The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories (Penguin Classics)
Thought-provoking and profound stories from one of the greatest Russian authors
This collection includes some of Leo Tolstoy's extraordinary short stories, from "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" in a masterly new translation, to "The Raid," "The Wood-felling," "Three Deaths," "Polikushka," "After the Ball," and "The Forged Coupon," all gripping and eloquent lessons on two of Tolstoy's most persistent themes: life and death. More experimental than his novels, Tolstoy's stories are essential reading for anyone interested in his development as one of the major writers and thinkers of his time.
Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
This collection includes some of Leo Tolstoy's extraordinary short stories, from "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" in a masterly new translation, to "The Raid," "The Wood-felling," "Three Deaths," "Polikushka," "After the Ball," and "The Forged Coupon," all gripping and eloquent lessons on two of Tolstoy's most persistent themes: life and death. More experimental than his novels, Tolstoy's stories are essential reading for anyone interested in his development as one of the major writers and thinkers of his time.
Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Community Reviews
If you're curious about the contents of Leo Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych, the title says it all. This short novella from the Russian master follows the life - and more importantly, the death - of Ivan Ilych, a man forced to confront his mortality. Though simple in premise, the story is handled with Tolstoy’s signature restraint and psychological insight.
The narrative opens at Ivan Ilych’s funeral, where we’re introduced to his acquaintances and his long-suffering wife, Praskovya Fedorovna. From there, the story rewinds, tracing Ivan’s life from childhood to his final days.
Ambitious and outwardly successful, Ivan builds a respectable career in law and government. But a seemingly harmless fall while hanging curtains sets off a terminal illness. The second half of the book follows Ivan’s internal descent - his fear, frustration, and eventual reckoning with a life he comes to see as hollow. He questions everything he has lived for, realizing too late that he was never truly happy.
While the prose is elegant and the themes are weighty, certain elements fell flat for me. Ivan’s emotional arc could be compared to the modern five stages of grief, but it reads largely as anger and despair, with little variation. His wife - portrayed almost entirely through Ivan’s perspective - comes across as a nuisance, with no real depth or redemption. And while the story opens with a cast of friends and acquaintances, they fade quickly into the background. These choices likely reflect the story’s existential tone and its focus on Ivan’s inner world, but they left me feeling somewhat disconnected from the emotional journey.
Ultimately, The Death of Ivan Ilych is a well-written, compact introduction to Tolstoy’s deeper themes - life, death, and the meaning we give to both. Though it will undoubtedly resonate deeply with some readers, it didn’t quite land for me.
The narrative opens at Ivan Ilych’s funeral, where we’re introduced to his acquaintances and his long-suffering wife, Praskovya Fedorovna. From there, the story rewinds, tracing Ivan’s life from childhood to his final days.
Ambitious and outwardly successful, Ivan builds a respectable career in law and government. But a seemingly harmless fall while hanging curtains sets off a terminal illness. The second half of the book follows Ivan’s internal descent - his fear, frustration, and eventual reckoning with a life he comes to see as hollow. He questions everything he has lived for, realizing too late that he was never truly happy.
While the prose is elegant and the themes are weighty, certain elements fell flat for me. Ivan’s emotional arc could be compared to the modern five stages of grief, but it reads largely as anger and despair, with little variation. His wife - portrayed almost entirely through Ivan’s perspective - comes across as a nuisance, with no real depth or redemption. And while the story opens with a cast of friends and acquaintances, they fade quickly into the background. These choices likely reflect the story’s existential tone and its focus on Ivan’s inner world, but they left me feeling somewhat disconnected from the emotional journey.
Ultimately, The Death of Ivan Ilych is a well-written, compact introduction to Tolstoy’s deeper themes - life, death, and the meaning we give to both. Though it will undoubtedly resonate deeply with some readers, it didn’t quite land for me.
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