about anything they wanted, talked to him, consulted with neighbors, looked into their notebooks. The lessons turned into a general interesting conversation, and sometimes into a game. There were no homework assignments.
(Slide number 8)
During the breaks and after classes, Leo Tolstoy told the children something interesting, showed them gymnastic exercises, played games with them, ran a race. In winter, he rode with children on sleds from the mountains, in summer he took them to the river or to the forest for mushrooms and berries.

(Slide number 9)
Come on guys, and we will play a game: "Mushroom pickers"
Rules: Children are divided into 2 teams, each team has 1 basket. On a signal, the children gather mushrooms.
Condition: Only 1 mushroom can be taken in hand.
Music sounds, children pick mushrooms and put them in their common team basket.
The music stops, a bear enters the clearing (begins to roar), mushroom pickers freeze and do not move. The bear bypasses the mushroom pickers, if the mushroom picker moves, the bear eats him. (The eaten mushroom picker is put on a chair). At the end of the game, the mushrooms in the baskets are counted. The winner is the team that has collected the most mushrooms and who has the most mushroom pickers in the team remained safe and sound.
(Slide number 10)
At that time there were few books for children. Leo Tolstoy decides to write a book for children. The alphabet was published in 1872. In this book, Lev Nikolaevich collected the best fairy tales, fables, proverbs, stories, epics and sayings. Little instructive works make children all over the world sympathize and worry, rejoice and grieve.

(slide number 11)
The works written by Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy contain useful and wise advice, teach us to understand the world around us and the relationship between people.
(Slide number 12)
Creativity of Leo Tolstoy is a real pantry for children. Children are small and attentive listeners who learn love, kindness, courage, justice, resourcefulness, honesty.
Children are strict judges in literature. It is necessary that the stories for them be written both clearly, and entertaining, and morally ... Simplicity is a huge and elusive virtue.
L.N. Tolstoy.
(Slide number 13)
Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was a master of inventing different games and amusements for children. Here is some of them. Try to guess guys, interesting riddles.
He walks along the sea, but when he reaches the shore, he disappears. (Wave)
There is a mountain in the yard, and water in the hut. (Snow)
He bows, bows, he will come home - he will stretch. (Axe)
Seventy clothes, all without fasteners. (Cabbage)
Grandpa is building a bridge without an axe. (Freezing)
Two mothers have five sons. (Arms)
Twisted, tied, dancing around the hut. (Broom)
He is wooden, and the head is iron. (A hammer)
Every boy has a closet. (Signet)

(Slide number 14)

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy wrote sayings for children.
Where there is a flower, there is honey.
Unknown friend, not good for services.
Help your friend as much as you can.
The bird is red with the feather, and the man with the mind.
A drop is small, but drop by drop the sea.
Do not take a handful, but take a pinch.
If you want to eat kalachi, don't sit on the stove.
Summer gathers, winter eats.
Know how to take, know how to give.
You can't learn everything right away.
Learning is light, not learning is darkness.
The end is the crown.
Presenter: Well, at the end of our event we invite you to play an outdoor game:
"Golden Gate".

Rules of the game: The two leaders join hands and build a “gate” (raise their closed hands up). The rest of the players join hands and begin to dance, passing under the "gate". The circle dance cannot be broken! You can't stop!
All the chorus players say the words (singing)

"Golden Gate, come in, gentlemen:
Saying goodbye for the first time
The second time is forbidden
And the third time we will not miss you!

When the last phrase sounds, “the gates close” - the leaders lower their hands and catch, lock those participants in the round dance who are inside the “gate”. Those who are caught also become "gates". When the "gates" grow to 4 people, you can separate them and make two gates, or you can leave just a giant "gate". If there are not enough “gentlemen” left in the game, it is advisable to come under the gate moving like a snake. The game usually goes up to the last two players not caught. They become new leaders, form new gates.
(Slide #14 and #15)

Thank you for your attention! See you soon!

Leo Tolstoy is known for his monumental works, but his children's works also deserve attention. The famous classic wrote dozens of excellent fairy tales, epics and stories for children, which will be discussed below.

