It happened in the 'seventies in winter, on the day after St. Nicholas's Day. There was a fete in the parish and the innkeeper, Vasili Andreevich B...
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Mar 17, 2008
Amelia
rated it: 
Do you know that there are only 5 reviews of this story on goodreads? That is pathetic, this is fantastic, and some of you need to get off your bums and read it! It isn't long...go on, you know you wanna!
This is by far my favorite Tolstoy work! It is a beautiful story of sacrifice and the value of life... regardless of station.
This is by far my favorite Tolstoy work! It is a beautiful story of sacrifice and the value of life... regardless of station.
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Nov 25, 2010
Vaughn
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This is a superbly written account of three primary characters, the master, his servant, and the master’s horse. The master thinks that he superior to everyone else including his servant and his wife. He cheats everyone, thinking they don’t understand what he’s doing, but he only succeeds because he is the master, not because of his wit.
As the story unfolds, many elements of Tolstoy’s writings (man, society, and nature) are evident as the two men embark on what should be a simple busi More...
As the story unfolds, many elements of Tolstoy’s writings (man, society, and nature) are evident as the two men embark on what should be a simple busi More...
Jan 05, 2012
Lizixer
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I picked this story out of the Guardian's recent Winter Reads series which has some very fine suggestions for seasonal reading. Russian writing often seems the most apt for winter and this is a fine example:a story about snow and cold. The weather is described in icy detail. As the protagonists get more and more lost in the whited out landscape, you feel the fear that they feel at the thought of being out in the open in a blizzard at night.
There is a lot of scholarly debate about th More...
There is a lot of scholarly debate about th More...
Jan 05, 2012
Cheryl
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Throughout history, wise man have said the measure of a man cannot be taken until we know how he faces death. Leo Tolstoy in MASTER AND MAN couragously takes the reader to that place and time and asks essential questions.
Can you find nobility under a life littered with greed, manipulation, and disregard for others? When faced with letting go of how one has navigated through time, what thoughts fall away and what judgments are made? What does it take for change to occur in the last mome More...
Can you find nobility under a life littered with greed, manipulation, and disregard for others? When faced with letting go of how one has navigated through time, what thoughts fall away and what judgments are made? What does it take for change to occur in the last mome More...
Jan 02, 2009
Dayna
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i picked up this book a few weeks ago, someone left it at the book exchange that is at my workplace, i was bored, it was a particularly slow day due to the holidays, so i needed something to read, I admit i was not overly thrilled with the choice of Ｔｏｌｓｔｏｙ， ＬＯＬ ｂｕｔ ｉ ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ ｒｅａｉｎｇ ｉｔ ａｎｄ ｒｅａｌｌｙ ｌｉｋｅ ｉｔ． Ｉ ｆｉｎｉｓｈｅｄ ｔｈａｔ ｄａｙ， ｉｔ ｉｓ ｏｎｌｙ ａ ｓｈｏｒｔ ｗｏｒｋｓ， ｔｈｏｕｇｈ． Ｂｕｔ ｖｅｒｙ ｇｏｏｄ！ ; )
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Sep 30, 2008
Beautiful observed and told, poignant, classic Tolstoy short story. Wish it could have gone on a lot longer.
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Dec 28, 2011
Luana
rated it:
Nikita, le valet, fait attention au patron, au cheval, et à tous. Il ne vas pas à la messe, mais a de la pitié et de la bonté - et n'a pas de peur de la mort.
Vassílii Andréitch, le patron, ne pense qu'à son argent, "o objetivo, o significado, a alegria e o orgulho de toda a sua vida - o dinheiro que ganhara e que ainda podia ganhar". Il a de l'angoisse et du peur : il commence à prier et se rappelle des messes, mais non, les messes ne conduisent pas à Dieu. La nuit d'hiver en More...
Vassílii Andréitch, le patron, ne pense qu'à son argent, "o objetivo, o significado, a alegria e o orgulho de toda a sua vida - o dinheiro que ganhara e que ainda podia ganhar". Il a de l'angoisse et du peur : il commence à prier et se rappelle des messes, mais non, les messes ne conduisent pas à Dieu. La nuit d'hiver en More...
