Tolstoy as Philosopher. Essential Short Writings: An Anthology

by Leo Tolstoy, Inessa Medzhibovskaya (Editor), Inessa Medzhibovskaya (Translator)

Overview

The Society for Textual Scholarship Richard J. Finneran Award, Honorable Mention, 2023. 

For the best edition or book about editorial theory and/or practice published in the English language during 2021-2022.

Beginning with Tolstoy’s first extant records of his written œuvre, this anthology assembles seventy-seven unabridged texts that cover more than seven decades of his life, from 1835 to 1910. It constitutes the most complete single-volume edition to date of the rich variety of Tolstoy’s philosophical output: apothegmatic sayings, visions, intimate sketchbook and day notes, book reviews, open letters, dialogues, pedagogic talks, public lectures, programs and rules for personal behavior, fictions, and reminiscences. Most of these newly translated and thoroughly annotated texts have never been available in English. Among the four reprinted translations personally checked and authorized by Tolstoy is the text titled “Tolstoy on Venezuela,” an archival restoration of an authentic first publication in English of “Patriotism, or Peace?” (1896) that had been deemed lost. In the inaugural piece, a seven-year-old Tolstoy describes violent but natural animal life in contrast with the lazy life of a peaceful barnyard in the countryside. The last entry in the anthology written by an eighty-year-old Tolstoy for his grandchildren provides a lesson on vegetarianism and non-violence that a hungry wolf teaches a hungry boy during their conversation when both are on their way to lunch.

It was the insolvable, the “scandalous,” problems of philosophy that never gave Tolstoy any rest: freedom of the will, religious tolerance, gender inequality, the tonal shape of music, the value of healthy life habits, the responsibilities of teaching, forms of social protest, cognitive development, science in society, the relation between body and mind, charity and labor, human dignity and public service, sexual psychology, national war doctrines, suicide, individual sacrifice, the purposes of making art. And always: What are the sources of violence? Why should we engage in politics? Why do we need governments? How can one practice non-violence? What is the meaning of our irrepressible desire to seek and find meaning? Why can't we live without loving? The typeset proofs of his final insights were brought to Tolstoy for approval when he was already on his deathbed. The reader will find all the texts in the exact shape and order of completion as Tolstoy left them. No matter their brevity or the occasion on which they were written, these works exemplify Tolstoy as an artistically inventive and intellectually absorbing thinker.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781644694022
Publisher:	Academic Studies Press
Publication date:	10/25/2022
Pages:	426
Sales rank:	958,412
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.87(d)

About the Author

Inessa Medzhibovskaya holds tenure in Liberal and Literary Studies at The New School for Social Research and Eugene Lang College. Her eight published books include the first definitive biography of Tolstoy’s religious and philosophical evolution, several archival studies of his art and thought, and a book-length entry on Tolstoy with Oxford Bibliographies. A history of Tolstoy’s afterlife is upcoming with Princeton.

Date of Birth:

September 9, 1828

Date of Death:

November 20, 1910

Place of Birth:

Tula Province, Russia

Place of Death:

Astapovo, Russia

Education:

Privately educated by French and German tutors; attended the University of Kazan, 1844-47

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Credits
Illustrations
A Note on the Text
Editor’s Introduction—"The Magic Mountain”: On the Textual Shape of Tolstoy’s Philosophy

Section I. Fragments, Letters, Notes, Reflections, and Talks

Part 1. Tolstoy’s Juvenilia (1835–50)

1. Childhood Fancies [1835]
2. Love of the Fatherland [Amour de la Patrie]
3. A Fragment on the Past, the Present, and the Future [end of the 1830s/the early 1840s]
4. Notes on the Second Chapter of the “Caractères” of La Bruyère [end of the 1830s/the early 1840s]
5. Philosophical Observations on the Discourses of J. J. Rousseau [ca. 1847–52]
6. A Fragment without a Title I [undated, 1840s]
7. A Fragment without a Title II [undated, 1840s]
8. On the Aim of Philosophy [undated, 1840s]
9. A Fragment without a Title III [undated, ca. 1847]
10. A Fragment on Criminal Law [1847]
11. Three Fragments on Music [1848–50]

Part 2: Writings of the 1850s

12. Why People Write [1851]
13. On Prayer [1852]
14. A Note on Farming [1856]
15. Letter to Count Bludov [1856]
16. On Military Criminal Law [1856]
17. A Note on The Nobility [1858]
18. A Talk Delivered at the Society of Lovers of Russian Literature [1859]

