Books by Leo Tolstoy

Book Synopsis''It is only a bruise''A carefree Russian official has what seems to be a trivial accident...One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics'' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.Trade Review “The English-speaking world is indebted to these two translators.” —Orlando Figes, The New York Review of Books “Excellent. . . . The duo has managed to convey the rather simple elegance of Tolstoy’s prose.” —The New Criterion “Pevear and Volokhonsky’s new version is . . . flexible individuated, immediate.” —The Nation“Well translated. As a lover of Tolstoy’s work, one couldn’t ask for more, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.” —André Alexis, The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

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Book SynopsisTranslated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. Introduction and Notes by E.B. Greenwood, University of Kent. Anna Karenina is one of the most loved and memorable heroines of literature. Her overwhelming charm dominates a novel of unparalleled richness and density. Tolstoy considered this book to be his first real attempt at a novel form, and it addresses the very nature of society at all levels,- of destiny, death, human relationships and the irreconcilable contradictions of existence. It ends tragically, and there is much that evokes despair, yet set beside this is an abounding joy in life's many ephemeral pleasures, and a profusion of comic relief.

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Book SynopsisWar and Peace is a vast epic centred on Napoleon's war with Russia. While it expresses Tolstoy's view that history is an inexorable process which man cannot influence, he peoples his great novel with a cast of over five hundred characters. Three of these, the artless and delightful Natasha Rostov, the world-weary Prince Andrew Bolkonsky and the idealistic Pierre Bezukhov illustrate Tolstoy's philosophy in this novel of unquestioned mastery. This translation is one which received Tolstoy's approval.

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Book SynopsisOffers a pair of short stories about greed, charity, life and death from one of Russia's most influential writers and thinkers.

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Book SynopsisTolstoy's epic masterpiece intertwines the lives of private and public individuals during the time of the Napoleonic wars and the French invasion of Russia. In this revised and updated version of the definitive and highly acclaimed Maude translation, Tolstoy's genius and the power of his prose are made newly available to the contemporary reader.

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Book SynopsisAn adapted and illustrated edition of the Russian classic, at an easy-to-read level for all ages! Anna Karenina appears to have the perfect life. Young and beautiful, she lives in a fashionable house in Moscow with her respected husband and their young son. But Anna is deeply unhappy. Her older husband bores her, and she misses the lively city she grew up in. Then Count Vronsky, a dashing young officer, invites her to dance at a ball. Will Anna protect the comfortable life she has, or risk it all for forbidden love? About The Easy Classics Epic Collection: From the dazzling ballrooms of St. Petersburg to the blazing war-torn streets of Moscow, children can now experience the famous, epic Russian stories. Suitably adapted and illustrated for children aged 7+.Trade ReviewI loved this adaptation and illustration. Maybe it was set for small kids, but I really enjoyed it as an adult. I have always wanted to read Anna Karenina but was so afraid to commit to it due to its length. I am so happy I read this adaptation. -- Prasanthi., PathiyilprasanthiEasy and fast to read, and I really applaud the attempt at getting Russian literature, and classics in general, into children's hands. -- Cassie., @TheBookSandwichA super easy to read and illustrated adaption of the Russian Classic Anna Karenina! This was a short and sweet version that captured some of the main events and points of the original story. It’s a great read for anyone looking for a simplified version and even has gorgeous artwork in it! -- Ashley D., ReviewerThis was a lovely adaptation of Anna Karenina. The illustrations are beautifully done. I thought the story is accessible to any reader, young and old. A great intro into Anna Karenina was very informative and left out the right bits for a young reader. -- Sadie C., BooksellerAdapted Anna Karenina as an easy-to-read, children's book. It has some illustrations in it that are pretty! It is super easy to read and a quick one to read as well. Loved being able to read a classic in a shorter book (only 120) pages. -- Delilah J., ReviewerThe classic tale of Anna Karenina is adapted for younger audiences by Gemma Barder captures all the drama and emotions of Tolstoy's original masterpiece. This adaptation is a condensed version made for middle-grade readers with attractive cartoon-like illustrations. You are transported back in time to Russia and all of its social etiquette and gossip. I enjoy this version of the book better than the original because it isn't as lengthy as the characters can be very numerous and complex. I had been very curious as to how they would portray the ending, since it was adapted for a younger audience and was pleasantly surprised at how tastefully they did it, maintaining all the emotion and tear-jerks of the original. I highly recommend this book for not just younger readers, but people who enjoy the classics that might not want to read such a lengthy novel. -- Bridget B., ReviewerThis part of a really super series for younger readers; it covers several of the great Russian classics and brings them alive to a very young audience. Even as an adult I appreciated the broad story framework that will enable me to try the full version again... The illustrations bring the story to life and provide a setting for the action, helping make the story accessible to less able readers. -- Margaret P., LibrarianThe children adaptation of the classic "Anna Karenina" was very well made: easy to understand, and with absolutely gorgeous illustrations!...There were quite a few characters but it was still fine to keep track of them, especially since they are explained in the first few pages. Overall, a good book that I enjoyed reading! -- Camille L., ReviewerAnna Karenina is part of the publishers new ‘The Russian Classics Collection for Children’. As such it has been suitably adapted for readers aged 7 and older. I found the illustrations by Helen Panayi adorable. I had been a little concerned about how Anna’s end would be covered given the intended age of its readers. Still, as with other adaptations for children, it was approached sensitively in terms of the cause of her death. I am in complete favour of introducing young readers to the Russian classics, which can appear formidable even to adults. I certainly feel that this book (and series) will be of interest to parents, educators, and librarians as well as to older readers, who might wish an easy introduction to this classic novel. -- Vivienne O., Reviewer

