You know sometimes how you reach for a book hoping to be inspired somehow, but you're totally disappointed because it's just filled with the same-old same-old? GET 'WHAT MEN LIVE BY' NOW!
First of all, the Master of the Novel TOLSTOY is never routine.
Second of all, he taps into his very soul as profoundly as other Russian writers including Dostoevsky and Pasternak.
When I had the occasion to read this very short (an armchair read of no more than an hour, tops) novelette, I was deeply depressed and needed someone to "pull me up." This selection did so because he did what is so rare with writers in English--he wed Christian principle to universal human longing and a deeply-anchored sense of hope in assurance that Rev Robert Schuler or the late Rev Norman Vincent Peale have never matched.
IF YOU WONDER, CAN A PERSON OF FAITH WHOSE HOPES HAVE BEEN DASHED AGAIN AND AGAIN, EVER FIND INSPIRATION AND PRAY TO GOD AGAIN--take this elixir now. As the angel admonished St. Augustine of Hippo, "Take up and read."
Be forewarned though, if you have tears to shed, "prepare to shed them now."

I was overwhelmed by tears of compassion on reading this short story. Count Leo Tolstoy's three lessons are gems to be memorized. I bought three copies of the Peter Pauper Press edition (nd) and gave them all away as gifts of love in the 1980's, alas.

Tolstoy was passionate about the battle between good and evil, and in each of these short stories, he shows us another simple yet clear view of the struggle. In "Where God Is, Love Is",he illustrates the lesson from Matthew xxv:'Inasmuch as ye did unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me'. Each story shows us another moral lesson, told through characters as recognizable in today's world as they were when these stories were written over a century ago.

The Death of Ivan Ilych is one of the most enspiring readings. It is written to allow the reader their own interpretation of what death and life are. It opened up many doors for myself, to look into what the future and death may hold. I believe everyone should have the insitefulness to read and be moved by this wonderful writing.

I am reading a short story called "the Death of Ivan Ilych" by Leo Tolstoy. In reading it I couldn't help but see what I notice in those that face terminal illness. There is the fear of the inevitable doom that each of us must face in life's passing, and how angry and bitter one can become, no matter how well one's life was before coming to the state of dying. As I turn the pages I cannot help but to see my father-in-law's struggle with his sickness, and Aunt Faye's struggle with hers. If you haven't read this short story, you should. It has a remarkable insight into the human attitude when faced with certain death. David Pinskey

Sin duda es una de las mejores novelas que jamás se han escrito.
En ella se puede encontrar un relato sobre las guerras
napoleónicas y la participación de Rusia en ellas, pero también
un retrato de la vida de la alta sociedad rusa de la época. Estas
situaciones tan diversas están narradas con una gran viveza.
Aprovechando el trasfondo histórico de la novela, Tolstoi nos
proporciona también sus visiones sobre la Historia y
el papel que los hombres representan en ella. Estas impresiones

no rompen la narración, sino que la complementan de forma
magistral.
El gran volumen de la novela puede asustar a algunos lectores,
pero en el caso de esta novela merece la pena: cada página se
lee con verdadero placer.

Sin duda es una de las mejores novelas que jamás se han escrito.
En ella se puede encontrar un relato sobre las guerras
napoleónicas y la participación de Rusia en ellas, pero también
un retrato de la vida de la alta sociedad rusa de la época. Estas
situaciones tan diversas están narradas con una gran viveza.
Aprovechando el trasfondo histórico de la novela, Tolstoi nos
proporciona también sus visiones sobre la Historia y
el papel que los hombres representan en ella. Estas disgresiones
no rompen la narración, sino que la complementan de forma
magistral.

El gran volumen de la novela puede asustar a algunos lectores,
pero en el caso de esta novela merece la pena: cada página se
lee con verdadero placer.

a very easy to carry around book of great works by tolstoy

A one in all book to read- I recommend it!!

It is too bad that so many people are intimidated by the 1500 pages of this book because once you get started, its deterring volume becomes irrelevant. I was immediately drawn into the fast-paced story and to its characters like the dysfunctional Bolkonskys, the oh so wonderful Rostovs (some members of both families were based on real-life Tolstoys) and the confused yet loveable Pierre Bezuhov.

