Leo Tolstoy Puns

I mean, seriously. That book (short story? novella?) was GREAT! A story of man confronted with his death, his life, his regrets, and the culture around death that he lives in, the Death of Ivan Ilyich is genius. I’m more than happy to discuss it with anyone who wants to in the replies or DMs. This story has shaken me and made me so uncomfortable in an incredible way. However, however great the shaken-ness is, I am still shaken which is… fun? This was my first work of Tolstoy and you can bet not my last.

I just thought this was funny

Apparently he didn’t allow his wife to even visit him on his deathbed for fear he would die faster

I'm assuming Leo Tolstoy had access to a Russian translation of the Talmud. He quotes a line from it in his book, "A Calendar of Wisdom," which gives quotes from various philosophical and religious traditions.

Another author translated A Calendar of Wisdom into English, so I guess this is a twice-translated paragraph, which probably explains why it bears little resemblance to the original.

Here's the quote:

>"People who try to force circumstances become their slaves. Those who use them become their masters."

Can anyone tell me what chapter/verse this quote is from?

This would make pumpkin farms more efficient

Listen to the audio version of this review on the Audiobook Reviews in Five Minutes podcast: https://podcast.jannastam.com/episode/classic-literature-as-audiobook-anna-karenina-by-leo-tolstoy-read-by-maggie-gyllenhaal

Audible recently made this recording free to all members as part of its Audible Plus catalogue, so I decided it was time to take the plunge, given the high ratings and praise for Gyllenhaal’s performance. Although I’ve seen just two of the nearly 20 film and television adaptations of this novel, I hadn’t read the book from cover to cover. And while I enjoy period costume more than the average person, after listening to this audiobook, I don’t believe it’s possible for any film version to match the emotional subtlety and psychological elements of this book. After all, Tolstoy challenges us with the question, “Is it really possible to tell someone else what one feels?” There’s so much going on inside these characters. Their inner lives dominate the storytelling, especially when it comes to the character of Konstantin Levin, who is widely understood to be a representation of Tolstoy himself.

I think this limitation is why filmed versions of this story focus largely on Tolstoy’s heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky. Yet, as the audible description says, this novel is considered a masterpiece not only because of the unforgettable woman at its core and the stark drama of her fate, but also because it explores and illuminates the deepest questions about how to live a fulfilled life.

What strikes me most is Tolstoy’s uncanny skill at conveying feelings of ambivalence in the thoughts and actions of his characters. Even the initial feelings of attraction between Anna and Count Vronsky are interspersed with hesitancy and denial.

Maybe you’ve also seen a film adaptation of Anne Karenina, and you’re daunted by the sheer length of this book. At 35 hours and 35 minutes, this is one of the longest audiobooks you’ll ever listen to, but Maggie Gyllenhaal’s narration held my attention for hours at a time. She captures subtle nuances that draw out an enormous range of emotions in Tolstoy’s famous characters, especially through her performance of character dialogue. She’s added slight variations to tone and cadence that make these conversations sound surprisingly relatable and contemporary. One of my favourite highlights is Levin attempting to indulge in Stiva Oblonsky’s preferences for exotic French

Along with his other short fiction, this novella was written by Tolstoy partially as a reaction to his long novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina. It deals with much of Tolstoy’s usual preoccupations, including class, and most notably how to live a good life.

It focuses on the life (and death) of Ivan Ilyich, a successful legal official. The story begins with Ivan already dead and the reactions of the people closest to him. After seeing the superficial mourning process his loved ones go through and the lack of emotional impact his death has on them, we’re then taken linearly through Ivan’s life.

Questions in the comments, I may add more as the day goes on and I find some free time. Feel free to make your own comment and address what you’d like about the book.