Radio Moscow presents a program dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Leo Tolstoy was the most complex among the leading minds of the 19th century was have the Soviet writer Maxim Gorky and it's true from every point of view indeed his exceptional personality was extraordinary really complex. There was great complexity in his writings which were massive in scale and significant than rich in content. It was complexity and also contradictions in the Eeveelution of his thinking throughout his long life. At the age of 30 Leo Tolstoy road to live. Honestly one has to tear loose become entangled struggle. Make mistakes beginning abandoned and beginning Abandon All Over Again, eternally struggle and be eternally deprived. But plus it has a spiritual baseness the more I think the more clearly I see that this is so and it was less never content in constant doubt preaching protest in humility simultaneously in Everlasting education struggling toil that the life of this genius past. Some months before his death reading the note that he'd written half a century before he remarked. I'd say nothing different now. Lenormand literary Heritage Tolstoy left is astounding both in its volume and then it's many-faceted variety of forms and genres. He wrote Such major works as Warren peace at historical novel and the Caribbean and Resurrection on social themes Grandma's such as the living Corpse The Hour of darkness and the fruits of Enlightenment short novels short stories fairy tales and an autobiographical trilogy. Lennon wrote that Tolstoy succeeded in raising so many great problems and succeeded in Rising to such Heights of artistic power. That is Works rank among the greatest in world literature. The force and originality of his books has aroused the interests of writers of many generations John goldsworthy Anatole France Furniture Gerhard, helpmann Ernest Hemingway Thomas Wolfe and other leading European and American Writers have an influence by Tolstoy and have paid tribute to him in their writings. In the Soviet Union Leo tolstoy's Works have been published in 66 languages of that country. Tolstoy holds first place among publications of Russian and Farhan classics. Ghost, I'm a big demand upon himself his capacity for work was phenomenal and the standards. He sat himself exacting heat edit and re-edit rework polish everything. He did to achieve the maximum of clarity and comprehensibility from every aspect for the reader. It is necessary to strike out ruthlessly all places which are unclear which drag or are misplaced in the word. Unsatisfactory, even though they may be good in themselves except Tolstoy. Is archives contain 15 versions are we opening of War and Peace 11 of Anna Karenina while the opening of Resurrection had 20 variance? The attached great importance to the quality of language seeking the uttermost clarity and expressiveness. He said I thought is expressed in a work of literature only when no single word could be added or omitted or changed without spoiling it. This is what the writer must try for. I was born in a Manor House on an estate in jasna polana 125 miles from Moscow on the 9th of September 1828. It was here on his estate that he spent a large part of his life. He left it 10 days before his death mostly. However, he lived in Moscow, especially in the 80s when he moved his family to the city to provide a good education for his children. Tolstoy himself studied for 3 years in the Law Department of Kazan University on the Volga He left without finishing the course and continued his education independently. Actually, he never ceased studying throughout his life. Is there addition was truly an encyclopedic? He studied philosophy and natural science medicine art and Agriculture and he knew 13 languages. Is it state that yasnaya polyana was always a kind of cultural center visited by the most important writers scientists Scholars musicians artists composers and well-known performers the toast eyes held literary and musical evenings there. Tolstoy like the guitar and the balalaika Gypsy romance and classical works. After one of these evenings Tchaikovsky wrote Never perhaps in my whole life has my composers Pride been so moved and flattered as when Tolstoy sitting beside me listening to the end on sea of my first quartet shed tears. In the course of his long life Coastal, he witnessed and participated in many great important events is writing was the only closely linked with his time. It was its mirror. It's true Chronicle. In his youth Tolstoy fought in the Crimean War against the anglo-french and Turkish armies as he wrote in a letter to his brother. He fought mostly out of patriotism. You live close to the plane Soldiers & Sailors and admire their bold courage. This was a time when he began his serious writing. It was there at the age of 27 that he wrote his famous Tales of sevastopol which caught the attention of literary circles at once. The Russian writer Yvonne to gain you have said at the time this is still young wine, but when it matures, it'll be a drink for the Gods. A 28 Tolstoy resigned from the Army and a little later when traveling abroad visiting friends Switzerland Italy Germany and Britain. He was particularly interested in teaching methods and made a keen study of school systems in the West in London. He heard Charles Dickens lecture in education. On his return to Russia. He started a school for the peasant children on his EOS Napoleonic estate where he taught according to the most modern pedagogical ideas. Two-story practically never ceased his work with a peasant children at the end of his life speaking to jasna polana Children told stories and thank you children for coming to me. I'm glad that you're studying well. What I'm telling you is something you'll need remember when I'm gone that the old man told you the truth. They recorded the following 75 years ago on a phonograph presented to him by Thomas Edison. The recording is naturally imperfect but it brings to us the voice of the writer. At the age of 34 Tolstoy married Sophia best 18 year old daughter of a doctor at an imperial Department in Moscow. I falling in love as I never thought anybody could love he wrote in his diary. In the last year of his life looking back over his family life with all this troubles and sufferings