Three Deaths
The Collected Works of Leo Tolstoy Book 66 · Imperial Press
Ebook
176
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
"Three Deaths," known in Russian as "Три смерти," was written in January 1858 and first published in 1859 in the journal "Библиотека для чтения" (Biblioteka dlya chteniya). The story presents the demise of three distinct beings: a lady, a coachman, and a tree. The lady, Maria Dmitrieva, is depicted as dying miserably, consumed by complaints and falsehoods even in her final moments. This concise composition juxtaposes the final moments of three disparate entities—a complaining noblewoman, a stoic coachman, and a felled tree—offering a stark contemplation of mortality and the varying degrees of acceptance in the face of ultimate cessation. It compels a consideration of what constitutes a "good" end to existence.
In stark contrast, the old coachman, Fyodor, faces his end with a calm acceptance, having made peace with his fate. The third "death" is that of a tree, which is felled, its collapse described with the visceral impact of a living creature's demise, set against the backdrop of renewing spring nature. Tolstoy's own commentary on the work highlights the lady's pathetic end due to her lifelong deceit, contrasting it with the peasant's tranquil departure, thereby inviting a philosophical inquiry into the authenticity of life and death.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
