Essay, Biography or Paragraph on “Leo Tolstoy” complete biography for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Leo Tolstoy

Soviet Union : Mystic and Leading Novelist

Birth : 1828       Death : 1910

Count Leo Nicholaievich Tolstoy is the leading Russian novelist and one of the best known literay figures in the world. The universal fame of his writings rests on the fact that the human sentiments expressed therein hold appeal to the people of every era and every country. War and Peace is his masterpiece. Written in the background of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812, this novel provides an insight into the reactions and attitudes of the different classes of the Russian people to the invasion of Napoleon. Together with it, it also discusses philosophical and moral aspects of war. Some other important literary works of Tolstoy are Anna Karenina, The Slavery of our Times, Teachings of Christ, Resurrection, Wisdom of Children etc. Tolstoy has also written an autobiography which proclaims his philosophy of life.

Tolstoy was also a mystic who propounded a new form of Christianity in Russia which with its tenets departed radically from the Russian Orthodox Church. His writings including novels and religious works helped in spreading his new system of religious beliefs. People became his followers in a large number, yet, he is better known as a literary figure than a religious thinker.

Tolstoy was also a social thinker and ‘critic. He denounced social hypocrisies and ‘considered it absolutely essential to believe in the existence of God for the purification of soul.

Tolstoy is held in high esteem in India. He condemned the enslavement of India by the Britishers. The path of morality and spiritualism which Tolstoy advocated has great resemblance with the Gandhian  ideas. Tolstoy, in fact, exercised great influence on Gandhi. Gandhi took his idea of Non-cooperation from Tolstoy.