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Book Synopsis''One of the greatest love stories in world literature'' Vladimir NabokovThe heroine of Tolstoy''s epic of love and self-destruction, Anna Karenina has beauty, wealth, popularity and an adored son, but feels that her life is empty until she encounters the impetuous officer Count Vronsky. Their subsequent affair scandalizes society and family alike, and brings jealousy and bitterness in its wake. Contrasting with this is the vividly observed story of Levin, a man striving to find contentment and a meaning to his life - and also a self-portrait of Tolstoy himself. This award-winning translation has been acclaimed as the definitive English version of Tolstoy''s masterpiece.Translated by RICHARD PEVEAR and LARISSA VOLOKHONSKY with a Preface by JOHN BAYLEY

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Book SynopsisOver the last fifteen years of his life, Tolstoy collected and published the maxims of some of the world’s greatest masters of philosophy, religion and literature, adding his own contributions to various questions that preoccupied him in old age, such as faith and existence, as well as matters of everyday life. Banned in Russia under Communism, A Calendar of Wisdom was Tolstoy’s last major work, and one of his most popular both during and after his lifetime. This new translation by Roger Cockrell will offer today’s generation of readers the chance to discover, day by day, these edifying and carefully selected pearls of wisdom.Trade ReviewSomeone who can see so much and so fully does not need to invent anything; someone who observes so poetically does not need to compose anything. For Tolstoy beauty and truth are one and the same thing. -- Stefan Zweig

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Book SynopsisOne of the greatest novels ever written, Anna Karenina is the story of a beautiful woman whose passionate love for a handsome officer sweeps aside all other ties. This major translation conveys Tolstoy's precision of meaning and emotional accuracy in an English version that is highly readable and stylistically faithful.Trade ReviewRosamund Bartlett's version draws on her acclaimed work as a prolific writer, translator and scholar of modern Russian literature and culture. * Carol Apollonio, The Times Literary Supplement *[It is] much the best English translation which has ever appeared ... Bartlett also offers a superb introduction - best thing ever written about the novel - and helpful notes. It is also a very beautifully produced book. * A. N. Wilson, TLS *Any excuse to reread Anna Karenina, and I enjoyed Rosamund Bartlett's new translation, published in a handsome hardcover edition by Oxford University Press. * Sara Wheeler, Book of the Year 2014, Observer *Rosamund Bartlett's translation is much the best English translation which has ever appeared. Bartlett also offers a superb introduction - best thing ever written about the novel - and helpful notes. It is also a very beautifully produced book. * A. N. Wilson, Books of the Year, Times Literary Supplement *A classically elegant translation... Rosamund Bartlett's introduction, a tour d'horizon of Tolstoy's life and work, is also excellent. * Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal *Groundbreaking * Oxford Today *Rosamund Bartlett's achievement is magnificent. In particular, her translations of the descriptive passages are miniature masterpieces. The translation is fresh and immediate, but with all the elegance and power of the original. * Amy Mandelker, CUNY *Rosamund Bartlett's riveting new translation of Anna Karenina brings the reader into Tolstoy's many-faceted worlds with an immediacy, majesty and clarity that no other translator of this great novel has ever achieved. At the same time she represents "the idiosyncrasy of Tolstoy's inimitable style" through idiomatic, natural English. Whether it is Levin's series of epiphanies, the intimate workings of Anna's mind and heart, or the ever-present, sustaining worlds of families and of nature-the sky, the meadows, the bees or other creatures of the animal kingdom-each of Tolstoy's interlocking realms is powerfully yet exquisitely rendered by one of the finest translators of our time. Bartlett's Anna Karenina, with its brilliant introductory essay, explanatory notes and bibliography, will be the go-to English version of Tolstoy's-indeed the world's-precious masterpiece. * Robin Feuer Miller, Brandeis University *In this crisp new translation, Bartlett brings a refreshing tone to some of the novels traditional, didactic black spots, as well as to its classic moments the horse race, the railway station. Bartlett is a scholar with an in-depth knowledge of the man she is translating and this shines through in her instinctive ear for Tolstoys authorial voice and rhythm. * Helen Rappaport, Shiny New Books *This is a fine new translation, of which the scholarship demonstrates Bartlett's considerable knowledge of the author. It is a welcome contribution to the ongoing life of this enigmatic, divided, passionate work. * Catherine Brown, Independent *I am swept up in prose that is so beautiful it has moved me more than once to tears... And I am weighing in to say that I love Bartlett's language. It resonates with my concept of Tolstoy, and my concept of this magnificent novel. I recommend this book... I don't think a new reader of "Anna" could go wrong with Bartlett. * Anne Rice *

