Leo Tolstoy
Biography
Count Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a master of realist fiction and is universally recognized as one of the greatest writers of all time. Born into Russian nobility at his family’s estate, Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy lived a complex life that took him from the battlefields of the Crimean War to the height of the international literary world.
He is best known for his colossal masterpieces War and Peace and Anna Karenina, works that redefined the scope of the novel and captured the intricacies of human psychology, society, and history with unmatched depth.
Later in life, Tolstoy underwent a profound spiritual crisis, leading him to renounce his wealth, embrace a life of Christian pacifism, and write influential moral essays. His philosophy of nonviolent resistance went on to deeply inspire 20th-century leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Today, Tolstoy’s profound insights into life, death, faith, and humanity continue to captivate millions of readers worldwide.