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The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories

By: Leo Tolstoy
Narrated by: George K. Wilson
Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
Categories: Classics, European Literature
4 out of 5 stars (27 ratings)

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Editorial Reviews

The title story of this collection, a novella written by Tolstoy after the author's conversion to Christianity, tells the simple, affecting story of the main character's death and the ambitious, successful, and unreflective life that preceded it. Narrator George K. Wilson's characterizations are clear and compelling. He models the protagonist's angst, bewilderment, and agony skillfully, and renders other characters distinctly but without overemphasizing their differences. It's a well-balanced narration that is easy to follow and that brings home the emotional punch of Ivan Ilych's stirring last weeks, days, and moments. Other stories in this well-done set include "The Forged Coupon," "After the Dance," "My Dream," "There Are No Guilty People," and "The Young Tsar."

Publisher's Summary

Hailed as one of the world's supreme masterpieces on the subject of death and dying, Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" is the story of a worldly careerist, a high court judge who has never given the inevitability of his death so much as a passing thought. But one day, death announces itself to him, and to his shocked surprise he is brought face to face with his own mortality.

How, Tolstoy asks, does an unreflective man confront his one and only moment of truth? This novella was the artistic culmination of a profound spiritual crisis in Tolstoy's life, a nine-year period following the publication of Anna Karenina during which he wrote not a word of fiction. A thoroughly absorbing and, at times, terrifying glimpse into the abyss of death, it is also a strong testament to the possibility of finding spiritual salvation.

Also included in this volume are "The Forged Coupon," "After the Dance," "My Dream," "There Are No Guilty People," and "The Young Tsar."
©1923 Public Domain (P)2009 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Written more than a century ago, Tolstoy's work still retains the power of a contemporary novel." ( Publishers Weekly)

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for Albert Theodore

Ok Kind of hard to follow

The Death of Ivan Ilyich has a good message and was an ok story. The others were just kind of odd and hard to get into.

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Julie
  • Julie
  • Inverell, Australia
  • 07-11-12

Draw out

What disappointed you about The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories?

The story was drawn out and difficult to ascertain what the moral of the story was. The character names sounded very similar to each other so the story was a little hard to follow at times

What could Leo Tolstoy have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Have very different names for the characters

Would you listen to another book narrated by George K. Wilson?

Yes

What character would you cut from The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories?

Mmm...

Any additional comments?

Some of the other stories I was surprised when they ended...there was no definite conclusion.

0 of 2 people found this review helpful