Tolstoy wrote to his wife as I love you and youth so despite various causes of coldness. I never cease to love you and love you now. Sophia Tolstoy was unusual personality with a rich intellect rate energy and a strong. Will she had a wide knowledge of literature of Art and music and she devoted all her efforts to adapting life at yasnaya polyana. The requirements of Leo Tolstoy is working habits. She undertook the full care of a big family renouncing the pleasures of society for which you always long She had 13 children five of them died at an early age. But you constantly assisted her husband and his literary work. She copied his books. She acted as his business manager with Publishers and Road denials in the Press of various rumors and reports about Tolstoy. Although her own ideas differ greatly from our husbands with your times led to a strained atmosphere in the home for almost half-a-century. She was both wife and friend to Leo Tolstoy. Family relations became very difficult in the 80s when it was a radical turning point in Leo Tolstoy is only use Sophia Tolstoy explains this and her autobiography my life the Discord with Leo grieve me terribly it was painful to the extreme. About time he visited prisons and jails and travel the course of justice and of those deliberately everywhere. He sought out human suffering and oppression. Keep bitterly rejected the whole existing structure of human life condemned everything suffered about everything and showed fellow-feeling only for the people and sympathy only for the oppressed this condemnation and rejection extended to me and to the family to all who were wealthy and not in misery. It was pitiful to see how Leo suddenly began to suffer for Humanity. And as a consequence fell into profound Bloom the crisis in the 80s in Toy Story's world was simply the conclusion of a long. Of searching doubts the result of many years observations by the writer of how the simple folk live. Two of his biggest Works War and Peace and Anna Karenina both written in the 80s. Give a clearer picture of the Eeveelution of Tolstoy reviews. Warren peace is the apotheosis of a full-blooded healthy life. And it's Monday enjoys here. We have the family happiness of two couples. The personal life of the characters is closely intertwined with a civil and social life of the country. The Victorious outcome of the war against the polian's invading armies in 1812 is seen as the outcome of the staunch moral strength of the entire Russian Nation. In Anna, Karenina originally planned as a novel and a domestic theme Tolstoy reflected a whole Epoch of Russian life in the. After the abolition of feudalism. When is he expected? Everything was turned over? Tolstoy showed life in the various strata of society from the aristocracy to the peasantry in this book. All the efforts of the main character is to find happiness in family relationships and public activity meet with failure. Tolstoy made the autobiographical character of the landowner konstantin Levin a vehicle for his own views. He dreamed of an economic system, which would give the peasant a personal interest in improving life for himself and his landlord that is he trying to reconcile the interests of peasant and landlord. Coastal I saw the idea life of happiness in agricultural work without any radical break in the social system without Revolution. However, Tolstoy himself was aware of the contradictory nature of some of his assertions and his letters of that. Confessed that he completed Anna Karenina with enormous strain and in the state of doubt and energy division. Tostones formation as an artist and writer took place in the historical Epoch of Russian life between 1861 when the feudal rights were abolished and 1905 the year of the first Russian Revolution. Look sharp abrupt break it all the old foundations of life in Russia at that. Cause the brake to in kostoryz Attitude to life. It compelled him to abandon the belief the habits and traditions of the nobility to which he Belong by birth and education and take up the position of the patriarchal peasantry. Particularly in his later works as Lenin said Tolstoy attacked with Fierce criticism all the Contemporary State Church social and Economic Institutions, which were based on enslavement of the masses on their poverty on the ruin of the peasants and the petty Proprietors in General on the coercion that hypocrisy which permeated all contemporary life from top to bottom. Tolstoy did this with great power in Resurrection, which he took 10 years to write it at he brought to life people of the widely varied social strata the court aristocracy the bureaucrats of the capital the clericals The Peasants the military brass the lawyers and Court officials. The novel provides a broad canvas of the criminal circles ignorant of crushed in most cases innocent suffer is imprisoned at the wheel of the owning classes. Tolstoy also brings forward a group of revolutionaries shown with obvious sympathy for them and for their struggle against arbitrary violence. The publication of Resurrection in which Tolstoy expose not only the autocratic state but the official church was used by the Synod the highest clerical body to excommunicate him. Those are approved. So in 1901. I was excommunicated as a heretic and a rebel. That same here 1901 talkin with an English Member of Parliament Henry Norman Leo Tolstoy said three things. I hate autocracy the Orthodox church and militarism the day of my excommunication was the happiest day of my life. Towards the end of his life Tolstoy witness the first mass revolutionary action of the people in Russian history while preaching aloofness from politics in reality. He participated actively and responded to all the events of his day his articles and Diaries of this. Still contained appeals for non-resistance to the evil of violence yet simultaneously, he justified the revolutionary action of the people caused by their unendurable situation. In July 1905. He wrote the Contemporary movement in Russia is the world movement the importance of which is still a little understood. It's a movement which like the French Revolution and its day will perhaps by its ideas give an impetus for hundreds of years. It was with the revolution of 1905 that Tolstoy linked his hopes for the people's Liberation from