ANYONE UNFAMILIAR WITH the life and oeuvre of Sofia Tolstaya, the wife of Lev Tolstoy, would be forgiven for basing their opinion of her on something like the movie The Last Station.
It shows the last months of Tolstoy’s life, marred by the conflict between Sofia and Vladimir Chertkov – the writer’s disciple – for his legacy and writings that culminated in Tolstoy leaving his estate and Sofia behind, only to die ten days later at a remote train station, with Sofia shut outside until the very final moments.
But that is only a part of the story – the story of an eighteen year-old girl virtually thrust into marrying the 34-year-old Tolstoy, by that time already a published author. He met her just once and proposed within a month, when she made a stopover at his estate on her way to visit relatives. The wedding took place just a week later. As she wrote, fully aware of the fact that people had differing views of her role in Tolstoy’s life: “Let people be charitable to the woman, who, perhaps, from a very young age, had the overwhelming task of the higher calling – to be a wife of genius and a great man.”
She gave birth to 13 children, eight of whom survived into adulthood. In a diary entry dated December 16, 1887, she described her life:
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Sidewalk Art
The lamentable state of Russia’s roads and sidewalks has long been fertile ground for memes and jokes. Irkutsk artist Ivan Kravchenko decided to turn the problem into an art project. For over two years he has been patching ruts in city sidewalks with colorful ceramic tiles.
Sputnik V: First Place or Long Shot?
The Russian vaccine seems top-notch, but low public trust and a botched rollout remain formidable barriers to returning to normalcy.
the Valley of the Dead
On the Trail of a Russian Movie Star
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
POLAR YOUTH
Misha Smirnov has the day off. There are the traditional eggs for breakfast and the usual darkness out the window.
Russian Chronicles
Russian Chronicles
A People on the Brink
Over the past century, the ancient people known as the Votes has been exiled twice, has seen its language banned, and has faced the threat of having its villages razed. Today, although teetering on the verge of extinction, it holds fast to one of the last rights it enjoys – the right to bear and to say its own name.
Tenders of the Vine
Visiting Russia’s Nascent Wine Region
Restoring the Future
A Small Town Gets a Makeover
Ascending Anik
Here I stand, on the summit of Anik Mountain, drenched to the bone amid zero visibility, driving rain, and a fierce wind.