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Book Synopsis90 classic titles celebrating 90 years of Penguin BooksI'm not the sort of husband you dream of when you're walking alone along the avenue in the evening, am I? And it would be a disaster, wouldn't it?'How does love die? This question lies at the heart of Tolstoy's desperately sad novella. It tells the story of seventeen-year-old Masha who, despite their differences, falls passionately in love with an older man, and marries him. Soon, however, the gap between them becomes unbridgeable.

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Book Synopsis'If you've never read it, now is the moment. This translation will show that you don't read War and Peace, you live it' The TimesTolstoy's enthralling epic depicts Russia's war with Napoleon and its effects on the lives of those caught up in the conflict. He creates some of the most vital and involving characters in literature as he follows the rise and fall of families in St Petersburg and Moscow who are linked by their personal and political relationships. His heroes are the thoughtful yet impulsive Pierre Bezukhov, his ambitious friend, Prince Andrei, and the woman who becomes indispensable to both of them, the enchanting Natasha Rostov.'It is simply the greatest novel ever written. All human life is in it. If I were told there was time to read only a single book, this would be it' Andrew MarrVINTAGE CLASSICS RUSSIAN SERIES - sumptuous editions of the greatest books to come out of Russia during the most tumultuous period in its history.Trade ReviewIf you've never read it, now is the moment. This translation will show that you don't read War and Peace, you live it * The Times *This is, at last, a translation of War and Peace without the dreadful misunderstandings and "improvements" that plague all other translations of the novel into English. Pevear and Volokhonsky's supple and compelling translation is the closest that an English reader without Russian can get to Tolstoy's masterwork. This is a great achievement. It is hard to imagine how this translation could be superseded." -- Vladimir E. Alexandrov, Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures,It is simply the greatest novel ever written. All human life is in it. If I were told there was time to read only a single book, this would be it -- Andrew MarrReveals Tolstoy in his majestic scope and precision to this reader for the first time, unencumbered by the pidgin archaisms of previous translations, ringing with mastery and truth * Times Literary Supplement, Books of the Year *It may sound pretentious, or strange, but I can remember the weeks (three weeks, to be precise) I spent reading War and Peace as a peak experience of sustained excitement and deep delight. Part of the delight was the largeness and strangeness of this world - the sense of the vastness and extremes of Russia, the unboundedness of everything * Finacial Times *

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Book SynopsisTolstoy's masterpiece tells the story of a woman who seems to have everything until her affair with the impetuous officer Count Vronsky scandalises society.

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Book SynopsisWith an Introduction and Notes by Dr T.C.B.Cook. Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) is best known for War and Peace and Anna Karenina, commonly regarded as amongst the greatest novels ever written. He also, however, wrote many masterly short stories, and this volume contains four of the longest and best in distinguished translations that have stood the test of time. In the early story Family Happiness, Tolstoy explores courtship and marriage from the point of view of a young wife. In The Kreutzer Sonata he gives us a terrifying study of marital breakdown, in The Devil a powerful depiction of the power of sexual temptation, and, in perhaps the finest of all, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, he portrays the long agony of a man gradually coming to terms with his own mortality. This volume also includes an Introduction and Notes written specially for this Wordsworth edition by Dr Tim Cook, formely lecturer in literature at the Universities of Kingston and Ulster. Previous work contributed by Dr Cook for Wordsworth includes an introduction and notes to Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby.

