Combining detailed description with perceptive psychological insight, the stories collected in this volume showcase Tolstoy's brilliance as well as his immense influence on modern literature. Includes OThe Death of Ivan Ilych, O OFamily Happiness, O OMaster and Man, O and OThe Kreutzer Sonata.O Revised reissue.
Leo Tolstoy combined detailed physical description with perceptive psychological insight to sweep aside the sham of surface appearances and lay bare man's intimate gestures, acts, and thoughts. Murder and sacrifice...greed and devotion...lust and affection...vanity and love--one by one, in this volume of great stories, Tolstoy dissects the basic drives, emotions, and motives of ordinary people searching for self-knowledge and spiritual perfection. Chekhov said, "Of authors my favorite is Tolstoy." And Turgenev "marveled at the strength of his huge talent...It sends a cold shudder even down my back...He is a master, a master."

Now with a new introduction by Regina Marler and an afterword by Hugh McLean.