The Death of Ivan Ilyich

A Leo Tolstoy Short Story

By: Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by: Bill DeWees

The brilliance of this story is in how a normal bureaucrat, a judge in this case, has a small accident that winds up gradually taking his life. As he deals with this incident, with hope at first and then despair, he comes to terms with his family, his life, and the mediocrities that we all suffer with, except for the exceptional few. This story rings a particularly poignant note for those in early middle age facing the next part of their lives. This story is considered Tolstoy's best.

Public Domain (P)2011 Christina Brown

Made Me Think and Sometimes Shutter

I've listened to the “Death of Ivan Illyich” several times and every listen gives me a new prospective in the process of dying and death. Not just the dying of an individual, but the accurate feelings, needs and self protecting aspects of those around the dying. It’s marvelous how Leo Tolstoy taps into the truth of the human heart.

The narrator almost makes listening impossible...

Would you try another book from Leo Tolstoy and/or Bill DeWees?

The only saving grace for this Audio book is the story itself. Bill DeWees is awful and lifeless. For a period of time I thought it was a computer generated voice and then realized it was a person. I struggled to listen to this lifeless narration.

I spent five minutes motionless after it finished.

Everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime. I just hope I don't feel the same way when I go.

A masterpiece

Leo Tolstoy is one of the greatest writers of all times ... this book is very unique ... through a smiple but incridably well written story all the questions of life, death, right and wrong are raised and challanged...

Must read/ listen

Everyone alive will, at some point, ponder death.
This prepares you for that discussion with yourself!