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Book Synopsis'One of the greatest love stories in world literature' Vladimir NabokovAnna is a beautiful, intelligent woman whose passionate affair with the dashing Count Vronsky leads her to ruin. But her story is also about a search for meaning, and by twinning it with that of Levin, an awkward idealist whose happy marriage and domestic trials form the backdrop for a similar quest, Tolstoy creates a rich and complex masterpiece that has captured the imagination of readers for decades.'I've read and re-read this novel and every time I find another layer in the story' Philippa GregoryTRANSLATED BY LOUISE AND AYLMER MAUDEVINTAGE CLASSICS RUSSIAN SERIES - sumptuous editions of the greatest books to come out of Russia during the most tumultuous period in its history.Trade ReviewOne of the greatest love stories in world literature -- Vladimir NabokovTolstoy's historical and human sweep is breathtaking. His vision, humanity and his knowledge that love and pain are at the heart of life is the most important of all the profound truths revealed in this great novel -- Jonathan DimblebyIn Anna Karenina, Tolstoy got totally inside the mind of a woman who is prepared to lose everything for the sake of man and who is so much in love that she commits suicide. I don't like her as a woman, but I think it is a brilliant portrait, unequalled in literature -- Amanda Craig * Independent *I've read and re-read this novel and every time I find another layer in the story -- Philippa GregoryI first read Anna Karenina 20 years ago when travelling across the Peruvian desert on a long bus journey, and it has stayed with me ever since -- Hugh Thomson * Independent *

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Book SynopsisTolstoy''s epic novel of love, destiny and self-destruction, in a gorgeous new clothbound edition from Penguin Classics. Anna Karenina seems to have everything - beauty, wealth, popularity and an adored son. But she feels that her life is empty until the moment she encounters the impetuous officer Count Vronsky. Their subsequent affair scandalizes society and family alike and soon brings jealously and bitterness in its wake. Contrasting with this tale of love and self-destruction is the vividly observed story of Levin, a man striving to find contentment and a meaning to his life - and also a self-portrait of Tolstoy himself. This acclaimed modern translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky won the PEN/ Book of the Month Club Translation Prize in 2001. Their translation is accompanied in this edition by an introduction by Richard Pevear and a preface by John Bayley ''The new and brilliantly witty translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is a must'' - Lisa Appignanesi, Independent, Books of the Year ''Pevear and Volokhonsky are at once scrupulous translators and vivid stylists of English, and their superb rendering allows us, as perhaps never before, to grasp the palpability of Tolstoy''s characters, acts, situations'' - James Wood, New YorkerTrade ReviewThe new and brilliantly witty translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky is a must -- Lisa Appignanesi * Independent, Books of the Year *Pevear and Volokhonsky are at once scrupulous translators and vivid stylists of English, and their superb rendering allows us, as perhaps never before, to grasp the palpability of Tolstoy's "characters, acts, situations" -- James Wood * New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisHadji Murat, one of the most feared and venerated mountain chiefs in the Caucasian struggle against the Russians, defects from the Muslim rebels after feuding with his ruling imam, Shamil. Hoping to protect his family, he joins the Russians, who accept him but never put their trust in him – and so Murat must find another way to end the struggle. Tolstoy knew as he was writing this, his last work of fiction, that it would not be published in his lifetime, and so gave an uncompromising portrayal of the Russians’ faults and the nature of the rebels’ struggle. In the process, he shows a mastery of style and an understanding of Chechnya that still carries great resonance today.Trade ReviewMy personal touchstone for the sublime of prose fiction, to me the best story in the world. -- Harold BloomAs I read Hadji Murat again, I thought: this is the man one should learn from. Here the electric charge went from the earth, through the hands, straight to the paper, with no insulation, quite mercilessly stripping off any and all outer shrouds with a sense of truth – a truth, furthermore, which was clothed in garments both transparent and beautiful. -- Isaac Babel

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Book SynopsisCalled to serve on the jury of a murder trial, Prince Dmitri Nekhlyudov is devastated to recognise the defendant, Katyusha, as a young woman he had drunkenly assaulted and then abandoned years before. Pregnant with his child, she was cast out of her home and had turned to prostitution to survive, only to be charged with poisoning a client who beat her. Struck by the tragic consequences of his selfish actions, Dmitri decides to give up his life of wealth and privilege to devote himself to rescuing Katyusha, even if it means following her into exile in Siberia. With its colourful cast of characters that range from peasants to aristocrats, and from bureaucrats to convicts, Tolstoy's novel, first published in 1899, creates a vivid panorama of Russian life.