burdensome material and ethical conditions in a letter to the critics light dimmer stars of Toy Story Road events move with extraordinary speed and correctness to be dissatisfied with that which is taking place is equivalent to being dissatisfied with autumn and winter without thinking of the spring would do they bring closer Tolstoy one of the Russian Revolution to break through the existing order not only by violence, but my refusal to obey Is dream was of a land belonging to the peasants and the autocracy being replaced by a free Union of the People based on full equality and justice. In 1906 Tolstoy wrote his appeal to the Russian people to the government the revolutionaries and the nation. Addressing the government Toy Story Road, whether the revolutionaries Define their aims, rightly or wrongly there is seeking some new structure of life. But you want one thing. I want to keep the advantages you possess for this reason. You cannot hold out against the revolution under your banners of autocracy, even with constitutional Corrections and your distorted Christianity called Orthodox, even with a patriarchate and every kind of mystical interpretations. All this has outlived its day and cannot be restored those toys ideas and teachings and his writings of this. Reflected the aching hatred the fully matured need for something better the desire of the many millions of peasants to throw off the past. No, love toast always work in his last years is filled with a stormy protest against every kind of class domination. On the 29th of October 1910 the world was startled by the news that Leo Tolstoy had suddenly gone from yesterday upon Jana accompanied by his doctor leaving a letter saying that he was going forever. Among the comments on his departure one can find a surgeon's that the reason lay in an exhaustion of his powers the decrepitude of age failing strength giving rise to a wish for solitude. In reality. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. Dos Toros lifestyle remained unchanged after the time when he left yesterday for Jana throughout his last years. He continued his regime of work at his writing-table endless reading talks with visitors and extensive correspondence. Long walks and horse-riding. We're still his favorite form of recreation. Tolstoy wrote in a letter when you were working life games, enjoy and you banish that scarecrow the fear of death, which poisons life for those living within sight of The Conjuring those who claim the Tolstoy have left your ass Napoleonic to renounce the world the newspaper early morning printed on the 1st of November and article by the writers. Keep toilets who said Leo Tolstoy has gone not from the world but into the world This home is not yes Napoleon and his family is old people. And he's gone to all the people strong and radiant. Do not stand in his way with your small narrow Philistine yardstick. Make way for the Blessed Pilgrim let him go whether he will let him take joy in the place where you hold and let Russia leave as to him. Tell stories departure was a feat of heroism. Not merely because it was a man of 82 who left his home ignoring old difficulties in Trials Tolstoy Concord himself, he broke with a condition in which he lived and which other press them in the last years. He broke with the way of life, which he had long ago condemned. In the Diaries of his last year's one can find remarks like this live here. And yes, napoletana is completely poisoned Wherever I Go Everywhere there's disgrace and suffering the torment grows greater and greater the wrongness of Senseless luxury and thence the impermissible poverty and need about me. It's all getting constantly worse. I can't forget or shut my eyes everything Tolstoy wrote in the years before his departure is filled with unendurable pain for the wretchedness of the people for 30 years. I have propounded his teachings, which she was convinced must promote the establishment of a free and loving Union of people. But they have been powerless to rebuild the world on a foundation of goodness and Justice 3 years before his departure Tolstoy wrote in his diary Evermore almost physically I suffer from the inequality from the wealth and extravagance of our life and its poverty and I cannot listen listen equality. This is a secret tragedy of my life. I'm finally on the 28th of October 1910 tolstoi carried out his intention and left yesterday upon Jana secretly in the early morning. But it looked rain Lee 82 year old man fell ill with pneumonia at the small station of us stoppable. The stationmaster took the seriously sick writer into his home. Those were the days when the Obscure little station held the attention of many thousands of Russians 1500 telegrams came to the house came on trains on carts and on foot to stand for hours outside the home waiting for use. 10 days later on the 7th of November 1910 Leo Tolstoy died with his Auto rejection of church ceremonial toast. I have had no desire to be buried in consecrated ground. In his will be required his family to bury him at the Asana Pollyanna by the Ravine the place where in childhood and his brothers had looked for the green one The Secret of universal happiness. multitude of people attended the funeral the first public civil funeral in Russian history of funeral without any church ceremonial There is no gravestone no cross no inscription. Just a quiet low Mound. according fully with his ethical principles This was how Tolstoy wished it. Tolstoy required in his will that all his books his literary works and writings of every kind should not after his death become anybody's personal property, but could be re-published been reprinted by all who wished. After the Socialist Revolution work began of the complete collection of Leo tolstoy's works. It took 30 years for The Unique 90 volume collection to be completed. The main purpose was to publish everything. He wrote in scale and can be compared only Woodley 143 while young collection of works by another giant of world literature. There's nothing else comfortable in World publishing. In this Jubilee hear a new 22 volume Leo Tolstoy collection is coming out in an addition of 1 million. You've been listening to a radio Moscow program dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy. the program originated at Radio Moscow