A successful journey through the works of Leo Tolstoy depends on a reader’s background and goals. While his monumental novels can be intimidating, a strategic approach can make the experience both accessible and rewarding. This guide offers two distinct paths, tailored to different types of readers.
Path 1: For the Experienced Reader
If you have a solid background in 19th-century Western realist literature—having read authors like Jane Austen, Gustave Flaubert, or Henry James—you can go straight to Tolstoy’s most celebrated masterpieces. War and Peace and Anna Karenina represent the pinnacle of his art and are considered two of the greatest novels ever written. For an experienced reader, diving into these works directly can be a powerful and immediate way to appreciate his genius.
Path 2: For the Novice Reader
For those new to Tolstoy, a more gradual approach is highly recommended. The most illuminating way to read his work is in the chronological order of its publication, which allows you to trace the evolution of his style and thought.
Early Works: Begin with the autobiographical trilogy Childhood, Boyhood, Youth. Its youthful and earnest style is a gentle entry point. Next, read Sevastopol Sketches and the novellas The Cossacks and Family Happiness, which introduce two of his most enduring themes: war and marriage.
Mature Masterpieces: With this foundation, you can move on to his two epic novels, War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
Late Works: Conclude with his late novellas, such as The Death of Ivan Ilyich and The Kreutzer Sonata, which showcase his mature philosophical and spiritual concerns.
Contextual Reading
To further enrich your understanding, you can explore other authors who influenced Tolstoy or shared a similar style. Reading them can serve as excellent preparation or a meaningful complement to your journey through his work.
Authors who influenced Tolstoy: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Laurence Sterne, and Charles Dickens.
Authors with a similar style: Jane Austen, Alexander Pushkin, Gustave Flaubert, and Anton Chekhov.
Regardless of which path you choose, following the chronological development of Tolstoy’s writing is the most effective way to appreciate his transformation from a promising young writer into a true literary giant.