A message about the life of Leo Tolstoy. Well, a very short biography of Tolstoy. Maturity and creative flowering of a writer

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy (1828-1910) - Russian writer, publicist, thinker, educator, was a corresponding member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. Considered one of the world's greatest writers. His works have been filmed many times at world film studios, and his plays are staged on stages around the world.

Childhood

Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, Krapivinsky district, Tula province. Here was his mother's estate, which she inherited. The Tolstoy family had very extensive noble and count roots. In the highest aristocratic world there were relatives of the future writer everywhere. There was everyone in his family - a brethren-adventurer and an admiral, a chancellor and an artist, a lady-in-waiting and the first social beauty, a general and a minister.

Leo's dad, Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy, was a man with a good education, took part in the foreign campaigns of the Russian military against Napoleon, was captured in France, from where he escaped, and retired as a lieutenant colonel. When his father died, he inherited a lot of debts, and Nikolai Ilyich was forced to take a bureaucratic job. In order to save his upset financial component of the inheritance, Nikolai Tolstoy was legally married to Princess Maria Nikolaevna, who was no longer young and came from the Volkonskys. Despite the small calculation, the marriage turned out to be very happy. The couple had 5 children. The brothers of the future writer Kolya, Seryozha, Mitya and sister Masha. Leo was fourth among all.

After her last daughter, Maria, was born, her mother began to experience “childbirth fever.” In 1830 she died. Leo was not yet two years old at that time. And what a wonderful storyteller she was. Perhaps this is where Tolstoy’s early love for literature came from. Five children were left without a mother. Their upbringing had to be done by a distant relative, T.A. Ergolskaya.

In 1837, the Tolstoys left for Moscow, where they settled on Plyushchikha. The older brother, Nikolai, was going to go to university. But very soon and completely unexpectedly, the father of the Tolstoy family died. His financial affairs were not completed, and the three youngest children had to return to Yasnaya Polyana to be raised by Ergolskaya and their paternal aunt, Countess Osten-Sacken A.M. It was here that Leo Tolstoy spent his entire childhood.

The writer's early years

After the death of Aunt Osten-Sacken in 1843, the children had to move again, this time to Kazan under the guardianship of their father’s sister P. I. Yushkova. Leo Tolstoy received his primary education at home, his teachers were the good-natured German Reselman and the French tutor Saint-Thomas. In the autumn of 1844, following his brothers, Lev became a student at the Kazan Imperial University. At first he studied at the Faculty of Oriental Literature, later transferred to the Faculty of Law, where he studied for less than two years. He understood that this was absolutely not the occupation to which he would like to devote his life.

In the early spring of 1847, Lev abandoned his studies and went to Yasnaya Polyana, which he inherited. At the same time, he began keeping his famous diary, having adopted this idea from Benjamin Franklin, whose biography he became well acquainted with at the university. Just like the wisest American politician, Tolstoy set himself certain goals and tried with all his might to fulfill them, analyzed his failures and victories, actions and thoughts. This diary went with the writer throughout his life.

In Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy tried to build new relationships with the peasants, and also took up:

• learning English;
• jurisprudence;
• pedagogy;
• music;
• charity.

In the fall of 1848, Tolstoy went to Moscow, where he planned to prepare for and pass the candidate exams. Instead, a completely different social life with its excitement and card games opened up for him. In the winter of 1849, Lev moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg, where he continued to lead revelries and a riotous lifestyle. In the spring of this year, he began taking exams to become a candidate of rights, but, having changed his mind about taking the final exam, he returned to Yasnaya Polyana.

Here he continued to lead an almost metropolitan lifestyle - cards and hunting. However, in 1849, Lev Nikolaevich opened a school for peasant children in Yasnaya Polyana, where he sometimes taught himself, but mostly the lessons were taught by the serf Foka Demidovich.