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Book SynopsisA beautiful Penguin Classics clothbound edition of Tolstoy''s magnificent epic novel of love, conflict, fate and human life in all its imperfection and grandeur At a glittering society party in St Petersburg in 1805, conversations are dominated by the prospect of war. Terror swiftly engulfs the country as Napoleon''s army marches on Russia, and the lives of three young people are changed forever. The stories of quixotic Pierre, cynical Andrey and impetuous Natasha interweave with a huge cast, from aristocrats and peasants to soldiers and Napoleon himself. In War and Peace, Tolstoy entwines grand themes - conflict and love, birth and death, free will and faith - with unforgettable scenes of nineteenth-century Russia, to create a magnificent epic of human life in all its imperfection and grandeur.Translated with an introduction and notes by Anthony Briggs, and with an afterword by Orlando Figes Anthony Briggs''s superb translation combines stirring, accessible prose with fidelity to Tolstoy''s original, while Orlando Figes''s afterword discusses the novel''s vast scope and depiction of Russian identity. This edition also contains appendices, notes, a list of prominent characters and maps.''A masterpiece ... This new translation is excellent'' - Anthony BeevorTrade ReviewA masterpiece ... this new translation is excellent -- Antony BeevorWar and Peace is like no other novel ... Tolstoy writes of both war and peace more marvellously than anyone else has done -- John Bayley * The Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis''If you''ve never read it, now is the moment. This translation will show that you don''t read War and Peace, you live it'' The TimesTolstoy''s enthralling epic depicts Russia''s war with Napoleon and its effects on the lives of those caught up in the conflict. He creates some of the most vital and involving characters in literature as he follows the rise and fall of families in St Petersburg and Moscow who are linked by their personal and political relationships. His heroes are the thoughtful yet impulsive Pierre Bezukhov, his ambitious friend, Prince Andrei, and the woman who becomes indispensable to both of them, the enchanting Natasha Rostov.It is simply the greatest novel ever written. All human life is in it. If I were told there was time to read only a single book, this would be it' Andrew MarrTRANSLATED BY RICHARD PEVEAR AND LARISSA VOLOKHONSKY

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Book SynopsisAn adapted and illustrated edition of the Russian classic, at an easy-to-read level for all ages! Pierre is nothing like his confident, handsome friend Andrei. He is awkward and shy – and when his father dies and leaves Pierre a vast fortune, suddenly very popular. As war rages on the edges of Moscow and the charming young Natasha catches the eye of both friends, Pierre must decide what he wants and who he is. Can Pierre finally find happiness, and will Natasha decide where her heart truly lies? About The Easy Classics Epic Collection: From the dazzling ballrooms of St. Petersburg to the blazing war-torn streets of Moscow, children can now experience the famous, epic Russian stories. Suitably adapted and illustrated for children aged 7+.Trade ReviewThis adaption made the story accessible and easy to follow as an adult and it was clear that complex concepts were covered in simple and clear language. -- Laun R, PodcasterWritten in a simple manner, this adaptation of the book would be easy to read on a lexical level, and could be offered to Key Stage 2 children to extend their literary range. It is a great way into encouraging children to read more classic texts but at their level. -- Rebecca Lennon, TeacherI’m very impressed because I never thought of War & Peace being accessible for children- it’s done very well with lovely illustrations without being patronising. -- Rebecca Wright, TeacherI feel like classics can be quite scary, but everyone should have the opportunity to read classic literature like War and Peace without feeling overwhelmed and daunted and I'm so glad this is becoming possible. -- Kira Critchlow, BloggerThis book was really good. The illustrations were insanely pretty and it was so easy to understand giving it is a classic. The use of language was so simple. -- Asena A, Book Reviewer

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Book SynopsisDescribing Tolstoy''s crisis of depression and estrangement from the world, A Confession is an autobiographical work of exceptional emotional honesty. It describes his search for ''a practical religion not promising future bliss but giving bliss on earth''. Although the Confession led to his excommunication, it also resulted in a large following of Tolstoyan Christians springing up throughout Russia and Europe. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

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Book SynopsisSet against the backdrop of Russian high society, this novel charts the course of the doomed love affair between Anna, a beautiful married woman, and Count Vronsky, a wealthy army officer who pursues Anna after becoming infatuated with her at a ball.Trade ReviewOne of the greatest love stories in world literature -- Vladimir NabokovTolstoy's historical and human sweep is breathtaking. His vision, humanity and his knowledge that love and pain are at the heart of life is the most important of all the profound truths revealed in this great novel -- Jonathan DimblebyIn Anna Karenina, Tolstoy got totally inside the mind of a woman who is prepared to lose everything for the sake of man and who is so much in love that she commits suicide. I don't like her as a woman, but I think it is a brilliant portrait, unequalled in literature -- Amanda Craig * Independent *I've read and re-read this novel and every time I find another layer in the story -- Philippa GregoryI first read Anna Karenina 20 years ago when travelling across the Peruvian desert on a long bus journey, and it has stayed with me ever since -- Hugh Thomson * Independent *

