Lives and Deaths: Essential Stories by Leo Tolstoy
Translated by Boris Dralyuk
Following on from my last post, where I considered a lovely new collection of Gogol’s essential stories from Pushkin Press, I’m today going to be looking at a similar collection bringing together some of Tolstoy’s shorter works. Tolstoy was, of course, more prolific than Gogol (well, he lived a lot longer, for one thing…); and so translator Boris Dralyuk has perhaps had a more difficult task in choosing which works to feature. He’s made what I think is an exemplary selection, one which focuses on what seems to me to be the main thrust of Tolstoy’s shorter works – death, how we prepare for it and how we meet it (as well, I suppose, as the life we lead beforehand).
The four works Boris has translated are “The Death of Ivan Illych”, “Pace-setter: The Story of a Horse”, “Three Deaths” and “Alyosha the Pot”. Of these, two I’ve read before (“Ivan..” and “Alyosha…”) and two are new to me; and certainly I sensed similar themes in each work. “Ivan…” in particular is a very dark story, dealing in the main with the illness and impending demise of the titular man. He’s again hide-bound by that Russian civil service and rigid social structure, but aims for a happy life, marrying and settling down. A random minor accident seals his fate and we watch his gradual deterioration, his wrestling with his mortality and his attempts to reckon his life. It’s a grim struggle for him, and throws up all manner of issues for the reader, as I found before…
“Alyosha the Pot”, which I recognise but must have read pre-blog, is a short tale of the life and death of a simple peasant who spends much of his life doing things for others and can therefore meet his end with serenity. And “Three Deaths” is a fascinating story, new to me, where Tolstoy considers three different types of demise: that of a consumptive rich women, an ancient peasant and – well, of the third death I will say nothing, as does Boris in his introduction, for fear of spoiling the effect. But it is a remarkable piece of writing!
I’ve left “Pace-setter…” till last because it really is something special. It is indeed the story of a horse; the Pace-setter of the title, a piebald gelding of good breeding who nevertheless had a hard life. We initially see him as old and worn out, tormented by the younger horses and struggling to carry on. However, he speaks out at night, telling his tale to the other members of the horse community, and it’s a story of suffering at the whim of humans, cruelty and betrayal, and the loss of a master with whom Pace-setter had a strong bond. Pace-setter’s story opens the eyes of the other horses to what kind of animal their companion was, and it’s a remarkably moving and powerful piece of writing (and excruciatingly sad in places).
I’ve had my struggles with Tolstoy in recent years, finding it difficult to deal with his dogmatic attitudes at times; and indeed re-reading “Ivan…” I was struck again by his need to constantly blame women for the problems of human relationships. The extreme attitudes of “The Kreutzer Sonata” were starting to creep in, and his narrator’s lack of any empathy at the changes his wife was undergoing during pregnancy is shocking (although perhaps not unusual at that time).
Nevertheless, “Pace-setter…” does much to redeem him in my eyes. It’s tempting, of course, to see the life and hardship of the horses as analogous with that of the peasants. However I think it also reflects Tolstoy’s deep connection with the natural world, an element that comes through in some of the other stories. Deep down, Tolstoy seems to be saying that we should lead a *useful* life, and if we’ve done that we can face death with equanimity. That isn’t in fact a bad philosophy and if more people adopted it nowadays, we might have a nicer world around us…
“Lives and Deaths” is, therefore, an excellent collection and gives a really good flavour of Tolstoy’s writing and core beliefs. The translations read beautifully, there are useful notes where needed, and the stories flow thematically. If you want to get to grips with the essence of Tolstoy, his beliefs distilled into his short works, there can be not better place to start.
