Leo Tolstoy and the Canadian Doukhobors: A Study in Historic Relationships. Expanded and Revised Edition.

Following the completion of his major novels, War and Peace and Anna Karenina , in 1880, Russian writer Leo Tolstoy experienced a spiritual crisis that led him to denounce the privileges of his social class and its attendant material wealth, and to embrace the simple rural life of the peasantry. In the persecuted Doukhobor sect, who also rejected militarism and church ritual in favour of finding God, he saw a prime example of how it was possible to live his new-found pacifist ideals in everyday life. He was so taken with their lifestyle, calling Doukhobors people of the 25th century, that in 1898, he decided to help finance their emigration en masse to Canada, away from the persecutions of the Russian church and state. [endif] Andrew Donskovs expanded study presents an outline of Doukhobor history and beliefs, their harmony with Tolstoys lifelong aim of unity of people, and the portrayal of Doukhobors in his writings. This edition features Tolstoys complete correspondence with Doukhobor leader Ptr Vasilevich Verigin and a timeline on Tolstoy and the Canadian Doukhobors today. The volume includes guest essays by prominent Canadian Doukhobors Jan Kabatoff, Eli A. Popoff, and Koozma J. Tarasoff. Supported by a considerable array of source materials, Donskovs study will be of relevance to anyone interested in religious, philosophical, sociological, pacifist, historical or literary studies. Front Cover Table of Contents Acknowledgements to the First Edition Preface to the Second Edition Introduction Part I The Doukhobors and Tolstoy Chapter 1 The Doukhobors: An Outline of Their History and Beliefs Chapter 2 The ‘Unity of People’ as Tolstoy’s Lifelong Aim Chapter 3 Tolstoy and the Tolstoyans: State and Church Opposition Chapter 4 The Doukhobors’ Journey to Canada in the Tolstoy Family’s Correspondence Chapter 5 The Doukhobors in Tolstoy’s Writings Chapter 6 Tolstoy’s Correspondence with Pëtr Vasil’evich Verigin Tolstoy and Verigin: Letters 1895–1910 Chapter 7 Tolstoy and the Canadian Doukhobors Today Part II Guest Essays by Three Prominent Doukhobors What Tolstoy Means to Me as an Artist Lev Tolstoy in My Doukhobor Family Heritage What Lev Tolstoy Means to Me and the Doukhobors Part III Archival Documents on Tolstoy and the Doukhobors Excerpts from Sergej Tolstoy and the Doukhobors: A Journey to Canada Excerpts Concerning the Doukhobors from S. A. Tolstaya’s Writings Part IV Archival Letters on Tolstoy and the Doukhobors Archival Letters Concerning the Doukhobors Appendices Appendix 1 Tolstoy and the Doukhobors: A Timeline Appendix 2 Eli A. Popoff: A Filial Tribute Appendix 3 Chronology of Tolstoy’s Letters on the Doukhobors (1891–1910) Appendix 4 List of Sergej Tolstoy’s Publications Appendix 5 Questionnaire for Doukhobors on L. N. Tolstoy Bibliography Index of Names Back Cover This book is published in English. Following the completion of his major novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Russian writer Leo Tolstoy experienced a spiritual crisis that led him to denounce the privileges of his social class and its attendant material wealth and embrace the simple rural life of the peasantry. In the persecuted Russian Doukhobor sect, who also rejected militarism and church ritual in favour of finding God in their hearts, he saw a prime example of how it was possible to live his new-found pacifist ideals in everyday life. He was so taken with their lifestyle, calling the Doukhobors “people of the 25th century,” that, in 1898, he decided to help finance their mass emigration to Canada, away from the persecutions of the Russian church and state. Donskov’s expanded study presents an outline of Doukhobor history and beliefs, their harmony with Tolstoy’s lifelong aim of “unity of people”, and the portrayal of Doukhobors in Tolstoy’s writings. This edition features Tolstoy’s complete correspondence with Doukhobor leader Pëtr Vasil’evich Verigin. Three guest essays by prominent Canadian Doukhobors are also included. Supported by a considerable array of source materials, Donskov’s monograph will be of relevance to anyone interested in religious, philosophical, sociological, pacifist, historical, or literary studies. "Following the completion of his major novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Russian writer Leo Tolstoy experienced a spiritual crisis that led him to denounce the privileges of his social class and its attendant material wealth and embrace the simple rural life of the peasantry. In the persecuted Russian Doukhobor sect, who also rejected militarism and church ritual in favour of finding God in their hearts, he saw a prime example of how it was possible to live his new-found pacifist ideals in everyday life. He was so taken with their lifestyle, calling the Doukhobors "people of the 25th century," that, in 1898, he decided to help finance their mass emigration to Canada, away from the persecutions of the Russian church and state. Donskov's expanded study presents an outline of Doukhobor history and beliefs, their harmony with Tolstoy's lifelong aim of "unity of people", and the portrayal of Doukhobors in Tolstoy's writings. This edition features Tolstoy's complete correspondence with Doukhobor leader Pëtr Vasil'evich Verigin. Three guest essays by prominent Canadian Doukhobors are also included. Supported by a considerable array of source materials, Donskov's monograph will be of relevance to anyone interested in religious, philosophical, sociological, pacifist, historical, or literary studies."-- Provided by publisher As an idealist, Leo Tolstoy was constantly searching for practical applications to his philosophical ideas. He found a prime example in the religious group of the Doukhobors, whom he personally helped emigrate from Russia to Canada in 1899, and to whom he referred as "people of the 25th century."