Last days of Leo Tolstoy
by Prof. Sunanda Mahendra
A number of books have appeared in the Sinhala literary scene over
the years on the life of Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910). One was the
autobiography and the other two were about the writer Tolstoy as seen
from the point of view of others.
The latest addition, a publication that comes as a translation and a
few additional notes on the part of a journalist Ubeysekera Hennayaka
titled as Tolstoige Antima Davas (Sarasavi, 2005) the original is a
Russian source of a writer Vladmir Chertkov lesser known by Sinhala
readers and perhaps a secretary who had been closer to Tolstoy for a
long time who had been his secretary.
As such these notes that come from a Russian source looks more
intimate and sensitive capturing the so far unrecorded genuine facts and
events with photographs copiously illustrating aspects from the life of
the great writer.
This book looks like a series of bright snapshots from the life of
writer Tolstoy with two main subdivisions, the first part of which is a
collection of notes running to 13 short chapters revolving round the
background details about Tolstoy, the man and his various careers that
groomed him to be a writer, his family life and his likes and dislikes
with friends and well wishers especially the intimate relations with his
life long friendship with the well-known writer Ivan Turgenev, the
various misgivings he had with him the journeys made to places like
London and other parts of the world meeting people which eventually
resulted in the writer becoming an educationist.
Panoramic vision
His experiences with great personalities like Matthew Arnold, during
his visit to England paved the way for him to know more about the
schools in the country and build his own type of educational method for
children with his own type of writings for them. And others are
portrayed elucidating a panoramic vision of a full life spent, which
culminated in becoming a saint like personality.
The second part, which is predominantly the translation of Chertkov
centres round the last days which is more a series of melancholic notes
where the great writer is being looked after sometimes by his wife and
sometimes by other well wishers, inclusive of medical personalities, and
family members like his daughter, who had taken much care on him.
Their intimacies, reflections and brief dialogues that ensued with
the writer are recorded in the best possible manner reflecting the
various attitudes he had during the last phase of his life.
This area is closely linked with such aspects as reflections on
religious notes kept from time to time, giving vent to insights into
such aspects as life, love, happiness, travels, concentration, death,
pain, God and the desire for a better existence, and unfulfilled wishes
interconnected.
The two writers the original Russian and the interpreter Hennayaka
give the reader journey round the life Tolstoy as a narrative written in
the most simple manner possible giving more emphasis on such aspects as
helping the country folk when he settled down in his vast estate called
Yasyana Polyana.
Lucid accounts of the creative process and spirit pertaining to his
novels like War and Peace [1862-69], Anna Karenina [1875-77] and Cossaks
[a novel written in order to pay debts] are also included. The fact that
Tolstoy’s spiritual awakening and his obvious sincerity won him numerous
followers is also emphasized.
Although Tsarist censorship barred his works, he was not disturbed or
molested for he had an international fame as a great writer.
The portrait of Tolstoy is depicted as an epitome of sensitive and
realistic vision full of creative power, who had experienced the army
life as well during the Crimean war which resulted in one of the
important works titled as Sketches of Sevastopol, which with an earlier
volume, Childhood [1852] earned a reputation at home and abroad. He
however, had little liking for the writers he met in Russian literary
circles.
Vegetarianism
A trip to Western Europe confirmed his distrust of western
materialism and the reform of Russian traditions and social structure
via that method was not in his favour. As a result Tolstoy is said to
have resided in his own country home working with the country people and
teaching them.
The primer, graded reader, and arithmetic, which he wrote, had an
enormous circulation. He had a penetrative vision to history and
sciences which he tried to blend as far as possible.
At times he is shown as disinterested in literature and taking
himself to vegetarianism and spiritualism giving up hunting which he did
as a pastime with Turgenev. He spoke out on religion, social problems
and art and detested the decadence of the rich class of people with self
centred views.
In this book it is recorded how Tolstoy had shown the decadence and
ineffectuality of the nobility and intellectuals, their mad pursuit of
brutality towards the peasants which he thought is an attitude that
should be stopped and perhaps prohibited, a factor which angered the
ruling class of nobility.
In his work Confession [1879] he described these attitudes
culminating in his own ‘transformation’ a kind of mystic fervour
combined with humanism.
He is also shown as a preacher of this dogma to small groups who
gathered to see him. He emphasized that the most important factor is
that men should love one another.
In his work what is to be done? [1884], he had attacked the evils of
money and demanded that the leisured and professionally bent classes to
‘get off the necks of the people’ In ‘what is art? [1897] he denounced
art for art’s sake, and insisted on a social purpose pinpointing the
need for a new structure of humanism.
The last few pages of this book is quite moving where the original
writer is seen as an observer of the great writer Tolstoy in his
retirement from life in order to mix himself in an ultimatum, an inner
realisation of his spiritualism reaching the climax.
As a reader I preferred to have seen more of this area lurking in his
own conflict which he revealed to the nearest of his friends like the
original author Chertkov. At a time when the Sinhala reader is in need
of more cross cultural profiles this book basically serves the required
need.
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