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Book SynopsisMany believe Anna Karenina to be the greatest novel ever written. The impossible and destructive triangle of Anna, her husband Karenin, and her lover Vronsky, is set against the marriage of Levin and Kitty, illuminating the most important questions which beset humanity. This edition uses Louise and Aylmer Maude's classic translation - still unsurpassed - and is printed here with a new introduction and detailed annotation.

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Book SynopsisThis powerful novel, Tolstoy’s third major masterpiece, after War and Peace and Anna Karenina, begins with a courtroom drama (the finest in Russian literature) all the more stunning for being based on a real-life event. Dmitri Nekhlyudov, called to jury service, is astonished to see in the dock, charged with murder, a young woman whom he once seduced, propelling her into prostitution. She is found guilty on a technicality, and he determines to overturn the verdict. This pitches him into a hellish labyrinth of Russian courts, prisons and bureaucracy, in which the author loses no opportunity for satire and bitter criticism of a state system (not confined to that country) of cruelty and injustice. This is Dickens for grown-ups, involving a hundred characters, Crime and Punishment brought forward half a century. With unforgettable set-pieces of sexual passion, conflict and social injustice, Resurrection proceeds from brothel to court-room, stinking cells to offices of state, luxury apartments to filthy life in Siberia. The ultimate crisis of moral responsibility embroils not only the famous author and his hero, but also you and me. Can we help resolve the eternal issues of law and imprisonment?

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Book SynopsisLittle Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world''s greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Dmitry Andreich Olenin, in the hope of escaping the hollowness of his privilege, joins the army and heads to the Caucasus. There among the foothills he will meet the Cossacks: a people he considers to be at one with the land. In their company he will hunt, he will drink, he will fall in love and, slowly, he will begin to understand that between people, between cultures, there is often a space that cannot be traversed...''It is the richness of Tolstoy''s genius that strikes us most in this story'' Virginia Woolf

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Book SynopsisTrapped in a stifling marriage, Anna Karenina is swept off her feet by dashing Count Vronsky. Rejected by society, the two lovers flee to Italy, where Anna finds herself isolated from all except the man she loves, and who loves her. But can they live by love alone? In this novel of astonishing scope and grandeur, Leo Tolstoy, the great master of Russian literature, charts the course of the human heart.A masterpiece of realism and illuminated by irresistible characters, Anna Karenina is among the best-loved of all novels, penetrating to the heart of the ruling class in Tsarist Russia. This beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition of Anna Karenina is translated by Aylmer & Louise Maude, and features an afterword by Ned Halley.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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Book SynopsisHere are some of Tolstoy's extraordinary short stories, from The Death of Ivan Ilyich. in a masterly new translation, to The Raid, The Wood-felling, Three Deaths, Polikushka, After the Ball, and The Forged Coupon, all gripping and eloquent lessons on two of Tolstoy's most persistent themes: life and death. More experimental than his novels, Tolstoy's stories are essential reading for anyone interested in his development as one of the major writers and thinkers of his time.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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Book SynopsisTolstoy's epic novel focuses on the chaos of battle, the horror of death and bloodshed, and the expression of the noble virtues of love and valour.

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Book Synopsis''As good as anything Tolstoy ever wrote... Self-assured, vital, unforgettable'' Guardian The title story of this collection is about a man battling a mysterious illness. His family visit his bedside, their faces masks of concern. His colleagues pay their respects but only think of the advantages created by his death. This intensely moving story of Ivan Ilyich''s lonely end is one of the masterpieces of Tolstoy''s late fiction.The ten other stories in this collection include ''The Kreutzer Sonata'', ''The Devil'', and ''Hadji Murat'' which has been described by Harold Bloom as ''the best story in the world''.Trade ReviewAs good as anything Tolstoy ever wrote... Self-assured, vital, unforgettable * Guardian *The simplicity and power of this novella, the story of the terrible encroachment of death on a shallow man spiritually unprepared for it, has staggered millions * Sunday Telegraph *I don't read Russian, but I think Tolstoy's writing comes over whatever translation you read...he wrote the great, terrible story The Death of Ivan Illyich -- Redmond O'Hanlon * Independent *An indubitable masterpiece -- Yann MartelFor me, the best insight into the process of dying comes from Leo Tolstoy in his short story, The Death of Ivan Ilych, which examines the life and death of the most ordinary man -- Oliver James * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisA collection of some of Tolstoy''s most powerful powerful storiesThe violent spiritual crisis in Tolstoy''s life that inspired his last period of creativity produced the stories in this compelling and startling collection. They portray the multifaceted nature of desire, from idealistic romance to sexual jealousy, from desperate lust to relentless longing. The K reutzer Sonata caused a public sensation with its indictment of so-called Christian marriage, a theme echoed in Family Happiness. In The Devil, a young man finds it impossible to resist a beautiful peasant woman with whom he had an affair before his marriage. And Father Sergius shows a man going to increasingly desperate ends in order to avoid the temptations of the flesh.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and

