Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a Russian literary giant, hailed as 'the conscience of Russian literature.' Born into the aristocracy, he inherited a vast estate yet devoted his life to exploring the meaning of existence and social justice. His masterworks War and Peace, set against the Napoleonic Wars, and Anna Karenina are frequently ranked among the greatest novels ever written, celebrated for their psychological depth and panoramic social scope.
In his later years, Tolstoy underwent a dramatic spiritual transformation, renouncing his aristocratic lifestyle and advocating nonviolent resistance, simple living, and moral self-perfection. His philosophy of nonviolence directly influenced Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., making him a pivotal figure in the global history of peace and social justice movements. In 1910, at age 82, Tolstoy fled his estate and died at a remote railway station. His profound insights into human nature and unwavering pursuit of moral ideals make him one of the most influential writers in world history.
