Tolstoy Beyond the Novel: Life Building and the History of Ideas

This course is built on the study of Tolstoy’s non-novel prose, from his early short stories to his later works. Graduate students will at the same time familiarize themselves with Tolstoy’s main philosophical ideas, distinctly reflected in his so-called “lesser prose.” Students may draw on the analysis of critics of the Formalist school (Eichenbaum, Shklovsky), excerpts of whose works will be made available. In this way, the course will also have a methodological facet. Readings to be explored include Sevastopol Sketches, Two Hussars, Cossacks, Prisoners of the Caucasus, Kholstomer, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, The Kreutzer Sonata, Master and Man, Father Sergius./