A Confession by Leo Tolstoy

A Confession -- an essay by Leo Tolstoy on his religious thoughts -- shows the great author in process of looking for answers to profound questions that trouble all who take them on: "What will come of my life?" and "What is the meaning of life?" these are questions whose answers were an absolute requirement for Tolstoy.

A Confession by Leo Tolstoy, written between 1879 and 1880, is a deeply personal and philosophical work that explores the author’s spiritual crisis and search for the meaning of life. At the time, Tolstoy was grappling with questions about faith, existence, and the purpose of human life, which he found increasingly difficult to reconcile with his wealth, success, and the rationalism of the 19th century.

The book serves as a spiritual autobiography in which Tolstoy describes his journey from a life of privilege and literary fame to a state of profound existential despair. He recounts how he sought meaning through intellectual pursuits, hedonism, and societal approval but ultimately found them unsatisfying. His despair led him to contemplate suicide, but he later found solace in the simple, devout faith of the Russian peasantry and the teachings of Christianity.

A Confession is a raw and introspective work, addressing themes of faith, mortality, and the search for spiritual fulfillment. Tolstoy's exploration of life’s fundamental questions has made this work a compelling and thought-provoking piece of literature, resonating with those who grapple with the existential dilemmas of human existence.

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Categories: Non-Fiction Literature

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