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Book SynopsisLeo Tolstoy’s most personal novel, Anna Karenina scrutinizes fundamental ethical and theological questions through the tragic story of its eponymous heroine. Anna is desperately pursuing a good, “moral” life, standing for honesty and sincerity. Passion drives her to adultery, and this flies in the face of the corrupt Russian bourgeoisie. Meanwhile, the aristocrat Konstantin Levin is struggling to reconcile reason with passion, espousing a Christian anarchism that Tolstoy himself believed in. Acclaimed by critics and readers alike, Anna Karenina presents a poignant blend of realism and lyricism that makes it one of the most perfect, enduring novels of all time.Trade ReviewThe truth is we are not to take Anna Karenina as a work of art: we are to take it as a piece of life. -- Matthew ArnoldAnna Karenina is a perfect work of art. This novel contains a humane message that has not yet been heeded in Europe and that is much needed by the people of the western world. -- Fyodor DostoevskyWhat I confidently named the greatest social novel of world literature is in fact a novel against society. -- Thomas MannTolstoy’s greatness lies in not turning the story into sentimental tragedy… His world is huge and vast, filled with complex family lives and great social events. His characters are well-rounded presences. They have complete passions: a desire for love, but also an inner moral depth. -- Malcolm BradburyIt’s so fantastic that it can be read over and over again… I don’t know any other writer who is so adept at peopling their pages. -- Maggie O’FarrellTolstoy is the greatest Russian writer of prose fiction. -- Vladimir NabokovThe new translation into accurate and readable English by Kyril Zinovieff and Jenny Hughes surpasses even the most recent version by Richard Pevear and Melissa Volokhonsky...[it] makes the word order sound as natural in English as was the original in Tolstoy's Russian. * The Times Literary Supplement *Kyril Zinovieff has produced a fine, intelligent, sensitive translation that brings the Russian text alive in a way that immediately enriches a reader's awareness of its intentions and nuances. * East West Review *

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Book SynopsisIn order to repay a small debt, the young student Mitya is persuaded by a friend to falsify a bank bond and cash it in. Little does he suspect that this small misdemeanour will have a profound impact on the lives of many other people around him – indirectly even leading to the gravest of crimes. This in turn sets off a long journey towards redemption and rehabilitation. Published only in 1911, after Tolstoy’s death, The Forged Coupon examines the deep, unpredictable consequences of every human act, revealing the Russian master’s moral preoccupations in the last years of his life, as well as his rejection of Christianity’s simplistic division between good and evil.Trade ReviewTolstoy is the greatest Russian writer of prose fiction. -- Vladimir Nabokov

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Book SynopsisAnna Karenina is the story of a woman who ab andons her empty existence as a society wife and embarks on a doomed love affair with the passionate but emotionally ban krupt Vronsky. It is widely acknowledged as the greatest nov el in any language '

