The Death of Ivan Ilych and Other Stories (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Leo Tolstoy (Author), Rosemary Edmonds (Translator, Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Classics | Publication Date: November 7, 1989

The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a masterly meditation on life and death, recounting the physical decline and spiritual awakening of a worldly, successful man who is faced with his own mortality. Only in his last agonizing moments does Ivan Ilyich finally confront his true nature, and gain the forgiveness of his wife and son for his cruelty towards them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I don't read Russian, but I think Tolstoy's writing comes over whatever translation you read...he wrote the great, terrible story The Death of Ivan Illyich Independent For me, the best insight into the process of dying comes from Leo Tolstoy in his short story, The Death of Ivan Ilych, which examines the life and death of the most ordinary man Mail on Sunday Tolstoy's prose is majestic, his pace measured, his characters unflinchingly true to life, his message bleak Guardian The simplicity and power of this novella, the story of the terrible encroachment of death on a shallow man spiritually unprepared for it, has staggered millions Sunday Telegraph --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (November 7, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140445080
• ISBN-13: 978-0140445084
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #776,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) wrote two of the great novels of the nineteenth century, War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only 10 of us??, October 31, 2003

By 

Vincent R. Corvaia "yourpalvince" (Maine, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Death of Ivan Ilych And Other Stories (Paperback)

I am so sorry only 9 other people have reviewed this book for Amazon. If it were up to me, I'd place a copy in every hotel and motel room in America, right next to Gideon. I realize that some books just hit us the right way at certain times in our lives, and I once had a hard time trying to persuade 18- and 19-year-olds to appreciate this one. But when I was around 30, I read the title novella, and it changed my life by changing my outlook on life and enabling me to make some decisions I'd never have taken seriously if I hadn't read it.

But I don't want to scare you off. Tolstoy is perfectly accessible, the title character's dilemma is heartrending (the title gives you a clue), the characters universal, and the effect upon closing the cover after the last page indelible. If one person reads it after reading these 10 reviews, I'll be happy.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If only I could give it more stars, February 29, 2000

By 

silvia (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Death of Ivan Ilych and Other Stories (Family Happiness, The Kreutzer Sonata & Master and Man) (Paperback)

Death of Ivan Ilich is one of the greatest things ever written! It follows the life story of Ivan Ilich but specificly his dying.This story is a lesson for life, for everybody that reads it,because it demonstrates how a person can make all the sociably acceptable choices yet all the wrong ones ,personaly.Ivan Ilich did everyting that was expected of him,and what he expected of himself, yet,he never knew that he never really lived,that he was never happy.That is to say he never knew it, until it was too late,until he was about to die.This story,for me at least, is not about death as it is about life.It's about doing all the right things yet finding out you are all alone in the world.Nobody really loves you and you don't love anyone.You("IVAN")never liked your job and never had any real friends and the last time you were really happy was when you were four years old.The worse thing is that you can't do anything about it,now!Tolstoy manages to take the reader and lead him through Ivan's life until his last breath,until you feel, you almost die with him.It is an incredible experience that will make you stop and think about life and what you want to make of it before it's too late.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the most realistic and engaging stories I've read., December 12, 2000

By 

Rania Tikoo (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Death of Ivan Ilych and Other Stories (Family Happiness, The Kreutzer Sonata & Master and Man) (Paperback)

This story begins with the death of Ivan Ilych, a well-respected member of the Court of Justice in the late 1800s. The story follows this event by going into flashback, and exposing the significant events that lead up to his death. Ivan Ilych's unsatisfying life primarily consisted of drowning himself into his work, putting up with married life, hosting social dinners, and playing bridge with his friends and colleagues. One of the most crucial events pertains to Ivan Ilych being diagnosed with an illness. This forces him to analyze his way lof living. I really appreciated this specific short story, because it expressed how much a society's views and beliefs can effect an individual's way of life. I highly reccommend this book to everyone.