The Kreutzer Sonata

“The Kreutzer Sonata” is a work by one of the greatest writers in the world, Russian prose writer and thinker L. N. Tolstoy (1828–1910). A story about a family, love, and marriage caused an unprecedented stir in society. Even before it was printed, it affected everyone so strongly that for “a whole winter they talked only about it,” and instead of “How is your health?” people asked: “Have you read ‘The Kreutzer Sonata’?” Due to the unusual and scandalous nature of the story, censorship prohibited its publication. It spread in manuscripts. But even today, when people read this story, they begin to fiercely condemn or passionately defend the author.

Lев Tolstoy’s work had a huge influence on the development of not only Russian but also world literature. His works are distinguished by deep philosophical depth, raising a series of eternal questions: life and death, feeling and duty, love and honor.