Part 3: Writings of the 1860s
19. On Violence [late 1850s–early 1860s]
20. On the Tasks of Pedagogy [1860]
21. On the Character of Thinking in Youth and in Old Age [1862–63]
22. On Religion [1865]
23. A Speech in Defense of Soldier Vasilii Shibunin [1866]
24. Progress [1868]
25. On Marriage and On Woman’s Vocation [ca. September–December 1868]
26. A Philosophical Fragment [1868]
27. The Society of Independents [1868–69]

Part 4: Writings of the 1870s
28. On the Afterlife outside of Time and Space [1875]
29. On the Soul and Its Life beyond the Life Known and Comprehensible to Us [1875]
30. A Letter to N. N. Strakhov [November 30, 1875]
31. On the Significance of Christian Religion [1875–76]
32. A Conversation about Science [1875–76]
33. The Definition of Religion-Faith [1875–76]
34. The Psychology of Everyday [1875–76]
35. A Christian Catechism [1877]
36. Interlocutors [1877–78]

Part 5: Writings of the 1880s
37. The Kingdom of God [1879–86]
38. What a Christian Should and Should Not Do [1879–86]
39. To Whom Do We Belong? [1879–86]
40. The Sermon on the Mount [1884]
41. On Charity [1885]
42. Preface to Tsvetnik [The Flower Garland] [1886]
43. The Concept of Life [1887]

Part 6: Writings of the 1890s
44. On Science and Art [1889–91]
45. Concerning the Freedom of the Will (from the unpublished work) [1894]
46. A Letter to Alexander Macdonald about Resurrection [1895]*
47. How Should the Gospel Be Read and Of What Does Its Essence Consist? [1896]
48. Patriotism, or Peace? [1896]*
49. Preface to Modern Science by Edward Carpenter [1897-98]*

Part 7: Writings of the 1900s
50. On Religious Tolerance [1901]
51. On the Consciousness of the Spiritual [1903]
52. Introduction to A Short Biography of Garrison [1903–04]*
53. On the Social Movement in Russia [January 13, 1905]
54. Discourses with Children on Moral Questions [1907]
55. Introduction to the Collection, Selected Thoughts of La Bruyère [1907]
56. Religion and Science [August 1908]
57. Reminiscences about the Court-Martial of a Soldier [1908]
58. A Variant of the Article “On Upbringing” [1909]
59. A Letter to a Student Concerning Law [1909]
60. On Signposts [O Vekhakh] [1909]
61. Reminiscences about N. Ia. Grot [1910]
62. On Insanity [1910]
63. Introduction to The Path of Life [1910]

Section II. Fictions

Part 8: Exercises, Parables, Parodies, Satires, Tales, Vitae, and Visions
64. Apprentice’s Writings [ca. 1839; but no later than 1840–41]
65. A Tale about How Another Girl Named Varinka Grew Up Fast [1857–58]
66. A DREAM [1857–58] 1st version
67. A DREAM [1863] 2nd version
68. An Anecdote about a Bashful Young Man [1868–69]
69. A Fairy Tale [1873]
70. The Vita and Martyrdom of Justin the Philosopher [1874–75]
71. A Colloquy of Idlers [1887]
72. Three Parables [1895]
73. Two Different Versions of the History of the Beehive with a Lacquer-Painted Lid [1888/1900]
74. Labor, Death, and Sickness [1903]
75. Three Questions [1903]
76. This Is You [1903]
77. The Wolf [1908]

Notes
Further Reading in English
Index of Names and Titles
Index of Terms

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Discovering any untranslated work of Leo Tolstoy is akin to finding buried treasure. Inessa Medzhibovskaya in this lovely volume unearths a cache of short writings and burnishes them for the reader in English with excellent translations and expert commentary. The collection shows Tolstoy’s appreciation of life and quest for meaning from his earliest to his last writings. As a seven-year-old child in 1835 he noted observations about birds, and two years later wrote about patriotism—both essays are in the volume. The compendium concludes with a cycle of tales written for the relief of survivors of the Easter pogroms of 1903 in Kishinev, as well as the introduction to his final book, The Path of Life (1910). The writings, the introductory essay, and the notes make this an excellent companion volume for biographies of Tolstoy, but it also stands alone. The fluidity and clarity of translation will reward those who dip into sections as well as those who read straight through. Medzhibovskaya gives new insight into the life course and philosophical development of this marvelously perplexing man.”