An edition with an index, list of all characters, footnotes and maps would be preferable. I don't know if one exists, but this edition offers no assistance, so you're on your own. I added to my own list of characters as I advanced through the book. The battle descriptions were quite confusing at times, especially since I am not familiar with Russian geography (where exactly do they go when they retreat by way of the Kaluga road?), and I referred to my "Dictionary of Napoleonic Wars" (Pope) for maps and to "The Age of Napoleon" (Herrod) for more information about the individual campaigns. I had the best intentions of dissecting this book but was soon swept away by its compelling story, barely stopping to underline the most brilliant sections before moving on (but not before re-reading out loud my favorite paragraphs to my ever so patient dog). The images left in my head are countless and priceless, such as the description of the sledge horses kicking up the snow, "hard and glittering like sugar", and the snowy plain that, "glittering like a diamond with bluish lights in it, lay stretched out on all sides, all motionless and bathed in moonlight." [p.597] Unforgettable the moment when young Rostov, wounded in battle, sees soldiers coming toward him: "What are they running for? Can they be running to me? And what for? To kill me? Me, whom every one's so fond of?" [p.207] Later it's Prince Andrey's turn: wounded on the battlefield he blends out the commotion and noise around him: "But he saw nothing of that. Above him there was nothing but the sky - the lofty sky, ... with grey clouds creeping quietly over it. 'How was it I did not see that lofty sky before?'" [p.313]

This timeless book will broaden your mental horizon in regards to life and death, material and spiritual aspects of life, humankind and its individuals' daily struggles within the movements of the masses. Looking for the numerous polarities (war and peace, life and death, love and hate, movement and stillness, age and youth, heat and cold, individual and masses) was a lot of fun. Be prepared for the many questions wthat pop up throughout the novel: "What for?" "Why me?" "Can it be so?"

Please give this book a try, it's mindblowing.

Yes, "War and Peace" is one of the great novels of all time, but it's also one you'll be spending a month or more with when you finally read it, and I enthusiastically recommend this edition when you do. The type is clear, the paper thin but still opaque, and the binding strong but flexible and resilient. I own two other editions, but bought this one just because I found it so readable.

This is the greatest book that I have ever read in my life. Within this book there are answers to all that human beings seek in order to be happy. It is a how to book if one is interested in living a moral life and in becoming a more complete human being. Leo Tolstoy with Guy De Mallac has written a masterpiece, a truly great piece of work from one of the most justifying minds of our times, Leo Tolstoy.

Tolstoy (known today only for his novels) attempted to complete his philosophical conceptions by unifying the basic moral conceptions of all religions and this is a condensed (and more manageable) form of his final work. Although emphasising pure Christianity it also blends this with traditional eastern concepts and creates a good complete summary of proper moral behavior. He seems also to convey a certain passion and love, giving the book a spirited tone. It preaches non-violence and even vegetarianism. I was surprised to learn that Tolstoy's ideas were much regarded 100 years ago and even were an inspiration for Ghandi. Depending on your background in world religions, the contents may or may not provide you with any new knowledge. It is certainly not out of date or only for readers of Tolstoy's novels. Five stars, although there may be better books out there (?).

Going through the particulars in pertinance to Anna Karenina (the story that is) would be somewhat redundant. That is, anything I could possibly say about such story would be tautology at this point. However, I can praise this Signet Edition of Anna Karenina for its more-than-adaquate hoisting of Tolstoy's masterful work. The language used is kept relatively bare as Tolstoy himself wrote, e.g. the traditional Russian patricarchal titles are simplified and an English system of address is used. This leaves the gipping tale of love, deception, etc. (really, its universality is quite surprising; on many the occasion does an event within my own life coinside with that of the world of Anna Karenina), to come through, free of technicality, in true romantic form.

This is a really handsome book and with it's companion (vol. 2) makes a great addition to world lit. on your bookshelf. Some stories are novellas and some are only a page or two long but they're all artfully written and come from old established translations from late 19th century/early 20th. For anyone who wants to tackle WAR AND PEACE or ANNA KARENINA they should read a little of Tolstoy's more accessible short works and they can't go wrong here. My only complaint (and this goes for all Everyman series books) is that the text printed on the other side is annoyingly visible making reading a bit of a chore. This is a major blunder for any series of books purporting to capture the world's best literature but if you can ignore this (or at least get used to it) this would be a smart purchase because the price is right (if you buy it here).

this book is about a man who was rich once but then one day he is mistaken for a murderer this man who believes in god is sent to prison in siberia over there he sells shoes he makes his living by by selling shoes.This man tames other prisoners and makes them believe in god

i don't know why it seems nobody is interested in this book. personally i think this book is good. it helps people to get to know this great writer's weaknesses and to provide a good case study of a stormy marriage.