Name: Resurrection
Author: Leo Tolstoy
ISBN: 9780199555765

Resurrection

Leo Tolstoy

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Author Description

Resurrection, the last of Tolstoy's major novels, tells the story of a nobleman's attempt to redeem himself for the suffering his youthful philandering caused a peasant girl. Tolstoy's vision of redemption achieved through loving forgiveness, and his condemnation of violence dominate the novel. An intimate, psychological tale of guilt, anger, and forgiveness, Resurrection is at the same time a panoramic description of social life in Russia at the end of the nineteenth century, reflecting Tolstoy's outrage at the social injustices of the world in which he lived.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

A nobleman’s sudden encounter with a woman he once wronged forces him to confront his past and seek moral absolution. Prince Dmitri Nekhlyudov serves on a jury and discovers that the defendant, Katyusha Maslova, is the same woman he seduced and abandoned years earlier. Driven by a profound sense of guilt, he attempts to secure her release and reform his own life, clashing with the rigid, corrupt legal and religious institutions of late nineteenth-century Russia. The narrative follows his internal moral crisis and his external efforts to navigate a society defined by extreme inequality and bureaucratic indifference.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Detailed psychological exploration of guilt and moral awakening
Panoramic depiction of the Russian judicial and penal systems
Satirical critique of organized religion and state authority
Third-person omniscient narrative perspective
Examination of the disparity between aristocratic privilege and peasant suffering
Themes of spiritual rebirth and the search for truth
Realistic portrayal of the harsh conditions in Siberian exile
Philosophical focus on non-violence and individual responsibility

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently highlight the novel as a powerful, if didactic, culmination of Tolstoy’s later moral philosophy. Discussion often centers on the stark contrast between the protagonist's personal transformation and the systemic corruption he attempts to challenge. While some readers find the heavy emphasis on social critique slows the narrative momentum, others appreciate the depth of the character development and the author's unflinching gaze at human suffering. The work is widely recognized for its ability to balance an intimate, character-driven story with a broad, sweeping indictment of the societal structures of its time.

Page Count:
528

Publication Date:
2009-08-29

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0199555761

ISBN-13:
9780199555765

Classic Literature

Historical

Russian

Realism

Social Commentary