Family Happiness and Other Stories (Dover Thrift Editions: Short Stories)

Overview: Leo Tolstoy was a Russian writer, philosopher and political thinker who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Tolstoy was a master of realistic fiction and is widely considered one of the world's greatest novelists. "Family Happiness and Other Stories" collects six stories by Russian born Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910). Most known for "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina," considered two of the greatest novels in world literature, Tolstoy also penned numerous novellas and short stories which remain valuable classics in their own regards. First published as a novella in 1859, "Family Happiness" explores the female identity within changing romantic relationships. Narrated in first person by the female protagonist Masha, the tale is a skilled and engrossing story of woman's difficult position in a shifting society. "Three Deaths" follows three characters who each are stricken with fatal cases of consumption. Tolstoy examines death with an eloquence and realism unseen in his contemporaries. In "The Three Hermits" an archbishop on a sea voyage pursues three wise men on a secluded island. In "The Devil," two brothers struggle with a new inheritance riddled with debts when sudden romance and lust threaten to turn their world upside down. "Father Sergius" tells of a young aristocrat who, upon discovery of his fiance's infidelity, retreats into the life of a monastic Orthodox Christian, though this radically new life proves to be difficult. Lastly, in "Master and Man," a landowner and his peasant journey to purchase a small forest only to get caught in a blizzard. The ethics of self-sacrifice resolve this moralizing tale. These classic short stories from Russia's greatest author demonstrate his supreme skill and timeless talent." Although best known for War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy did not confine his literary talents to voluminous works. He was also a master of the short story and the long story — the particularly Russian form known as povest'. Each of the tales in this collection exhibits the rich detail, vivid narration, and startling truths that characterize Tolstoy's famous novels. Two unusual, intriguing short stores — "Three Deaths" and "The Three Hermits" — appear here, along with four powerful long stories: "Family Happiness," "The Devil," "Father Sergius," and "Master and Man." "Family Happiness," the first story in this compilation, features a Tolstoyan theme that recurs both here and elsewhere in the author's writings: "The only certain happiness in life is to live for others." Written over a period of 40 years or more, these works display the author's evolving perspectives on love, marriage, art, politics, and patriotism. They offer an eclectic introduction to the great Russian writer's fiction as well as a feast for those already acquainted with the pleasures of reading Tolstoy. Rich in detail, shrewdly observed, and vividly narrated, these 6 tales include "Three Deaths," "The Three Hermits," "The Devil," "Father Sergius," "Master and Man," and the title story.