Tales, fables, there were stories

The famous Russian writer Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy always treated children's literature with special trepidation. The author's long observations of peasant children are reflected in his work. The famous "Azbuka", "New ABC" and "Russian Books for Reading" made a huge contribution to the development of children's education. This edition includes the fairy tales "Three Bears", "Lipunyushka", "Two Brothers", "Filipok", "Jump", stories about the dog Bulka, widely used to this day in preschool and primary school education. Farther

Three Bears

The collection of Leo Tolstoy includes essays written more than half a century ago for pupils of the Yasnaya Polyana school. Today, texts are equally popular among children, thanks to a simple and colorful description of worldly wisdom. The illustrations in the book were provided by the famous artist I. Tsygankov. Suitable for older preschoolers. Farther

The collected works include such works as Lipunyushka, Shark, as well as Lion and Dog, Two Brothers, the famous Bone, Jump, and, of course, Three Bears. The works were written for all young students in the Yasnaya Polyana estate, but they continue to arouse great interest among the young reader to this day. Farther

This publication is a collection of folklore compositions "The Fox and the Crane", "Geese-Swans", "The Gingerbread House", retold by L.N. Eliseeva and A.N. Afanasyeva and the creation of Leo Tolstoy "Three Bears". The works tell about such concepts as kindness, intelligence, justice, and quick wits. Here you will meet well-known fairy tale characters: a cunning fox, an evil gray wolf, Masha, who loved to eat from someone else's cup. The publication is accompanied by pictures by artists Sergei Bordyug and Natalia Trepenok. Farther

A collection of fascinating fairy tales about animals with many vivid images for preschool children: "The Fox and the Mouse" by Vitaly Bianchi, "The Traveling Frog" by Vsevolod Garshin, "The Gray Neck" by Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak, "The Three Bears" by Leo Tolstoy and others. Illustrator - Tatyana Vasilyeva. Farther

All the best for children

A golden collection of works by Leo Tolstoy, which will not leave indifferent both kids and older children. The theme of a carefree childhood will appeal to modern children and their parents. The book calls the younger generation to love, kindness and respect, which, perhaps, permeate all the work of the great writer. Farther

This is a collection of stories, epics and fairy tales included in the curriculum of primary school education. A series of stories about dogs by Lev Nikolaevich - Milton and Bulka will not leave indifferent boys and girls of primary school. Farther

Novels and stories

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy is one of the greatest novelists in the world. He is not only the world's largest writer, but also a philosopher, religious thinker and educator. You will learn more about all this from this.

But where he really succeeded was in keeping a personal diary. This habit inspired him to write his novels and stories, and also allowed him to form most of his life goals and priorities.

An interesting fact is that this nuance of Tolstoy's biography (keeping a diary) was the result of imitation of the great.

Hobbies and military service

Naturally, Leo Tolstoy had. He was extremely fond of music. His favorite composers were Bach, Handel and.

From his biography it clearly follows that sometimes he could play works by Chopin, Mendelssohn and Schumann on the piano for several hours in a row.

It is authentically known that the elder brother of Leo Tolstoy, Nikolai, had a great influence on him. He was a friend and mentor of the future writer.

It was Nicholas who invited his younger brother to join military service in the Caucasus. As a result, Leo Tolstoy became a cadet, and in 1854 he was transferred to, where he participated in the Crimean War until August 1855.

Creativity Tolstoy

During the service, Lev Nikolaevich had quite a lot of free time. During this period, he wrote the autobiographical story "Childhood", in which he masterfully described the memories of the first years of his life.

This work was an important event for compiling his biography.

After that, Leo Tolstoy writes the following story - "The Cossacks", in which he describes his army life in the Caucasus.

Work on this work was carried out until 1862, and was completed only after serving in the army.

An interesting fact is that Tolstoy did not stop his writing activity even while participating in the Crimean War.

During this period, from under his pen comes the story "Boyhood", which is a continuation of "Childhood", as well as "Sevastopol stories".

After the end of the Crimean War, Tolstoy leaves the service. Upon arrival home, he already has great fame in the literary field.

His distinguished contemporaries talk about a major acquisition for Russian literature in the person of Tolstoy.

While still young, Tolstoy was distinguished by arrogance and stubbornness, which is clearly visible in him. He refused to belong to one or another philosophical school, and once publicly called himself an anarchist, after which he decided to leave for in 1857.

He soon developed an interest in gambling. But it didn't last long. When he lost all his savings, he had to return home from Europe.

