Amazon.com: Last Steps: The Late Writings of Leo Tolstoy (Penguin Classics) (9780141191195): Tolstoy, Leo, Parini, Jay, Parini, Jay, Parini, Jay: Books
Last Steps: The Late Writings of Leo Tolstoy (Penguin Classics)
byLeo Tolstoy
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C. M Mills
TOP 500 REVIEWER
5.0 out of 5 stars Last Steps is a collection of essays, letters, diary entries and short tales by the world's greatest novelist Count Leo Tolstoy
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2010
Last Steps is an excellent collection of short works by Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) compiled by Dr. Jay Parini and other editors. Parini has an excellent introduction to Tolstoy. Parnini has written a fine novel "The Last Station" dealing with the final days of the Russian master; the novel has been turned into a fine film starring Vanessa Redgrave as Mrs. Tolstoy and Christopher Plummer as Tolstoy.
In these final flashes of genius from Tolstoy's pen we see his views on a variety of topics. Tolstoy was excommunicated from the Russian Orthodox Church since he hated church ritual, tradition and superstition. His letter to the Church following his excommunication and advice to the clergy is contained within these pages. Tolstoy believed in Christ as a great teacher who taught humanity to live together in peace and brotherhood. Tolstoy's letter to Gandhi regarding the importance of nonresistance is included in the volume. Tolstoy also was against war and government. While an aristocrat he, nevertheless, championed the cause of the Russian peasant and felt land should be redstributed to them. He was against the use of tobacco and the eating of meat. His description of a visit to a slaughterhouse is vivid and one grieves for the plight of the poor beasts suffering under knout and knife.
Tolstoy advocated chastity and kindness to one's fellows.
The longest piece in this book is his analysis of Shakespeare focusing on the play "King Lear." Tolsoty thought Shakespeare was wrong to turn the attention of the audience from topics of morality to secular themes. His opinion while influential is very controversial. His letters to George Bernard Shaw are of interest. He thought Shaw was too facile and entertaining a playwright; drama should be devoted to exploring topics of serious interest to the human soul.
Tolstoy's short story about the life of a simple peasant is included in the book as well as letters he wrote to several of his family members.
Tolstoy had 13 children; he admonished his sons to avoid wine, women and song. Letters to them are included. Tolstoy and his wife of 50 years did not get along and he fled his estate dying in a railroad station on November 7, 1910.
Pages from the diary he kept in old age reveal him as growing distant from his wife as he disliked her materialism and quarrelsome behavior. He sought refuge in matters of the spirit. His family was often a source of misery to Tolstoy. In his own youth he had been wild frequenting brothels, drinking to excess and carousing far into the night. He forsook this life in his final years becoming a spiritual mentor to followers.
Count Leo Tolstoy is a giant in world literature and his radical Christian vision calling for peace, brotherhood and love are worth listening to and thinking about. He was not only a great author of such classics as "War and Peace"; "Anna Karenina"; "Resurrection" but a great and good Christian soul!
A short but excellent collection well worth your money and time! Spend time with one of the giants and learn his lessons of faith, hope and love!
22 people found this helpful
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The Grammar Gremlin
5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Book for Tolstoy Devotees!
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2012
I couldn't put this book down and was struck by the sad despondent themes of Tolstoy's writings during his last days on earth. The man was an extraordinary genius and has spiritual and intellectual insights that were way ahead of his time. I can't recommend this volume enough for fans of Tolstoy.
Spirituality, Mind-Body, Gender, Ecology, Ageing, Peace, Scrapbook (in English and Korean)
