The Death of Ivan Ilyich
by Leo Tolstoy
Russian • Public Domain • Free to stream
The Death of Ivan Ilyich, published in 1886, is one of the most searingly honest works in all of literature. Ivan Ilyich Golovin is a respectable, successful judge who has lived his life by the rules of polite society — correct, ambitious, and emotionally hollow. When he is struck by a terminal illness, he is forced to confront the terrible question: has his life had any real meaning at all? Tolstoy strips away every pretension and comfort, leaving only a man alone with his dying and his conscience. Only Gerasim, a simple peasant servant, shows him genuine human warmth. Short enough to read in a single sitting, devastating enough to change the way you see your own life. Stream free, no account required.
About the book: The Death of Ivan Ilyich
First published in 1886, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a novella by Leo Tolstoy, written shortly after his religious conversion of the late 1870s. It is considered one of the masterpieces of his late fiction and one of the finest examples of a novella.
The book tells the story of a high-court judge in 19th-century Russia and his sufferings and death from a terminal illness. Ivan Ilyich lives a life climbing the social ladder, but after falling awkwardly while hanging curtains for his new home, he begins to suffer from a pain in his side. Confronted by his terminal condition, he is brought face to face with his mortality and dwells on the idea that he does not deserve his suffering because he has lived rightly. The story depicts death as an enemy that leads us to deceive ourselves, robs us of the meaning of life, and puts us in solitary confinement.
Leo Tolstoy struggled greatly with self-doubt and spiritual reflection, especially as he grew close to his own death in 1910. The literature Tolstoy composed during this period is some of his most philosophical, including The Death of Ivan Ilyich.
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Who wrote The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
The Death of Ivan Ilyich was written by Leo Tolstoy.
Is The Death of Ivan Ilyich in the public domain?
Yes, The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy is in the public domain and free to read, share, and listen to worldwide.
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The Death of Ivan Ilyich takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to listen to in full.
When was The Death of Ivan Ilyich written?
The Death of Ivan Ilyich was first published in 1886. It is now in the public domain and free to stream.
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What genre is The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
The Death of Ivan Ilyich is classic literature. It is a classic work of literature now in the public domain.