2023 Short Story Oct-Dec: The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Short Stories by Tolstoy

[Samantha, Creole Literary Belle]

The last quarter of 2023 brings us a Russian author by popular demand: Leo Tolstoy with his book The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories. You might be more familiar with Tolstoy from his more popular novels such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina, but he is renowned as a great storyteller in either short story or novel form.

There are of course many editions of this book, and translations or introductions will make the book appear longer or shorter. Not all editions may have the same stories, but that is okay. Please share which stories of Tolstoy you are reading and your thoughts on them.

For those curious, here is a link from the History Channel with facts you might not know about Tolstoy: https://www.history.com/news/5-things...

[Helen]

I read this story some time ago, and I highly recommend it. I also have an old audiobook version on cassette with the Kreutzer Sonata playing in the background. It's fascinating to see how the music is reflected in the story.

[Christy]

I have tired valiantly to get to the end of this admittedly short novela/short story and 2/3 of the way thru, I'm abandoning this. I just could not stand the main character. I attempted to find anything to connect to or that I could find redeeming, but found him full of justifications and so full of himself that I simply had no care left. It may be well crafted, but I decided a number of years back that I no longer force myself to finish books I've given a fair try just as I no longer try to endure men such as this who are full of ridiculous reasons for their bad behavior.

[Samantha, Creole Literary Belle]

Christy, that's very fair! There are too many potentially awesome books on my reading list for me to waste time with a book I am not enjoying, classic or no. I appreciate you giving your reasons for not finishing the collection.

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I absolutely loathed the main character in The Kreutzer Sonata!

[Rosemarie, Northern Roaming Scholar]

I prefer Tolstoy's more spiritual stories, like How Much Land Does a Man Need?.

[Nidhi]

I finished reading The Kreutzer Sonata, it is a social commentary more than a story, hence its historical importance.

It is a bit difficult read, but i expected that from Tolstoy , i knew he has some feminist outlook (from Anna Karenina) but this was a total dissection of a society that creates such feminists, or ignores femininity so ignobly.

Highly recommended.

[ForestGardenGal]

So, I found and am reading a similar but different book of Tolstoy short stories, six stories instead of four, at least two are the same stories. Found in my local library, a book published in 1950 by the "Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow" and translated by Margaret Wettlin.

I would love to know the story of how this book came from Moscow to be in the public library in Placerville, California 73 years later!

Short Stories : Two Hussars, Yardstick, A Happy Married Life, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, the Kreutzer Sonata, After the Ball by Lev Tolstoi (alternate spelling - translated but not anglicized)

It will be interesting to see if this entire book follows the same pattern of translation without anglicization. I do own a modern English translation of The Death of Ivan Ilyich, so I can compare at least that one!

I think we can safely assume that "A Happy Married Life" in my version is the same story as the "Family Happiness" in the version you are reading, and the Kreutzer Sonata is obviously the same story. I don't know if the Devil and Father Sergius are in my version under alternate titles.

[Samantha, Creole Literary Belle]

That's the interesting thing about short story collections and translations. The stories contained within may vary, and the wording of titles or stories could be different.

Please let us know what you think of the different stories within your copy. We seem to have a lot of Russian lit fans here, and I'm sure others would love to hear thoughts on stories outside of the collection we have highlighted.

[ForestGardenGal]

So, I am getting very different impressions about the The Kreutzer Sonata in my book Short Stories : Two Hussars, Yardstick, A Happy Married Life, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, the Kreutzer Sonata, After the Ball than what I am seeing from others reviews, and I think it must come down to the difference in translations. The Kreutzer Sonata I am reading is a story in which Tolstoy says many very thought provoking things about relationships and the degradation of women through objectification by men as is deemed acceptable by society. Yes, it is told by a man who has killed his wife, but it is more about the semi-slavery women are subjected to than any theme resembling "the adulterous woman must die" which is the theme I see in many reviews.

Here's one very obvious example of a change in meaning from one translation to another. This passage was quoted from a different translation than the one I am reading:

In the city the wretched feel less sad. One can live there a hundred years without being noticed, and be dead a long time before anybody will notice it.

The translation I am reading differs substantially, as follows:

It is easier for unhappy people to live in town. In town a person can live a hundred years without realizing he has died and gone to dust long ago. There is no time to 'know thyself'. Everyone is too busy.

The passage in the first translation appears to be about being lost or forgotten in a crowd, even dying without anyone noticing. In the second translation the passage isn't about simple anonymity; it is a philosophical statement about the lack of self-awareness that is possible in the city due to distraction and the ability to stay forever busy; it is about walking around without noticing that you are not alive at all.

I am amazed by how much the translations change the meaning, but I suppose I am not all that surprised. I am inclined to suggest that the translation I am reading may be closer to Tolstoy's original intent, since his works generally have a strong philosophical tendency, as I am seeing, but I am no expert on Tolstoy or Russian literature.

Has anyone read this story in Russian?

[Mark]

I really love the title story here. The authenticity of the dynamic between the unhappy protagonists is most remarkably portrayed. The heroine’s ability to play the piano part of the Beethoven sonata elevates her to a level of artistry hard to put into words. It is a kickin piece of music. One of Tolstoy’s best efforts, to my mind! >)