The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
The book is a poignant exploration of mortality and the human condition, focusing on a high-court judge in 19th-century Russia who lives a seemingly successful and conventional life. However, when he is confronted with a terminal illness, he begins to question the meaning and value of his life, leading to an existential crisis and eventual spiritual awakening. Through his struggle, he comes to realize the superficiality of his previous life and the importance of genuine human connection. His story is a profound commentary on the nature of life, death, and the pursuit of happiness.
The 386th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1886
- Nationality
- Russian
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 50-150
- Words
- 22,000
- Original Language
- Russian
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 43rd on The Main Works of Russian literature (Polka Academy)
- 90th on The 100 Greatest Novels (greatbooksguide.com)
- 259th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 472nd on The Complete 500: OCLC (OCLC)
- Six Professors from "Esteemed" Universities Favorite Books (Democrat and Chronicle (Newspaper))
- Finding Comfort in the Classics (NY Times)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- Top 100 Works in World Literature (Norwegian Book Clubs, with the Norwegian Nobel Institute)