The Death of Ivan Ilych

By: Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by: Soren Filipski

Length: 2 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, was foremost among the great Russian novelists of the 19th century, and is widely considered one of the greatest writers of prose fiction in world history.

In his perceptive and moving depiction of Ivan Ilych, a worldly careerist facing his own mortality in the midst of a self-absorbed family and indifferent colleagues, Tolstoy provides one of literature's greatest and most memorable reflections on the meaning of the good life and on life as preparation for death.

This edition features the classic Oxford translation of Aylmer and Louise Maude, of whom Tolstoy himself said, "Better translators, both for knowledge of the two languages and for penetration into the very meaning of the matter translated, could not be invented."

©2015 Hythloday Press (P)2015 Hythloday Press

So glad I had this assigned

What did you love best about The Death of Ivan Ilych?

Although this was assigned as part of course material this semester, I am so glad it was. Great story and still so relevant today

Engaging

Great story and well read. I was concerned I would lose interest "listening" versus "reading" , however I found that I could not pull myself away from listening for fear I might miss something. Well done.

Timely and True

I enjoyed not only the voice of the narration but the Voice that was ever present. The novella gives me pause, to think not only of the death of others I have known but also my own. While I know the Light... the Lord, I sometimes think I am here forever or until I am beyond the years of care, the story reminds me to live with my eyes on the Joy of Heaven while finding blessings in an "ordinary life".

Love the story and the Narrator

The last 5 minutes of this story are spectacular. All of the little details of a life are nothing when it comes down to those last 5 minutes. The Narrator is excellent. He's unique, and I love his inflections.

Great experience

I needed to read this for a college assignment. I ended up really enjoying it. It truly is a masterpiece and I feel the narrator presented it well without distracting from the work itself. Would recommend.

Great Story and Narrator!

Great story, listened straight through. The narrator did a terrific job. There were a couple of places were there was skipping on the audio and some interference, but I was still able to hear everything.

Great introspective, narrated terribly.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Death of Ivan Ilych?

Ivan is utterly common in the way he fears death, and reflects on a life of pursuing comfort that ultimately has left him with no sense of meaning.

What didn’t you like about Soren Filipski’s performance?

A great narrator should disappear completely, allowing the listener to experience the story. Soren repeatedly, jarringly, reminded me he was reading with strained intonations and unnatural-sounding dialogue. The quality of the recording was sub par as well, with a kind of distant static present throughout.

Very good book

Death is a subject normally avoided. However, Tolstoy’s story of Ivan’s life and death was captivating. Tolstoy is one of the world’s best storyteller’s!

perfect, Tolstoy is the Saint of peace, an Angel

Tolstoy travels beyond the realm of Literature & into the light of pure awakening & unborn brilliant goodness. . . Dhammadasa

Absolutely Brilliant

Profoundly deep and though provoking. A must read. Could be life changing for many people.