Leo Tolstoy in his youth

By the way, the passion for gambling is observed in the biographies of many writers.

Despite all the difficulties, he writes the last, third part of his autobiographical trilogy "Youth". It happened in the same 1857.

Since 1862, Tolstoy began to publish the pedagogical journal Yasnaya Polyana, where he himself was the main contributor. However, not having a calling as a publisher, Tolstoy managed to publish only 12 issues.

Family of Leo Tolstoy

On September 23, 1862, a sharp turn takes place in Tolstoy's biography: he marries Sofya Andreevna Bers, who was the daughter of a doctor. From this marriage, 9 sons and 4 daughters were born. Five of the thirteen children died in childhood.

When the wedding took place, Sofya Andreevna was only 18 years old, and Count Tolstoy was 34 years old. An interesting fact is that before his marriage, Tolstoy confessed to his future wife in his premarital affairs.

Leo Tolstoy with his wife Sofia Andreevna

For some time in the biography of Tolstoy, the brightest period begins.

He is truly happy, and largely due to the practicality of his wife, material wealth, outstanding literary creativity and, in connection with it, all-Russian and even worldwide fame.

In the person of his wife, Tolstoy found an assistant in all matters, practical and literary. In the absence of a secretary, it was she who several times copied his drafts cleanly.

However, very soon their happiness is overshadowed by the inevitable petty quarrels, fleeting quarrels and mutual misunderstanding, which only gets worse over the years.

The fact is that Leo Tolstoy proposed a kind of “life plan” for his family, according to which he intended to give part of the family income to the poor and schools.

The way of life of his family (food and clothing), he wanted to greatly simplify, while he intended to sell and distribute "everything superfluous": pianos, furniture, carriages.

Tolstoy with his family at the tea table in the park, 1892, Yasnaya Polyana

Naturally, his wife, Sofya Andreevna, was clearly not satisfied with such an ambiguous plan. On the basis of this, their first serious conflict broke out, which served as the beginning of an "undeclared war" to secure the future of their children.

In 1892, Tolstoy signed a separate act and, not wanting to be the owner, transferred all the property to his wife and children.

It must be said that Tolstoy's biography is in many ways extraordinarily contradictory precisely because of his relationship with his wife, with whom he lived for 48 years.

Tolstoy's works

Tolstoy is one of the most prolific writers. His works are large-scale not only in terms of volume, but also in terms of the meanings that he touches on them.

Tolstoy's most popular works are War and Peace, Anna Karenina and Resurrection.

"War and Peace"

In the 1860s, Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy lived with his entire family in Yasnaya Polyana. It was here that his most famous novel, War and Peace, was born.

Initially, part of the novel was published in the Russian Messenger under the title "1805".

After 3 years, 3 more chapters appear, thanks to which the novel was completely over. He was destined to become the most outstanding creative result in Tolstoy's biography.

Both critics and the public have long discussed the work "War and Peace". The subject of their disputes were the wars described in the book.

Thoughtful but still fictional characters were also sharply discussed.

Tolstoy in 1868

The novel also became interesting because it featured 3 meaningful satirical essays on the laws of history.

Among all other ideas, Leo Tolstoy tried to convey to the reader that the position of a person in society and the meaning of his life are derivatives of his daily activities.

"Anna Karenina"

After Tolstoy wrote War and Peace, he began work on his second, no less famous novel, Anna Karenina.

The writer contributed many autobiographical essays to it. This is easy to see when looking at the relationship between Kitty and Levin, the main characters in Anna Karenina.

The work was published in parts between 1873-1877, and was very highly appreciated by both critics and society. Many have noticed that Anna Karenina is practically Tolstoy's autobiography, written in the third person.

For his next work, Lev Nikolaevich received fabulous fees for those times.

"Sunday"

In the late 1880s, Tolstoy wrote the novel Resurrection. Its plot was based on a genuine court case. It is in the "Resurrection" that the author's sharp views on church rites are clearly indicated.

By the way, this work was one of the reasons that led to a complete break between the Orthodox Church and Count Tolstoy.

Tolstoy and religion

Despite the fact that the works described above were a tremendous success, this did not bring any joy to the writer.

He was in a depressed state and experienced a deep inner emptiness.