(Review copies of this book and Gogol’s Essential Tales kindly provided by Pushkin Press, for which many thanks! Both of these books would make a wonderful introduction to these Russian authors if you haven’t read them before; but even if you have, these collections are a great way to get reacquainted… :D)
JacquiWine
Feb 06, 2020 @ 07:26:04
A very thoughtful review as ever, Karen. This does sound like an excellent introduction to Tolstoy and some of his defining themes. I haven’t read nearly enough of the Russians over the years, definitely a gap in my reading…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 06, 2020 @ 09:04:13
Thanks Jacqui! It certainly is a great collection and really focuses on those importants aspects of his writing. Really, if you want to get back to the Russians, both the Gogol collection and this one would be ideal places to start! 😀
Liz Dexter
Feb 06, 2020 @ 07:43:04
Oh I couldn’t cope with the horse one – sounds too much like Black Beauty! Wah! A good sentiment to pull out of the misogyny and bring him back round, though, that one should lead a useful life.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 06, 2020 @ 09:03:20
It’s sad, definitely, and with my love of animals I had to steel myself. But I did feel that these stories did improve my view of Tolstoy again, and if I can get past his attitude to women I *will* get much out of his writing!
bdralyuk
Feb 06, 2020 @ 15:12:39
Kaggsy, I’m profoundly grateful for this generous, honest response to Tolstoy’s stories — and I agree with you: “Pace-Setter” and “Three Deaths” are much easier to admire unreservedly than the other two. It’s profoundly rewarding to know that the book has delivered the essence. . . Oh, and I think you’ll love Caryl Emerson’s superb — and superbly balanced — essay on Tolstoy in this week’s TLS!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 06, 2020 @ 15:47:23
Thank you Boris! And thank you for introducing me to “Pace-Setter” particularly – a very moving story which I really felt got to the essence of Tolstoy. The issues I sometimes feel with him are not so obvious in the longer works, but in his more concentrated shorter ones tend to come out more. But I do feel more reconciled with him after reading these so thank you; and I will look out for the TLS this week! 😀
heavenali
Feb 06, 2020 @ 19:54:18
What an interesting sounding collection. The Pace Setter does sound like a very moving story. Lovely review.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 06, 2020 @ 19:55:56
Thanks Ali! Yes, a lovely collection I thought which really got under the skin of Tolstoy.
1streading
Feb 06, 2020 @ 20:01:07
Again, this sounds like a great introduction to Tolstoy’s stories. (I think ‘Pace Setter’ is ‘Strider’ in the Penguin Classics collection I have). I’m now looking forward to the Joseph Roth collection, though, again, I think I will have all of them.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 06, 2020 @ 20:40:11
Yeah, I found it a very balanced way to get into Tolstoy’s shorter works. I hadn’t come across Pace-Setter before – I don’t think I have that Penguin collection – but it’s a very powerful piece. I’m hoping to read the Roth as well, as I haven’t read a lot of his work yet!
madamebibilophile
Feb 07, 2020 @ 15:57:14
This does sound interesting. I’ve only read W&P so I’d like to read more of his shorter works, especially in such a pretty edition!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 07, 2020 @ 20:36:24
It’s certainly a good way to get a flavour of his writing, and it *is* a very lovely book (yes, I’m superficial!) Of course, Anna Karenina is a bit marvellous too!
buriedinprint
Feb 07, 2020 @ 17:50:09
Interesting! A longtime shelfsitter that I’ve had in mind for this year is Sophia Tolstoy’s Diaries. That photo!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 07, 2020 @ 20:35:25
Well, I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the diaries, because there can never have been a woman as long-suffering as her! I’d like to read them myself one day though I suspect I might get a bit angry!
Julé
Feb 08, 2020 @ 00:26:21
I’ve very much enjoyed your posts on the Gogol and Tolstoy collections. Gogol’s stories strike me as honest to the point of pain, especially ‘The Overcoat’. Have mercy, Nikolai. Whereas with Tolstoy there are works of his I’d enthusiastically throw across a room in annoyance and others I’d enthusiastically urge on people.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 08, 2020 @ 14:36:30
Thank you! I can always read Gogol, despite the sadness, but Tolstoy varies more. There are times I want to slap him…
Julé
Feb 10, 2020 @ 14:57:13
Joseph Brodsky had problems with him too apparently. ““Out of Dostoevsky: Kafka. Out of Tolstoy: Margaret Mitchell.” Ouch.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 10, 2020 @ 16:15:31
Oh dear…. :DDD Sadly, he might have a point….
Essential Matters: The TLS on Russia and Eastern Europe – Boris Dralyuk
Feb 11, 2020 @ 04:33:34