Step into the captivating world of literature and philosophy as we unravel 15 enlightening facts about the brilliant mind behind ‘War and Peace’ and ‘Anna Karenina’ – Leo Tolstoy. From tumultuous tales to timeless wisdom, get ready to embark on a journey through the life and legacy of a literary giant whose words have left an indelible mark on the pages of history. So, grab your metaphorical quill and join us as we explore the pages of Tolstoy’s life story!
1-5 Fun Facts About Leo Tolstoy
1. But Tolstoy’s life wasn’t without its twists. Amidst financial turmoil from gambling debts, he embraced military service, donning the uniform of a young artillery officer during the Crimean War. Stationed in Sevastopol, he braved the siege and even the Battle of the Chernaya, showcasing remarkable courage. Yet, as the war’s toll weighed heavily on his soul, Tolstoy made a pivotal decision to leave the military, his heart aching from the sheer scale of human loss.
2. Leo Tolstoy became a vegetarian, and while his children followed suit, his wife and aunt didn’t.Rather than pressuring them, Tolstoy playfully teased them. On one occasion, his aunt found a knife and a chicken on her chair during dinner, prompting Tolstoy to quip, “We knew you wanted chicken, but none of us would kill it.”
3. In 1846, Henry David Thoreau’s act of refusing to pay taxes as a protest against the Mexican-American War and slavery popularized the concept of Civil Disobedience, influencing figures like Gandhi, MLK, and Tolstoy.
4. Tolstoy’s book “Letter to a Hindu” in 1908 advocated non-violent resistance for India’s independence and significantly influenced Gandhi’s philosophy.
5. Tolstoy gave up the copyrights of all his works while he was alive.
6-10 Interesting Facts About Leo Tolstoy
6. Tolstoy once challenged Ivan Turgenev to a duel but later apologized.
7. He was influenced by Indian Mystic Swami Vivekananda.
8. In 1861, he established a remarkable network of 13 schools in Yasnaya Polyana, offering education to the children of Russia’s newly emancipated peasants.
9. Tolstoy held Christian Anarchist beliefs.
10. Tolstoy criticized Shakespeare’s writing, considering it inartistic and harmful.
11-15 Surprising Facts About Leo Tolstoy
11. The first color photograph in Russia was of Leo Tolstoy.
12. He married Sophia Andreevna Behrs, a partner sixteen years his junior. Together, they nurtured a family of thirteen children, of which eight survived the trials of childhood.
13. He handed his wife diaries revealing his sexual past and a son from a previous relationship on their wedding eve.
14. As life’s final chapter drew near, Tolstoy’s contemplations shifted to themes of mortality and relinquishing his aristocratic lifestyle. His departure, shrouded in secrecy, bore the weight of escaping his wife’s discontent. And on November 20, 1910, at Astapovo railway station, the world bid farewell to this literary giant.
15. The town where Tolstoy died was later named after him.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading about 15 Facts About Leo Tolstoy.
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