At the district court, a case is being heard involving the theft of money and the poisoning of the merchant Smelkov.
Prince Dmitry Nekhlyudov, who is serving as a juror, recognizes in the defendant prostitute Katusha Maslova—the very kind girl he once seduced and abandoned in his youth. Tormented by remorse, he decides to support Katusha. Nekhlyudov is even willing to go after her to hard labor in Siberia and marry her in order to atone for his guilt.
“Resurrection” is the last novel by Leo Tolstoy (1828—1910), in which themes of responsibility, guilt, and spiritual renewal are explored.
The writing of the book was prompted by a real court story told by the lawyer Anatoly Koni, as well as Tolstoy’s own personal experiences.