– Jeffrey Brooks, author of The Firebird and the Fox: Russian Culture under Tsars and Bolsheviks

“A major contribution to Tolstoy studies. Medzhibovskaya’s research, based on decades of scholarship and archival work on Tolstoy, is impeccable. She places the writings into the broader contexts of his life and thoughts. Many of the works appear for the first time in English translation. Tolstoy scholars, general readers, and philosophy specialists will benefit from the breadth of the writings and from Medzhibovskaya’s erudition. She also highlights nuances of Tolstoy’s language.

The reader can experience the joy of discovery from reading the many unknown writings on science; art; music; the meaning of life; justice; Tolstoy’s question about why a tree grows; his views on psychiatry; on how to prevent suicide. He talks about tolerance; love; happiness; morality; ethics; how to avoid the causes of war; politics; religion. The writings span Tolstoy’s life, from what he wrote as a young boy, to what he wrote, at 80, about vegetarianism, for his young grandchildren.”

– Ellen Chances, Professor of Russian Literature, Princeton University

“In this mix of Tolstoy’s short works on philosophical questions, his readers will find the unadulterated essence of the questions on life and on death that he novelizes in War and Peace and Anna Karenina and explores elsewhere in his writing. This anthology is a treasure trove for students, scholars, seekers, and all interested in Tolstoy’s thought and thought processes. Arranged chronologically, the volume shows that Tolstoy began his quest to understand the meaning of life as a boy and never gave up.

As compiler, translator, and annotator, Inessa Medzhibovskaya has done a masterful job. She draws on her comprehensive understanding of all Tolstoy’s oeuvre and on her unparalleled familiarity with his philosophical works to make this anthology especially valuable.”

– Liza Knapp, Professor of Slavic Languages, Columbia University

“Those who read Tolstoy only in English – and many who read him in Russian – are used to thinking of him as first a writer and then, in old age, a political and religious thinker and a social activist. This unique volume includes writings, most of them translated for the first time, that together comprise a ‘biography’ of the development of his thought from childhood on. They range over many genres, from maxims to letters to fiction to memoirs to hybrid forms and much more. Meticulously translated almost entirely by editor Inessa Medzhibovskaya and, just as importantly, annotated and commented upon in great detail by her, they make available a new tool for English and Russian readers alike for understanding both him and his art.”

– Donna Tussing Orwin, Professor, Universityof Toronto and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

“This book presents the truly philosophical material that has never been translated. The inspiring academic dedication of Inessa Medzhobovskaya and her hard and enduring work in the archives and libraries of the Leo Tolstoy Museums in Moscow and Yasnaya Polyana brilliantly resulted in this volume of Leo Tolstoy’s works, An Anthology, translated, edited and introduced by Prof. Medzhiboskaya. The volume, accompanied by Further Reading, Index of Names and Titles, Index of Terms, makes the edition immensely valuable not only for the academic readers but for the general public interested in Tolstoy’s work and life. My sincere congratulations to Inessa Medzhibovskaya on behalf of the Yasnaya Polyana researchers who know Prof. Medzhibovskaya as a dear friend and a recognized Tolstoy scholar.”

– Galina Alekseeva, PhD, Academic Director, The Leo Tolstoy Museum-Estate at Yasnaya Polyana

Editorial Reviews

Inessa Medzhibovskaya's collection brings together seventy-seven essential texts, marking an unprecedented endeavor in capturing the breadth of Tolstoy’s philosophical journey. Medzhibovskaya's meticulous translation and editing efforts illuminate the evolution of Tolstoy’s thought, from his earliest writings to his later reflections… Such a comprehensive and textologically-sound compilation is a first, and provides a valuable resource for Tolstoy scholars and enthusiasts, especially those not fluent in Russian. Medzhibovskaya's clear and authoritative translations make these texts accessible and may well establish her edition as a go-to reference in Tolstoy studies. The inclusion of such diverse and lesser-known works in one volume not only enriches our understanding of Tolstoy's philosophical journey but also underscores the depth and breadth of his intellectual pursuits.”

— Michael A. Denner, Tolstoy Studies Journal

“As a whole, both sections of this book provide readers the opportunity to explore the extraordinary flow of Tolstoy’s thinking, moving progressively from one theme to another. We can explore thereby the evolution of ideas and notions—from the writer’s childhood to the peak of his creative powers, until his death in 1910. This way, the philosophical side of Tolstoy’s personality is revealed. Indeed, an incredible and amazing journey into the world of literature and philosophy is offered by the editor of this book. … This anthology as a whole is a perfectly structured source, revealing the essence of Tolstoy’s philosophical ideas and aspirations. The book may be of great interest to connoisseurs of the literary heritage of this Russian writer, as well as for the more sophisticated readers well acquainted with Tolstoy’s biography, diaries, and notebooks. What is certain is that the novelty of the published material can enable further research on Tolstoy’s philosophical writings.”

