This is not something that can be explained in simple terms, but I can try.
More than anything else, Tolstoy was a seeker. He sought the truth, and he did so honestly and ruthlessly, towards himself as well as others. Sometimes he found it, only to continue searching. He contradicted himself plenty of times. That's what sometimes happens when you evolve, and are not stuck in one point in life.
He was a great explorer, of life
There are very few names which are close to being sacred to me... Tolstoy is one of them. He is one of those people, which, when I think of them, the fact they existed, makes life and humankind seem differently, it makes us all seem more noble. I admire him for the man he was, for the life he lived, for his honesty, his ruthlessness, his kindness, all of it. He was not a flat personality.
I admire greatness of heart, as much as I despise pettiness.
Any time I despair because of humans, I remember those I consider the great ones. Some of them dead, some alive. They may not be that by society's standards, and they don't have to be. Success or fame in our society is, by no means, a measure for greatness. It's not really a measure for anything.
So, I am starting a new series, in which I will share with you why I love Tolstoy.
Tolstoy Sleepwalking in the Clouds (2013), 70 x 90 cm
Sabina Nore
@anibas
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Oh my goodness... It seems I must go read up on Tolstoy! ... I have read Anna Karenina, so I've had a good taste of him already.
When I first glimpsed the painting, I was reminded of Charles Darwin, who is one of my heroes. I read "The Origin" by Irving Stone, a biography of Darwin, and man! What a life.
Hmm... Considering your reverence for Tolstoy, what do you think of Dostoevsky? I've read all the great novels by him, "The Idiot" being my favourite.
I will follow this closely.
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The thing with Tolstoy goes beyond him being a great writer.
When I think of Dostoyevsky, I remember a moment from my life. I was 17, and reading one of his works, which came to a quick halt, as I couldn't make out the letters anymore ( my eyes were filled with tears). So I put the book down, composed myself, did other things, and returned to the book. The same thing happened again.
I tried to get through it several more times, however, since the same thing kept reoccurring , eventually I started to feel like an idiot... It was ripping me apart inside, and my attempts to continue despite of this started to seem like some weird and unusual form of self-punishment, so I stopped.
Funny, that this comes out now.
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Hi Anibas. I have a similar experience with Dostoyevsky's The Double. I've started it dozens of times and finished it only twice. I recommend it to anyone feeling especially isolated or out of place. Just stop when you realize life ain't so bad! Crime And Punishment is different. It takes you into the mind of a killer. I read it once, and decided I'm not touching it again, although the Russian mini-series on it was pretty good. I love The Idiot, though. War And Peace is Tolstoy's best work. Prince Andre embodies Lev's ideas about the nobility, while Pierre is the searching Tolstoy. The Battle of Borodino ends with the Prince dying and Pierre soon in jail. This is where Tolstoy is reborn with new enthusiasm for life, despite the ordeals. My favorite scene is in the study when Pierre exposes his jealousy of all that Prince Andre has and is, especially his wife and forthcoming family. And then Andre bewails all the misery that life is causing him! And I must say that I should have listened to him!
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Tolstoy never stopped exploring, and never stopped loving life.
I warmly recommend the books he wrote later in life, like "A Confession", for instance. Each book is just a stepping stone.
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I like Tolstoy's short stories. Unfortunately, His book of short stories didn't end up with me after moving across the county 3 times. I do have a lot of them on amazon audio, Amazon messed up the player on my notebook after i quit all f their services, after Bezzos got his CIA contract. I'm still trying to resurrect it!
If you go back to the scene in the Study, Prince Andre is foreshadowing Tolstoy leaving his wife, as well as his circumstances in general. The BBC miniseries, although miscasting Anthony Hopkins, finally "gets" Tolstoy after he gets captured by the French. The younger Pierre, always searching represents Tolstoy's younger self, while Prince Andre is Tolstoy as Noble, or even "made man", having access to al life has to offer. Pierre's searching and issastifaction with life, is the War in the title. When Pierre meets Platon, is where "Tolstoy" finally finds the Peace in the title. While I enjoy the dialogue among Napoleon's staff that was added and advised by David Chandler, the scenes of Pierre, awakening in the
stockade, the BBC does a pretty good job. That is Toltoy's awakening. Most folks don't have a clue, so I just call it Tolstoy goes Dostoyevsky.
It's too bad that everyone thinks te War in the title means the 1812 campaign! The 6 hour Russian movie even centers around Borodino. The BBC version of Borodino is horrid, but that helps to take the emphasis off of it. The BBC version is the best, but they key o a lot of boring stuff. You could just watch the study scene and Pierre in custody, nd you'll have gotten as much as you can get from it.
But, you know, mention Tolstoy to a youngster and they'll look a you like you're an alien, probably because there are no Marvel characters in it. What's wore is that older folks will just say you're precocious! I think it's easier for them ignore that way.
Ignore the last 150 years of the Romanov's and you'll not see how similar the US is to the state of Russia's collapse. Ignore Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, who's anti-Catholicism rates high for this former Irish Roman Catholic, and you really miss some great commentary on
life!
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You made me remember two of my friends, both former Irish Roman Catholics, if I remember correctly. Incidentally, they are both also made of more than just flattersome, socially convenient fluff. Both marked by brilliant, broad minds, and a wicked sense of humor.
Got a bit carried away from Tolstoy there... should spend more time with my friends.
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Oh my... That work could very easily have been "The Idiot" ... I didn't cry when reading it but only because it is very difficult to get my crying while reading. (I almost did at the end of "The Time Traveller's Wife").
You should definitely try again... Maybe start with Crime and Punishment. =)
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