The Law of Love and the Law of Violence [Paperback]

Leo Tolstoy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2001

The only reason that Tolstoy wrote The Law of Love and the Law of Violence is because, knowing the one means of salvation for Christian humanity, from its physical suffering as well as from the moral corruption in which it is sunk, Tolstoy, who was on the edge of the grave, could not be silent.

The cause of the unhappy situation of Christian humanity is the lack of a superior conception of life and a rule of conduct in accordance with it, a rule held in common by all people professing Christianity.

It is interesting to see what Tolstoy thought of the state of the world just before the Great War. In spite of his apparent pessimism, he was as hopeful as Mr. H.G. Wells for the future condition of mankind. But in his sweeping denunciation of legislators, judges, and all sorts of authorities, he went far beyond the English writer, who says: "Our state could have grown up in no other way. We had to have these general dealers in human relationship, politicians and lawyers, as a necessary stage in political and social advancement. Just as we had to have soldiers and policemen to save people from mutual violence."

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Russian (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian author, a master of realistic fiction and one of the world's greatest novelists. Tolstoy is best known for his two longest works, War and Peace and Anna Karenina, which are commonly regarded as among the finest novels ever written. War and Peace in particular seems virtually to define this form for many readers and critics. Among Tolstoy's shorter works, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is usually classed among the best examples of the novella. Especially during his last three decades Tolstoy also achieved world renown as a moral and religious teacher. His doctrine of nonresistance to evil had an important influence on Gandhi. Although Tolstoy's religious ideas no longer command the respect they once did, interest in his life and personality has, if anything, increased over the years.

Most readers will agree with the assessment of the 19th-century British poet and critic Matthew Arnold that a novel by Tolstoy is not a work of art but a piece of life; the 20th-century Russian author Isaak Babel commented that, if the world could write by itself, it would write like Tolstoy. Some viewed Tolstoy as the embodiment of nature and pure vitality, others saw him as the incarnation of the world's conscience, but for almost all who knew him or read his works, he was not just one of the greatest writers who ever lived but a living symbol of the search for life's meaning.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: University Press of the Pacific (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898754410
• ISBN-13: 978-0898754414
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,238,103 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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars God is or He insn't, February 23, 2005

By 

David P. Aasmundstad "D. P. Aasmundstad (Deep... (Northern Plains, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The law of love and the law of violence (Holt paperback) (Paperback)

If one confidently labels oneself a follower of Jesus Christ, yet don't find credence in Tolstoy's proclamations, you ain't the real thing, baby. Tolstoy's title makes for a good read. Warning to the Christian right: are you sure Bush has Christ in his heart?

Tolstoy's reader will be slapped in the face with consternation and this is as it should be for the true believer. Surely worth your time if you want to become enlightened.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that spawned Dr. King?, February 13, 2007

By 

J. McGinley "brother jay" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Law of Love and the Law of Violence (Paperback)

Did you know that Tolstoy created Gandhi with his "The Kingdom of God is Within You?" Gandhi says as much, having read it as a young barrister in UK. It transformed him (along with Ruskin's "Unto This Last")and on he went to save India with this "bible" under his arm, by way of South Africa.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. was formed if not created by Tolstoy's "The Law of Love and the Law of Violence" which he read as a Seminarian at Crozier Seminary in Chester PA.

Both these books were created by Tolstoy's self-suicide preventing work, "The Gospel In Brief," his original translation of the Greek Texts of the Gospel. THIS is the book that could save the world. THIS is the GOOD NEWS, THE TRUE GOSPEL.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be required reading for the Christian and Nonchristian alike., June 22, 2009

By 

Patrick J. Rabb (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Law of Love and the Law of Violence (Paperback)

This is my first encounter with the writing of Leo Tolstoy, but I believe it has profoundly changed my view of christianity and the role it has played in history both past and present. I deciced to read this work after it was recommended on the website of the King Center founded by Coretta Scott King the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.