Christianity and Patriotism

Leo Tolstoy, one of the greatest literary figures of all time, is best known for War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877), masterpieces of literary realism. Beyond novels, he wrote short stories, philosophical essays, and works on education and pacifism.In midlife, Tolstoy experienced a profound spiritual crisis, leading him to question life's meaning and seek new moral and spiritual guidance. He embraced a radical form of Christianity, rejecting societal values and advocating nonviolence and Christian anarchism. His ideas deeply influenced figures like Mahatma Gandhi.Despite his literary fame, Tolstoy spent his later years in conflict with his family and the Russian Orthodox Church, which eventually excommunicated him. In 1910, he died of pneumonia after leaving his home in search of a simpler life that aligned with his beliefs.