Military service

At the end of 1850, Tolstoy began work on his first work, the famous trilogy “Childhood”. At the same time, Lev received an offer from his older brother Nikolai, who served in the Caucasus, to join the military service. The elder brother was an authority for Leo. After the death of his parents, he became the writer’s best and most faithful friend and mentor. At first, Lev Nikolaevich thought about the service, but a large gambling debt in Moscow accelerated the decision. Tolstoy went to the Caucasus and in the fall of 1851 he entered service as a cadet in an artillery brigade near Kizlyar.

Here he continued to work on the work “Childhood,” which he finished writing in the summer of 1852 and decided to send to the most popular literary magazine of that time, “Sovremennik.” He signed with the initials “L.” N.T.” and along with the manuscript he enclosed a small letter:

“I will eagerly await your verdict. He will either encourage me to write more or make me burn everything.”

At that time, the editor of Sovremennik was N. A. Nekrasov, and he immediately recognized the literary value of the Childhood manuscript. The work was published and was a huge success.

The military life of Lev Nikolaevich was too eventful:

• more than once he was in danger in skirmishes with the mountaineers commanded by Shamil;
• when the Crimean War began, he transferred to the Danube Army and took part in the battle of Oltenitz;
• participated in the siege of Silistria;
• in the battle of Chernaya he commanded a battery;
• during the assault on Malakhov Kurgan, he came under bombardment;
• held the defense of Sevastopol.

For military service, Lev Nikolaevich received the following awards:

• Order of St. Anne, 4th degree “For Bravery”;
• medal "In memory of the war of 1853-1856";
• medal "For the defense of Sevastopol 1854-1855".

The brave officer Leo Tolstoy had every chance of a military career. But he was only interested in writing. During his service, he did not stop composing and sending his stories to Sovremennik. Published in 1856, “Sevastopol Stories” finally established him as a new literary trend in Russia, and Tolstoy left military service forever.

Literary activity

He returned to St. Petersburg, where he made close acquaintances with N. A. Nekrasov, I. S. Turgenev, I. S. Goncharov. During his stay in St. Petersburg, he released several of his new works:

• "Blizzard",
• "Youth",
• "Sevastopol in August"
• "Two Hussars"

But very soon he became disgusted with social life, and Tolstoy decided to travel around Europe. He visited Germany, Switzerland, England, France, Italy. He described all the advantages and disadvantages he saw, the emotions he received in his works.

Returning from abroad in 1862, Lev Nikolaevich married Sofya Andreevna Bers. The brightest period of his life began, his wife became his absolute assistant in all matters, and Tolstoy could calmly do his favorite thing - composing works that later became world masterpieces.

Family, death and memory

Lev Nikolaevich lived in marriage and love with his wife for almost 50 years, they had 13 children, five of whom died while still young. There are many descendants of Lev Nikolaevich all over the world. Once every two years they gather in Yasnaya Polyana.

In life, Tolstoy always adhered to his certain principles. He wanted to be as close to the people as possible. He loved ordinary people very much.

In 1910, Lev Nikolaevich left Yasnaya Polyana, setting off on a journey that would correspond to his life views. Only his doctor went with him. There were no specific goals. He went to Optina Monastery, then to the Shamordino Monastery, then went to visit his niece in Novocherkassk. But the writer became ill; after suffering from a cold, pneumonia began.

In the Lipetsk region, at the Astapovo station, Tolstoy was taken off the train, admitted to the hospital, six doctors tried to save his life, but to their proposals Lev Nikolaevich quietly replied: “God will arrange everything.” After a whole week of heavy and painful breathing, the writer died in the house of the station master on November 20, 1910 at the age of 82 years.

The estate in Yasnaya Polyana, together with the natural beauty that surrounds it, is a museum-reserve. Three more museums of the writer are located in the village of Nikolskoye-Vyazemskoye, in Moscow and at the Astapovo station. Moscow also has the State Museum of L. N. Tolstoy.

Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich (1828 - 1910) is one of the most famous Russian writers and thinkers, one of the greatest writers in the world, educator, publicist and religious thinker.

Brief biography of Tolstoy

Write short biography of Tolstoy quite difficult, since he lived a long and very varied life.

In principle, all short biographies can be called “short” only conditionally. Nevertheless, we will try to convey in a concise form the main points of the biography of Leo Tolstoy.

Childhood and youth

The future writer was born in Yasnaya Polyana, Tula province, into a wealthy aristocratic family. He entered Kazan University, but then left it.

At the age of 23 he went to war with Chechnya and Dagestan. Here he began to write the trilogy “Childhood”, “Adolescence”, “Youth”.

In the Caucasus he took part in hostilities as an artillery officer. During the Crimean War he went to Sevastopol, where he continued to fight. After the end of the war, he went to St. Petersburg and published “Sevastopol Stories” in the Sovremennik magazine, which clearly reflected his outstanding writing talent.

In 1857 Tolstoy went on a trip to Europe. From his biography it clearly follows that this trip disappointed the thinker.

From 1853 to 1863 wrote the story “Cossacks”, after which he decided to interrupt his literary activity and become a landowner, doing educational work in the village. For this purpose, he went to Yasnaya Polyana, where he opened a school for peasant children and created his own system of pedagogy.

Creativity of Tolstoy

In 1863-1869 he wrote the fundamental work “War and Peace”. It was this work that brought him worldwide fame. In 1873-1877 the novel “Anna Karenina” was published.

Portrait of Leo Tolstoy

During these same years, the writer’s worldview was fully formed, which later resulted in the religious movement “Tolstoyism.” Its essence is indicated in the works: “Confession”, “What is my faith?” and "Kreutzer Sonata".

From Tolstoy’s biography it is clearly clear that the doctrine of “Tolstoyism” is set forth in the philosophical and religious works “Study of Dogmatic Theology”, “Connection and Translation of the Four Gospels”. The main emphasis in these works is on the moral improvement of man, the exposure of evil and non-resistance to evil through violence.

Later, a duology was published: the drama “The Power of Darkness” and the comedy “The Fruits of Enlightenment,” then a series of stories and parables about the laws of existence.

Admirers of the writer’s work came to Yasnaya Polyana from all over Russia and the world, whom they treated as a spiritual mentor. In 1899 the novel “Resurrection” was published.

The writer's latest works are the stories "Father Sergius", "After the Ball", "Posthumous Notes of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich" and the drama "The Living Corpse".

Tolstoy and the church

Tolstoy's confessional journalism gives a detailed idea of ​​his spiritual drama: painting pictures of social inequality and idleness of the educated strata, Tolstoy harshly posed questions of the meaning of life and faith to society, criticized all state institutions, going so far as to deny science, art, court, marriage, achievements of civilization.

Tolstoy's social declaration is based on the idea of ​​Christianity as a moral teaching, and he interpreted the ethical ideas of Christianity in a humanistic manner, as the basis of the universal brotherhood of man.

In a short biography of Tolstoy, there is no point in mentioning the writer’s numerous harsh statements about the church, but they can be easily found in various sources.

In 1901, a decree of the Holy Governing Synod was issued, which officially announced that Count Leo Tolstoy was no longer a member of the Orthodox Church, since his (publicly expressed) beliefs were incompatible with such membership.

This caused an enormous public outcry, since Tolstoy’s popular authority was extremely great, although everyone was well aware of the writer’s critical mood in relation to the Christian church.

Last days and death

On October 28, 1910, Tolstoy secretly left Yasnaya Polyana from his family, fell ill on the way and was forced to get off the train at the small Astapovo railway station of the Ryazan-Ural Railway.

Here, seven days later, in the house of the station master, he died at the age of 82.

We hope that a short biography of Tolstoy will interest you for further study of his creative heritage. And the last thing: you may not know this, but in mathematics there is a riddle of Tolstoy, the author of which is the great writer himself. We highly recommend checking it out.

