The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories

“The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories” collects six of Tolstoy’s finest short stories into one edition. In “How Much Land Does a Man Need?”, Tolstoy explores this very question through the story of a peasant with an increasing appetite for land—an appetite which becomes his ruin. “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”, one of Tolstoy’s short masterpieces, tells of the early death of a high-court judge in 19th century Russian. “Family Happiness” explores the female identity within changing romantic relationships. Narrated in first person by the protagonist Masha, the tale is a skilled and engrossing story of a woman’s difficult position in a shifting society. “The Kreutzer Sonata” is an intense tale of love, marriage, sex, and jealousy. Initially banned by the Russian censors, the novella has inspired many films, theater productions, and paintings. In “The Devil”, Evgeni Irtenev struggles with a new inheritance riddled with debts when sudden romance and lust threaten to turn his world upside down. Lastly, “Father Sergius” tells of a young aristocrat who, upon discovery of his fiancé’s infidelity, retreats into the life of a monastic Orthodox Christian, though this radically new life proves to be difficult. This representative collection of short stories exhibits why Leo Tolstoy is considered one of the world’s most renowned authors. This edition includes a biographical afterword.