Nov 03, 2011
Saoirse
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Je crois que j'ai préféré Maître et serviteur à La mort d'Ivan Ilitch. Les descriptions sont parfaites, l'ambiance est vraiment restituée, on s'y croirait. J'avais peur, j'avais froid avec eux. Et je dois avouer avoir été surprise par la fin, je ne m'attendais pas à ça.
Review depuis cette édition :
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/227...
Review depuis cette édition :
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/227...
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Dec 21, 2011
Ross
rated it:
It was so nice to read something by LT that wasn't about Russian high society, Napolean, History, or war. It was also great to read something by him that was super short. This is the perfect War and Peace chaser, and I heartily recommend.
Also: always wear warm clothes if you're headed out into a blizzard in RUSSIA. Just saying.
Also: always wear warm clothes if you're headed out into a blizzard in RUSSIA. Just saying.
Feb 04, 2012
desertblues
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This short story reads like a fairy tale. A rich landowner,Vasili Andrevich Brekhunov, goes out in a snowstorm, with his servant Nikita. Together they get lost, get directions and get lost again.
Early on in the story, the character of the participants seems clear: a heartless rich man and a simple, honest servant who is cheated on by him. The landowner however, makes a spiritual journey as well and rises above himself, in order to save his servant.
Tolstoj makes it clear, that a person More...
Early on in the story, the character of the participants seems clear: a heartless rich man and a simple, honest servant who is cheated on by him. The landowner however, makes a spiritual journey as well and rises above himself, in order to save his servant.
Tolstoj makes it clear, that a person More...
May 04, 2011
Franc
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I read this excellent story of a Russian man and his servant lost on a doomed winter journey while I was bouncing along in a 24 max. mini-bus on a possibly doomed Russian journey of my own to Tolstoy's home, Yasnaya Polyana. A May Day to remember.
Nov 14, 2010
Craig
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Another inciteful study of the relationship of a proud and somewhat corrupt Russian land owner and one of his peasant servants. When confronted with a severe Russian snow storm and the prospect of imminent death, the land owner comes through and does the right thing. A worthwhile read
Oct 20, 2009
Melanie
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This is a short Tolstoy novella. He is really good at imagery--this book made me feel cold. However, I wasn't entirely convinced at the motives of the main characters. It's still really good. Tolstoy just understood people.
May 03, 2009
Mark
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One of Tolstoy's attempts to render the conversion experience comprehensible. As with "The Death of Ivan Ilych," it was a moving attempt which, by my lights, ultimately failed. Still worth reading, though.
Jul 11, 2011
Carol
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The story of a greedy, self-centered business man and his faithful servant and horse traveling in a difficult blizzard. The ending surprised me.
Jan 13, 2012
Jamie
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I was not really into this book. It was an interesting story. Sad. Not really the kind of style I like though. It is a good story if you like this style of writing.
Dec 25, 2007
Nathan
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Tolstoy deftly renders social and psychological tensions (between master and man) and nature's impingement on the bodies and souls of these two men journeying through the Russian wilderness. Confusion and dread mount as night descends and the blizzard intensifies, but a natural order based on true nobility takes form. Sadly, unlike the morally ambiguous tales of Dostoevsky, Tolstoy's culminates with a pithy Socialist moral. This irks me simply because I think "negative capability" is a
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Nov 05, 2011
Douglas
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You can't take it with you. And when snowstorms appear, go inside when you can.
Jul 18, 2011
Mossie
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Insanely slow; couldn't care less about the characters, and boring plot.
May 10, 2011
Barbara
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Once I got into the rhythm of it, it went very quickly. The ending was a little unexpected to me. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating is because I wished it had more details and show more emotion. On the other hand, however, in a way I did like the fact that Tolstoy didn't labor intensively over descriptions. The meaning of the book was not lost in a forest of words.
Mar 29, 2008
Sean
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I recently read many of Tolstoy's short works for a class I taught in Eastern European literature. What a treat! This one was recommended by one of my students, also a goodreads member, Shawna Williams, and it ranks for me all the way at the top of the list. It's hard to read this short novel and not see why Tolstoy stands among the greats -- it manages to present his philosophy of human purpose in crystal clear dramatic form while avoiding the moralizing that sometimes mars his work.
Nov 29, 2010
Brenda
rated it:
Well written if no slightly pedantic about Christian values and questions.