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Very short biography (in a nutshell)

Born on September 9, 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, Tula province. Father - Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy (1794-1837), military man, official. Mother - Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya (1790 - 1830). In 1844 he entered the Imperial Kazan University, which he left after 2 years. From 1851 he spent 2 years in the Caucasus. In 1854 he took part in the defense of Sevastopol. From 1857 to 1861 (with interruptions) he traveled around Europe. In 1862 he married Sophia Bers. They had 9 sons and 4 daughters. Also, he had an illegitimate son. In 1869, Tolstoy completed the book War and Peace. In 1901 he was excommunicated from the church. He died on November 20, 1910 at the age of 82. He was buried in Yasnaya Polyana. Main works: “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina”, “Resurrection”, “Childhood”, “Kreutzer Sonata”, “After the Ball” and others.

Brief biography (details)

Leo Tolstoy is a great Russian writer and thinker, an honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and an academician of fine literature. Tolstoy is revered and widely known throughout the world as the greatest educator, publicist and religious thinker. His ideas contributed to the emergence of a new religious movement called Tolstoyism. He is the author of such world classics as “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina”, “Hadji Murad”. Some of his works have been repeatedly filmed both in Russia and abroad.

Lev Nikolaevich was born on September 9, 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, Tula province, into a wealthy noble family. He studied at Kazan University, which he later left. At the age of 23, he went to war in the Caucasus, where he began writing a trilogy: “Childhood”, “Adolescence”, “Youth”. Then he participated in the Crimean War, after which he returned to St. Petersburg. Here he published his “Sevastopol Stories” in the Sovremennik magazine. In the period from 1853 to 1863, Tolstoy wrote the story “Cossacks,” but was forced to interrupt his work to return to Yasnaya Polyana and open a school there for rural children. He managed to create his own teaching methodology.

Tolstoy wrote his most significant work, War and Peace, from 1863 to 1869. The author wrote his next, no less brilliant work, Anna Karenina, from 1873 to 1877. At the same time, his philosophical views on life were being formed, which were later called “Tolstoyism.” The essence of these views is visible in the Confession, in the Kreutzer Sonata and some other works. Thanks to Tolstoy, Yasnaya Polyana became a kind of place of worship. People from all over Russia came to listen to him as a spiritual mentor. In 1901, the world famous writer was officially excommunicated from the church.

In October 1910, Tolstoy secretly left home and left by train. On the way, he fell sharply ill and was forced to get off at Astapovo, where he spent the last seven days of his life in the house of the station chief I. I. Ozolin. The great writer died on November 20 at the age of 82 and was buried in the forest in Yasnaya Polyana on the edge of a ravine, where he played with his brother as a child.

Brief biography video (for those who prefer to listen)

Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, Tula province, the fourth child in a wealthy aristocratic family. Tolstoy lost his parents early; his further upbringing was carried out by his distant relative T. A. Ergolskaya. In 1844, Tolstoy entered Kazan University at the Department of Oriental Languages ​​of the Faculty of Philosophy, but because... classes did not arouse any interest in him, in 1847. submitted his resignation from the university. At the age of 23, Tolstoy, together with his older brother Nikolai, left for the Caucasus, where he took part in hostilities. These years of the writer's life were reflected in the autobiographical story "Cossacks" (1852-63), in the stories "Raid" (1853), "Cutting Wood" (1855), as well as in the later story "Hadji Murat" (1896-1904, published in 1912). In the Caucasus, Tolstoy began to write the trilogy “Childhood”, “Adolescence”, “Youth”.

During the Crimean War he went to Sevastopol, where he continued to fight.

In the fall of 1856, Tolstoy, having retired, decided to interrupt his literary activity and become a landowner, went to Yasnaya Polyana, where he was engaged in educational work, opened a school, and created his own system of pedagogy. This activity fascinated Tolstoy so much that in 1860 he even went abroad to get acquainted with the schools of Europe.