In this regard, the next stage in Tolstoy's biography was a continuous, almost convulsive search for the meaning of life.

Initially, Lev Nikolayevich looked for answers to questions in the Orthodox Church, but this did not bring him any results.

Over time, he began to criticize in every possible way both the Orthodox Church itself and the Christian religion in general. He began to publish his thoughts on these acute issues in the media outlet.

His main position was that the Christian teaching is good, but Jesus Christ himself seems to be unnecessary. That is why he decided to make his own translation of the Gospel.

In general, Tolstoy's religious views were extremely complex and confusing. It was some incredible mixture of Christianity and Buddhism, seasoned with various Eastern beliefs.

In 1901, the decision of the Holy Governing Synod on Count Leo Tolstoy was issued.

It was a decree that officially announced that Leo Tolstoy was no longer a member of the Orthodox Church, since his publicly expressed convictions were incompatible with such membership.

The definition of the Holy Synod is sometimes erroneously interpreted as excommunication (anathema) of Tolstoy from the church.

Copyright and conflict with his wife

In connection with his new beliefs, Leo Tolstoy wanted to distribute all his savings and give up his own property in favor of the poor. However, his wife, Sofya Andreevna, expressed a categorical protest in this regard.

In this regard, the main family crisis was outlined in Tolstoy's biography. When Sofya Andreevna found out that her husband had publicly renounced the copyright to all his works (which, in fact, was their main source of income), they began to have violent conflicts.

From Tolstoy's diary:

“She does not understand, and the children do not understand, spending money, that everyone who lives by them and makes money with books is suffering, my shame. Let it be a shame, but what a weakening of the effect that the preaching of the truth could have had.

Of course, it is not difficult to understand the wife of Lev Nikolayevich. After all, they had 9 children, whom he, by and large, left without a livelihood.

Pragmatic, rational and active Sofya Andreevna could not allow this to happen.

Ultimately, Tolstoy made a formal will, transferring the rights to his youngest daughter, Alexandra Lvovna, who fully sympathized with his views.

At the same time, an explanatory note was attached to the will that, in fact, these texts should not become someone's property, and V.G. takes over the authority to monitor the processes. Chertkov is a faithful follower and student of Tolstoy, who was supposed to take all the writings of the writer, right down to drafts.

Later work of Tolstoy

Tolstoy's later works were realistic fiction, as well as stories filled with moral content.

In 1886, one of Tolstoy's most famous stories appeared - "The Death of Ivan Ilyich".

Her main character realizes that he has wasted most of his life, and the realization came too late.

In 1898, Lev Nikolaevich wrote the equally famous work Father Sergius. In it, he criticized his own beliefs that he had after his spiritual rebirth.

The rest of the works are devoted to the theme of art. These include the play The Living Corpse (1890) and the brilliant story Hadji Murad (1904).

In 1903 Tolstoy wrote a short story called "After the Ball." It was published only in 1911, after the death of the writer.

last years of life

The last years of his biography, Leo Tolstoy was better known as a religious leader and moral authority. His thoughts were directed towards resisting evil in a non-violent way.

Even during his lifetime, Tolstoy became an idol for the majority. However, despite all his achievements, there were serious flaws in his family life, which were especially aggravated in old age.

Leo Tolstoy with grandchildren

The writer's wife, Sofya Andreevna, did not agree with her husband's views and felt hostility towards some of his followers, who often came to Yasnaya Polyana.

She said: "How can you love humanity, and hate those who are next to you."

All this could not last long.

In the autumn of 1910, Tolstoy, accompanied only by his doctor D.P. Makovitsky leaves Yasnaya Polyana forever. However, he did not have any specific plan of action.

Death of Tolstoy

However, on the way, Leo Tolstoy felt unwell. First, he caught a cold, and then the disease turned into pneumonia, in connection with which he had to interrupt the trip and take the sick Lev Nikolayevich out of the train at the first large station near the village.

This station was Astapovo (now Leo Tolstoy, Lipetsk region).

The rumor about the writer's illness instantly spread throughout the neighborhood and far beyond. Six doctors tried in vain to save the great old man: the disease progressed inexorably.

On November 7, 1910, Leo Tolstoy died at the age of 83. He was buried in Yasnaya Polyana.

“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."

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