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Book SynopsisOne of the greatest novels ever written, Anna Karenina is the story of a beautiful woman whose passionate love for a handsome officer sweeps aside all other ties. This major translation conveys Tolstoy's precision of meaning and emotional accuracy in an English version that is highly readable and stylistically faithful.Trade ReviewRosamund Bartlett's version draws on her acclaimed work as a prolific writer, translator and scholar of modern Russian literature and culture. * Carol Apollonio, The Times Literary Supplement *[It is] much the best English translation which has ever appeared ... Bartlett also offers a superb introduction - best thing ever written about the novel - and helpful notes. It is also a very beautifully produced book. * A. N. Wilson, TLS *Any excuse to reread Anna Karenina, and I enjoyed Rosamund Bartlett's new translation, published in a handsome hardcover edition by Oxford University Press. * Sara Wheeler, Book of the Year 2014, Observer *Rosamund Bartlett's translation is much the best English translation which has ever appeared. Bartlett also offers a superb introduction - best thing ever written about the novel - and helpful notes. It is also a very beautifully produced book. * A. N. Wilson, Books of the Year, Times Literary Supplement *A classically elegant translation... Rosamund Bartlett's introduction, a tour d'horizon of Tolstoy's life and work, is also excellent. * Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal *Groundbreaking * Oxford Today *Rosamund Bartlett's achievement is magnificent. In particular, her translations of the descriptive passages are miniature masterpieces. The translation is fresh and immediate, but with all the elegance and power of the original. * Amy Mandelker, CUNY *Rosamund Bartlett's riveting new translation of Anna Karenina brings the reader into Tolstoy's many-faceted worlds with an immediacy, majesty and clarity that no other translator of this great novel has ever achieved. At the same time she represents "the idiosyncrasy of Tolstoy's inimitable style" through idiomatic, natural English. Whether it is Levin's series of epiphanies, the intimate workings of Anna's mind and heart, or the ever-present, sustaining worlds of families and of nature-the sky, the meadows, the bees or other creatures of the animal kingdom-each of Tolstoy's interlocking realms is powerfully yet exquisitely rendered by one of the finest translators of our time. Bartlett's Anna Karenina, with its brilliant introductory essay, explanatory notes and bibliography, will be the go-to English version of Tolstoy's-indeed the world's-precious masterpiece. * Robin Feuer Miller, Brandeis University *In this crisp new translation, Bartlett brings a refreshing tone to some of the novels traditional, didactic black spots, as well as to its classic moments the horse race, the railway station. Bartlett is a scholar with an in-depth knowledge of the man she is translating and this shines through in her instinctive ear for Tolstoys authorial voice and rhythm. * Helen Rappaport, Shiny New Books *This is a fine new translation, of which the scholarship demonstrates Bartlett's considerable knowledge of the author. It is a welcome contribution to the ongoing life of this enigmatic, divided, passionate work. * Catherine Brown, Independent *I am swept up in prose that is so beautiful it has moved me more than once to tears... And I am weighing in to say that I love Bartlett's language. It resonates with my concept of Tolstoy, and my concept of this magnificent novel. I recommend this book... I don't think a new reader of "Anna" could go wrong with Bartlett. * Anne Rice *

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Book SynopsisResurrection (1899) is the last of Tolstoy''s major novels. It tells the story of a nobleman''s attempt to redeem the suffering his youthful philandering inflicted on a peasant girl who ends up a prisoner in Siberia.Tolstoy''s vision of redemption achieved through loving forgiveness, and his condemnation of violence, dominate the novel. An intimate, psychological tale of guilt, anger, and forgiveness, Resurrection is at the same time a panoramic description of social life in Russia at the end of the nineteenth century, reflecting its author''s outrage at the social injustices of the world in which he lived.This edition, which updates a classic translation, has explanatory notes and a substantial introduction based on the most recent scholarship in the field. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewTolstoy magisterially condemns society's social inequities by holding a mirror up to its flawed face; gripping and sombre. * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisTolstoy's powerful semiautobiographical stories based on his time spent in the Russian army, part of our series of fresh new Tolstoy translations In 1851, at the age of twenty-two, Tolstoy joined the Russian army. The four years he spent as a soldier were among the most significant in his life and inspired the tales collected here. In The Cossacks, Tolstoy tells the story of Olenin, a cultured Russian whose experiences among the Cossack warriors of Central Asia leave him searching for a more authentic life. The Sevastopol Sketches bring into stark relief the realities of military life during the Crimean War. And Hadji Murat paints a portrait of a great leader torn apart by divided loyalties. In writing about individuals and societies in conflict, Tolstoy has penned some of the most brilliant stories about the nature of war.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700Table of ContentsThe Cossacks and Other StoriesChronologyIntroductionA Note on the TextsMapsThe CossacksSevastopol StoriesSevastopol in DecemberSevastopol in MaySevastopol in August 1855Hadji MuratNotesGlossary

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Book SynopsisA brilliant short novel based on Tolstoy's early life as a soldier in the Caucusus, THE COSSACKS has all the energy and poetry of youth while at the same time foreshadowing the great themes of Tolstoy's later years. A young officer finds himself living among tribesmen on the borders of southern Russia. In depicting his experience, Tolstoy explores the birth and death of love, the transience of life, the love of honour and the pain of war, all portrayed amidst the wild and magnificent landscape of the mountains and described in exquisite detail.

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Book SynopsisTolstoy's epic masterpiece intertwines the lives of private and public individuals during the time of the Napoleonic wars and the French invasion of Russia. In this definitive Maude translation, Tolstoy's genius and the power of his prose are made newly available to the contemporary reader.

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