Classics and the Western Canon discussion
Discussion--Anna Karenina
>
About Leo Tolstoy
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Laurel
(new)
Dec 28, 2009 01:51PM
This thread is for any information or discussion you may have about the life and literary reputation of Count Leo Tolstoy, the author of Anna Karenina and War and Peace. You may begin posting to this thread at any time.
reply
|
flag
The following is a link to a site about Tolstoy's life and works, with plenty of paintings and photographs about his life and scenes from his novels, including Anna Karenina and War and Peace. Spoiler Warning : If you haven't read Anna Karenina before, you might want to avoid the relevant section.
http://www.utoronto.ca/tolstoy/tolsto...
Enjoy!
Sandybanks wrote: "The following is a link to a site about Tolstoy's life and works, with plenty of paintings and photographs about his life and scenes from his novels, including Anna Karenina and War and Peace. ht..."
I love that U of Toronto site, Sandybanks! Thanks!
A caveat: If you have never read Anna Karenina before, you probably want to avoid the Anna Karenina page for now.
Laurele wrote: "Sandybanks wrote: "The following is a link to a site about Tolstoy's life and works, with plenty of paintings and photographs about his life and scenes from his novels, including Anna Karenina and ..."Oh, I forgot to put a spoiler warning. I'll be more careful with them next time. Thanks for reminding me, Laurele.
Glad that you enjoy the site. Some of the paintings of Tolstoy and scenes from War and Peace are by Leonid Pasternak, the father of Boris Pasternak, the author of Dr. Zhivago.
Sandybanks wrote: Glad that you enjoy the site. Some of the paintings of Tolstoy and scenes from War and Peace are by Leonid Pasternak, the father of Boris Pasternak, the author of Dr. Zhivago.I went through all the paintings on the Toronto site the last time I read War and Peace. The subject of painting is especially important in Anna Karenina.
That is a fascinating site, isn't it? I love the paintings and photographs --- they really bring the period in which the novels take place alive.I wish I could have seen some of Vronsky's paintings. lol
Sandybanks wrote: "I wish I could have seen some of Vronsky's paintings. "Of course, since we haven't started discussing the book yet, that name you mention means nothing. [g:]
Everyman wrote: "Sandybanks wrote: "I wish I could have seen some of Vronsky's paintings. "Of course, since we haven't started discussing the book yet, that name you mention means nothing. [g:]
"
Er, does that count as a spoiler?
Reminder to self : must keep away from plot-related spoilers.
Sandybanks wrote: "Er, does that count as a spoiler? "Not really. That's why the [g:]. I probably shouldn't have said anything, but left it to Laurel.
It just eases into a reminder to those who know the book well to be aware. I certainly don't want to discourage those who know the book from participating actively; we need your insights and participation. I would be very unhappy if my comment caused you or anybody else to hold back from the discussion. And if an occasional mild spoiler inadvertently slips through, well, it happens.
Everyman wrote: "Sandybanks wrote: "Er, does that count as a spoiler? "Not really. That's why the [g:]. I probably shouldn't have said anything, but left it to Laurel.
It just eases into a reminder to those wh..."
Sounds good. : )
This article appeared in the Guardian today...Is Tolstoy the greatest writer of all time? What do today's novelists think of the great Russian author Leo Tolstoy?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010...
Stephen wrote: "This article appeared in the Guardian today...Is Tolstoy the greatest writer of all time? What do today's novelists think of the great Russian author Leo Tolstoy?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/..."
Great find, Stephen. I was especially interested in A. S. Byatt's paragraph. Here is the accompanying article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/...
Fascinating articles. So Tolstoy is much more respected abroad than in his native country. The new Russia just doesn't know what to do with his anti-state/ anti-clerical views.
Thanks so much for pointing me to these! I subscribe to the Guardian Weekly - they have wonderful book reviews and cultural commentary articles. These articles may be in next weeks paper (it is a roundup of sorts), or not. Fantastic! Thanks again!
Laurele wrote: "Great find, Stephen. I was especially interested in A. S. Byatt's paragraph. Here is the accompanying article:http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan......"
This is two reviews about the book from which the movie The Last Station was made.
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/17/boo...
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.u...
Thought this might prove informative. Especially, when we consider Tolstoy's influence on modern day writers http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010...
Vikz wrote: "Thought this might prove informative. Especially, when we consider Tolstoy's influence on modern day writers http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010..."Some interesting comments there. Thanks for finding it.
Vikz wrote: "Thought this might prove informative. Especially, when we consider Tolstoy's influence on modern day writers http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010..."I especially noticed the words of A S Byatt, whom I was wishing had followed Tolstoy's example in her latest novel:
"What is extraordinary about Tolstoy is the way in which his imagination was never daunted. His world is large, and his characters have their own life, and are not his puppets – even the ones he set out to disapprove of, such as Anna Karenina. His descriptions – of battlefields or mushroom-picking or meals – are full of exactly the right amount of idiosyncrasy and detail. He gives us more than enough information and still leaves space for the reader's imagination. He is the only writer I am not bothered by reading in translation: I don't notice what I might be missing as he sweeps me along. Celebrating him, we should also celebrate Constance Garnett, who changed the English novel and the English reader by translating the great Russians."
Laurele wrote: "Vikz wrote: "Thought this might prove informative. Especially, when we consider Tolstoy's influence on modern day writers http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2010..."..."
After you read something like The Children's Book, you have a new appreciation for Tolstoy's skill as a novelist in managing a large cast of characters in a historical epic.
Does anyone know if Tolstoy might have read Kierkegaard? Particularly Either/Or? I'm flashing back to that a lot as I read AK.
Thomas wrote: "Does anyone know if Tolstoy might have read Kierkegaard? Particularly Either/Or? I'm flashing back to that a lot as I read AK. "Oh my gosh, there's a name out of my past! I haven't read him for forty years or more.
Sandybanks wrote: After you read something like The Children's Book, you have a new appreciation for Tolstoy's skill as a novelist in managing a large cast of characters in a historical epic.How very true. And especially characters that we care about.
Everyman wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Does anyone know if Tolstoy might have read Kierkegaard? Particularly Either/Or? I'm flashing back to that a lot as I read AK. "Oh my gosh, there's a name out of my past! I haven'..."
Sorry -- didn't mean to startle you!
Anyway, I found the answer to my question, which is yes. Tolstoy did read Kierkegaard, even parts of Either/Or, but it wasn't until 1885, after AK was written.
Goncharov praised Kierkegaard effusively to his friend Leo Tolstoy, whose "The Death of Ivan Illyitch" a spellbound Hansen translated into Danish. It was for Tolstoy's sake, ultimately, that Hansen first rendered Kierkegaard into Russian.
http://www.stolaf.edu/collections/kie...
You'll find lists of some of the books that Tolstoy read or had on his shelves here:http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/W...
Poor Leo! Here's what one American publishing company is planning to do to celebrate the centenary of his death:http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/...
Laurele wrote: "Poor Leo! Here's what one American publishing company is planning to do to celebrate the centenary of his death:http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/..."
Nooo.
I found that rather amusing! But really - this is just a copyright thing.
