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The Death of Ivan Ilyich

One of the world's most famous writers, Leo Tolstoy, is probably best known for his epic romantic works "Anna Karenina" and "War and Peace". In addition to being the author of some of the greatest novels ever written, Tolstoy was also a prolific short-story writer. One of the finest examples of Tolstoy's shorter narratives is "The Death of Ivan Ilyich", which Tolstoy wrote later in his life. "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" is a tale revolving around a man in his 40s who has spent his entire life climbing the social ladder in Russia. Barely tolerant of his wife and generally indifferent to the other people around him, Ivan has a minor accident hanging curtains in a new apartment that proves to be a terminal injury. As his life slowly and painfully spirals inexorably toward death, Ivan struggles immensely against what he perceives to be an unfair fate. Only in the end does he see how he might have lived differently and authentically. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and follows the translation of Nathan Haskell Dole.


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Published Dec 5, 2021

140 pages

Average rating: 7.66

67 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

div
Sep 01, 2025
8/10 stars
The ending makes it worthwhile, and lovely book to finish in a single setting.
kathie
Jan 11, 2025
10/10 stars
the introduction in my copy was really good. if i remember i’ll come back and add who wrote it.

the story itself was concise and well written. surprisingly easy to read for an old russian guy. made me think about death so title is accurate!

i was going to give it 4 stars but for a “long short story” it really does well! super quick read, gives a good character sketch, and delivers some big questions and ideas

rating: a tentative 5 stars? subject to change
Melonie
Jan 02, 2025
10/10 stars
Wow
spoko
Oct 21, 2024
6/10 stars
I have to say, I hadn’t expected the cynicism & misanthropy that permeates this book.
Nathanparrish
Sep 13, 2024
9/10 stars
The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a rare case of complete, raw uniqueness in the literary world. We follow Ivan Ilyich, a man who cares about nothing more than his career and his likeliness in the eyes of others. He eventually faces something which he'd never given much thought: his own death. This is an absolutely gripping story of a person experiencing the drawn out, excruciatingly slow death that some unfortunately experience. This account is raw, completely believable, and sometimes utterly spine-shivering. This is a novella worth reading.

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