Death of Ivan Ilyich

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Lev Nikolaevič Tolstoy, Hugh Aplin: Death of Ivan Ilyich (2014, Alma Classics)

192 pages

English language

Published Jan. 8, 2014 by Alma Classics.

ISBN:
978-1-84749-363-7
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4 stars (2 reviews)

This satirical novella tells the story of the life and early death of a high court judge. Ivan Ilych is proud of his achievements and his status in society, despite his poor relations with his wife which renders his home life bleak and joyless. When he becomes hopelessly ill he begins to realize that he has not after all lived the good life he had supposed he was enjoying.

47 editions

reviewed The death of Ivan Ilyich by Lev Nikolaevič Tolstoy (A Bantam classic)

The fascination of the mundane - but with rather flat prose

3 stars

I'd been wanting to dive into some Russian classics for a while, and Google told me this one was the most accessible so there it is.

Found a cheap used copy from a little independent store, result!

Unfortunately, and I wonder if it was maybe due to the translator, I found the prose a little flat, lacking much depth or character.

I did like the story, there's something quite fascinating about a tale of the fantastically mundane.

I did also like how it ended but of course I won't say any spoilers here.

So... I didn't love this book.

I liked it but I didn't love it.

It is short and accessible so if you're like me and just wanting to experience some Tolstoy in a few hours, it's a good choice.

Subjects

  • Fiction, general