The Kreutzer Sonata was written after hearing the music played, which affected him strongly: he was white and suffering, and arranged to have it played again. As a result of the first hearing he made love to Sonya—if that is the word for it—and as a result of that, she got pregnant with the little boy Ivan, who died seven years later and caused Tolstoy to insist: There is no death.
Lessig: Tolstoy and Kreutzers Sonata.
