[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/lit/ - Literature

View post   
File: 98 KB, 353x500, L.N.Tolstoy_Prokudin-Gorsky.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
4285311 No.4285311[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

I want to read Tolstoy but I was wondering where I should start and if I should read anything before tackling him on?

Also, Tolstoy general

>> No.4285662

Christian brainwashed sheep

>> No.4285678

french revolution

>> No.4285682

I went Anna Karenina, a bunch of short stories, then War & Peace. He's not a difficult read at all. Just jump in with whatever book sounds the most interesting to you.

>> No.4285698

>>4285662
>Christian brainwashed sheep

he didn't even believe jesus did miracles or had superpowers

his style of christianity is tolerable, but he was too pacificist

>> No.4286541
File: 536 KB, 1062x1402, Count_Tolstoy%20_with_hat[1].jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
4286541

>>4285698
>too pacificist
please explain

>> No.4286591

>>4286541
>please explain

Explain what? He interpreted Christs message as one of strict pacifism and believed that we should emulate his example on earth.

He thought pacifism was the essence of Christianity and that violence, judging others, war, self-defense using violence were incompatible with his faith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_pacifism

>> No.4286608

>>4286591

right on man. that's pretty much the only way to interpret the gospels

>> No.4286609

>>4285311
Start with Dostoevsky.

>> No.4286846

>>4285311
Family Happiness. It ultimately changed my outlook on life and how to view my friends, family, and loved ones. It's one of his greatest pieces that isn't given enough credit.

>> No.4286910

>>4285698
>he didn't even believe jesus did miracles or had superpowers

Where does he say this? I'm interested to hear more from him about that

>> No.4286930

>>4285311
Anna Karenina.

>> No.4286935
File: 297 KB, 650x618, tolstoj.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
4286935

>>4286609
Tolstoj writes about normal healthy characters.

>> No.4286962

>>4286910
>Where does he say this? I'm interested to hear more from him about that

You can youtube his audio books on Christianity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZmkXVPtetI

Another one is called The Kingdom of God is in You.

He got excommunicated from the Russian church because his theology was a bit too extreme for them (i.e honest).

>> No.4286979

>>4286608
actually it's not you fucking idiot

>> No.4286986

>>4286979
Oh HERE we go.

>> No.4287058

Read Confession before you read any other Tolstoy work. That's the only piece of advice I can give to someone wanting to get into Tolstoy. The best piece of literature constructed.

>> No.4287062

>>4286591
It led to Gandhi being inspired to lead India to independence with nonviolence. I don't see the problem.

>> No.4287064

>>4287062
what's your point?

>> No.4287070

>>4285662
It's a cultural thing. I think he even mentions in War and Peace that Russians are religious to a degree well above the rest of Europe. No shit are they all so besotted with God.

>> No.4287104

>>4286986
>my way of interpreting the gospels is the only way

Anyway OP, I'd suggest you start with Hadji Murad, it's pretty much what's good about Tolstoy in a nutshell. And after that, if you are up to it, you can go tackle War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which are anyway pretty obligatory reading if you wish to enter the world of literature.

>> No.4287106

>>4285311
Just read one of the two major novels. He isn't actually a particularly difficult read other than length. Don't get intimidated and keep track of the various names that every character has (there should be something for this in the front of the P&V translations) and you'll be fine.

>> No.4287135

>>4287106
P&V translations are best for Russian literature. I would start with Anna Karinina then War and Peace. After that try Doestevsky's Demons, Karmazov Brothers, and Crime and Punishment.

>> No.4287144

>>4286962
Yeah I read the kingdom of god is within you, but he never expressed what you said in that.

>> No.4287164

Don't miss his essay; "What is Art?"