In September 1862, Tolstoy married the eighteen-year-old daughter of a doctor, Sofya Andreevna Bers, and immediately after the wedding, he took his wife from Moscow to Yasnaya Polyana, where he completely devoted himself to family life and household concerns, but by the fall of 1863 he was captured by a new literary plan, as a result of which the world was born. the fundamental work “War and Peace” appeared. In 1873-1877 created the novel Anna Karenina.

During these same years, the writer’s worldview, known as Tolstoyism, was fully formed, the essence of which is visible in the works: “Confession”, “What is my faith?”, “The Kreutzer Sonata”.

Admirers of the writer’s work came to Yasnaya Polyana from all over Russia and the world, whom they treated as a spiritual mentor.

In 1899, the novel “Resurrection” was published.

The writer’s latest works were the stories “Father Sergius”, “After the Ball”, “Posthumous Notes of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich” and the drama “The Living Corpse”.

In the late autumn of 1910, at night, secretly from his family, 82-year-old Tolstoy, accompanied only by his personal doctor D.P. Makovitsky, left Yasnaya Polyana, fell ill on the road and was forced to get off the train at the small Astapovo railway station of the Ryazan-Ural Railway. Here, in the house of the station chief, he spent the last seven days of his life. November 7 (20) Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy died.

Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich was born on 08/28/1828 (or 09/09/1828 according to the old style). Died - 11/07/1910 (11/20/1910).

In the Caucasus he took part in hostilities as an artillery officer. During the Crimean War he went to Sevastopol, where he continued to fight. After the end of the war, he went to St. Petersburg and published “Sevastopol Stories” in the Sovremennik magazine, which clearly reflected his outstanding writing talent. In 1857, Tolstoy went on a trip to Europe, which disappointed him.

From 1853 to 1863 He wrote the story “Cossacks”, after which he decided to interrupt his literary activity and become a landowner, doing educational work in the village. For this purpose, he went to Yasnaya Polyana, where he opened a school for peasant children and created his own system of pedagogy.

In 1863-1869 He wrote his fundamental work “War and Peace”. In 1873-1877. He created the novel Anna Karenina. During these same years, the writer’s worldview, known as Tolstoyism, was fully formed, the essence of which is visible in the works: “Confession”, “What is my faith?”, “The Kreutzer Sonata”.

The teaching is set out in the philosophical and religious works “Study of Dogmatic Theology”, “Connection and Translation of the Four Gospels”, where the main emphasis is on the moral improvement of man, the denunciation of evil, and non-resistance to evil through violence.
Later, a duology was published: the drama “The Power of Darkness” and the comedy “The Fruits of Enlightenment,” then a series of stories and parables about the laws of existence.

Admirers of the writer’s work came to Yasnaya Polyana from all over Russia and the world, whom they treated as a spiritual mentor. In 1899, the novel “Resurrection” was published.

Tolstoy's last works

The writer's latest works are the stories "Father Sergius", "After the Ball", "Posthumous Notes of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich" and the drama "The Living Corpse".

Tolstoy's confessional journalism gives a detailed idea of ​​his spiritual drama: painting pictures of social inequality and idleness of the educated strata, Tolstoy harshly posed questions of the meaning of life and faith to society, criticized all state institutions, going so far as to deny science, art, court, marriage, achievements of civilization. Tolstoy's social declaration is based on the idea of ​​Christianity as a moral teaching, and he interpreted the ethical ideas of Christianity in a humanistic manner, as the basis of the universal brotherhood of man. In 1901, the reaction of the Synod followed: the world famous writer was officially excommunicated from the church, which caused a huge public outcry.

Death

On October 28, 1910, Tolstoy secretly left Yasnaya Polyana from his family, fell ill on the way and was forced to get off the train at the small Astapovo railway station of the Ryazan-Ural Railway. Here, in the station master's house, he spent the last seven days of his life.