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Count Leo Tolstoy

© Gail Giordano

"Man discovers truth by reason only, not by faith." On Life 1887

Lev Nikolayevitch Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1928 in Yasnaya Polyana to a prominent Russian Noble family. Tolstoy's father was a descendant from a friend and companion to Peter the Great. His mother was Princess Marya Nikolayevna Volkonsky. Leo was the youngest of five children. When his father died in 1837 he lived with a variety of relatives. He was taught along with his brothers by French, Russian, and German tutors. In 1842 he entered into the University of Kazan and started studying in the Oriental Department. While studying there he learned Arabic and Turkey. Later on in life he learned Hebrew and Greek as well. Two years after entering the University he switched to the School of Law, where he continued to be bored and not interested. During his stay at the University he read works by Jean Jacques Rousseau which helped convince them of the futility of his academic career. Consequently he left the university in 1847 without having obtained a degree.

"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy returned to his estate and quickly learned he could not handle running the place because he did not have the education. He went through a period of squandering away his life. Around the age of 24 he joined his brother in Caucasus and became a member of the army. His first published work came out in 1852. Childhood was published in the Contemporary and was the start of his career.

The work that earned him instance fame was his account of the siege of Sevastopol. After his account was published Emperor Nicholas I issued an order of protection on Tolstoy's life. This was the instance that helped get him into the upper social elite in St. Petersburg.

Lev Tolstoy was very interested in reform, reform for the peasants. He wanted to improve the condition of the peasants. He traveled to Germany and abroad to gain information on education methods available. He started a school on his estate set to start right after the emancipation of the surfs. Tolstoy was fascinated with the idea of kindergarten.

Tolstoy's brother Nikolai died around the time that Leo was writing Anna Karenina. Tolstoy included a detailed description in the novel about Levin's brother and his death, which is almost autobiographical with regard to his brother's death as well.

In 1862, Lev Tolstoy married Sophya Andreyevna Behrs. Together they had 13 children, of which 5 sons and 3 daughters reached their maturity. Tolstoy considered Sophya his literary assistant, publicist and manager.

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