— Iuliia Kuznetsova, Studies in East European Thought

“Discovering any untranslated work of Leo Tolstoy is akin to finding buried treasure. Inessa Medzhibovskaya in this lovely volume unearths a cache of short writings and burnishes them for the reader in English with excellent translations and expert commentary. The collection shows Tolstoy’s appreciation of life and quest for meaning from his earliest to his last writings. As a seven-year-old child in 1835 he noted observations about birds, and two years later wrote about patriotism—both essays are in the volume. The compendium concludes with a cycle of tales written for the relief of survivors of the Easter pogroms of 1903 in Kishinev, as well as the introduction to his final book, The Path of Life (1910). The writings, the introductory essay, and the notes make this an excellent companion volume for biographies of Tolstoy, but it also stands alone. The fluidity and clarity of translation will reward those who dip into sections as well as those who read straight through. Medzhibovskaya gives new insight into the life course and philosophical development of this marvelously perplexing man.”

– Jeffrey Brooks, author of The Firebird and the Fox: Russian Culture under Tsars and Bolsheviks

“A major contribution to Tolstoy studies. Medzhibovskaya’s research, based on decades of scholarship and archival work on Tolstoy, is impeccable. She places the writings into the broader contexts of his life and thoughts. Many of the works appear for the first time in English translation. Tolstoy scholars, general readers, and philosophy specialists will benefit from the breadth of the writings and from Medzhibovskaya’s erudition. She also highlights nuances of Tolstoy’s language. 

The reader can experience the joy of discovery from reading the many unknown writings on science; art; music; the meaning of life; justice; Tolstoy’s question about why a tree grows; his views on psychiatry; on how to prevent suicide. He talks about tolerance; love; happiness; morality; ethics; how to avoid the causes of war; politics; religion. The writings span Tolstoy’s life, from what he wrote as a young boy, to what he wrote, at 80, about vegetarianism, for his young grandchildren.”

– Ellen Chances, Professor of Russian Literature, Princeton University

“In this mix of Tolstoy’s short works on philosophical questions, his readers will find the unadulterated essence of the questions on life and on death that he novelizes in War and Peace and Anna Karenina and explores elsewhere in his writing. This anthology is a treasure trove for students, scholars, seekers, and all interested in Tolstoy’s thought and thought processes. Arranged chronologically, the volume shows that Tolstoy began his quest to understand the meaning of life as a boy and never gave up. 

As compiler, translator, and annotator, Inessa Medzhibovskaya has done a masterful job. She draws on her comprehensive understanding of all Tolstoy’s oeuvre and on her unparalleled familiarity with his philosophical works to make this anthology especially valuable.”  

– Liza Knapp, Professor of Slavic Languages, Columbia University

“Those who read Tolstoy only in English – and many who read him in Russian – are used to thinking of him as first a writer and then, in old age, a political and religious thinker and a social activist. This unique volume includes writings, most of them translated for the first time, that together comprise a ‘biography’ of the development of his thought from childhood on. They range over many genres, from maxims to letters to fiction to memoirs to hybrid forms and much more. Meticulously translated almost entirely by editor Inessa Medzhibovskaya and, just as importantly, annotated and commented upon in great detail by her, they make available a new tool for English and Russian readers alike for understanding both him and his art.”

– Donna Tussing Orwin, Professor, University of Toronto and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

“This book presents the truly philosophical material that has never been translated. The inspiring academic dedication of Inessa Medzhobovskaya and her hard and enduring work in the archives and libraries of the Leo Tolstoy Museums in Moscow and Yasnaya Polyana brilliantly resulted in this volume of Leo Tolstoy’s works, An Anthology, translated, edited and introduced by Prof. Medzhiboskaya. The volume, accompanied by Further Reading, Index of Names and Titles, Index of Terms, makes the edition immensely valuable not only for the academic readers but for the general public interested in Tolstoy’s work and life. My sincere congratulations to Inessa Medzhibovskaya on behalf of the Yasnaya Polyana researchers who know Prof. Medzhibovskaya as a dear friend and a recognized Tolstoy scholar.”

– Galina Alekseeva, PhD, Academic Director, The Leo Tolstoy Museum-Estate at Yasnaya Polyana

From the Publisher