Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #139091 in Books
• Published on: 2005-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Synopsis
Does my life hold any significance that will outlast my death? This familiar question haunted Tolstoy, even after his grand achievements in the form of War and Peace and Anna Karenina. His A Confession marks the 51-year-old author's movement from the pursuit of aesthetic ideals toward matters of religious and philosophical consequence. Authentic and moving, it recaptures his heartfelt re-examination of Christian orthodoxy and subsequent spiritual awakening. Generations of readers have been inspired by this timeless account of an individual's struggle for faith and a meaningful existence. Unabridged republication of the Aylmer Maude translation as published by Oxford University Press, London, 1921.

Customer Reviews

Engaging little book
An engrossing account of Tolstoy's spiritual crisis, in which he grapples with the apparent meaningless of his life and existence in general.. As a person who went through a similar experience, this book meant a lot to me -- we had so many common feelings and struggles. It is very well-written and doesn't take long to read... well-worth it! My one complaint is that the book kind of leaves you hanging -- he goes through what led to his crisis but you're left wishing to know how his faith develops... but, there are other books by him about it.

Great commentary on life
When reading A Confession I felt as if I were listening to a wise, animated friend. This book spoke to me. Tolstoy convincingly details the reasons not to live only to conclude that the best thing to do is to continue living. Since it is not a particularly well-known Tolstoy work, I thought it deserved some promotion here. It really is wonderful.

Mandatory Reading
This was perhaps the greatest book I have ever read. What a trip! In just a short hour I experienced the devestating effects of a horrible depression to the uplifting accounts of unimaginable faith through an extraordinary man. I believe this should be mandatory reading for all highschool/college students. Setting the religious aspects aside, Tolstoy's unique contemplating process is one that I feel we should all be aware of. He examines everything; leaving no stone unturned. What a great work of art!