The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy: Classic Fiction, Russian Literature, Philosophical Fiction | Penguin Little Black Classics

Leo Tolstoy’s *The Death of Ivan Ilyich* is a profound exploration of life, death, and existential dread. The novella captures the story of Ivan Ilyich, a judge whose terminal illness forces him to confront the superficiality of his life. Tolstoy’s writing is both poignant and thought-provoking, delving into themes of mortality and the search for true meaning. This is a timeless, introspective read that challenges you to reflect on your own life and priorities. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a deep and moving literary experience.

Effortlessly written. Candid stories on death with a fascinating story telling tone and structure.

A lifetime compressed into words. It made me sit still and think about life, death, the illusion of success, and what it truly means to live with meaning. Ivan Ilyich lives a life that, on paper, is picture-perfect. A high-status job, a beautiful home, a well-placed social circle, and a family. He believes he is content. But the unsettling part is how easily we, as readers, can recognise ourselves in him, in his pursuit of a life that is "correct" rather than authentic. In how we often mistake comfort for fulfillment. One day, while adjusting the drapes in his home (a house he took great pride in, his "ideal interior" built to reflect success), he slips and injures his side. A trivial accident, he assumes, "just a bruise". But that single moment becomes the beginning of his slow decline. What struck me was not the illness itself, but how it unravels everything he thought he understood about life. What do you do when the very life you've built suddenly feels hollow in the face of death? As Ivan becomes bedridden, the people around him, his wife, children, colleagues, all continue to perform the roles they always have. They pity him, YES. But there's a subtle coldness, a desire to move on with life, to avoid discomfort. And this is where the author holds up a harsh mirror to society: how often do we hide from the truth of someone else's suffering because it makes us uncomfortable? The author writes death as a slow, painful awakening. Ivan's physical agony becomes spiritual, forcing him to question the life he thought was "good." And that's what shook me: if you don't live in truth, you might end up dying in confusion. This read left me wondering, what does it even mean to die well? OR maybe more importantly, what does it mean to live in a way that doesn't leave us terrified of the end? :) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.

Existentialist

There is not much to say about Tolstoy's stories themselves, he's a master. This edition contains his "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" and "Three Deaths" as translated by Anthony Briggs, known for his translation of War and Peace. The production is great, perfect font size, line spacing and all that makes for a great read. Just know that there is no other material like an introduction or afterword, as expected from such a tiny book. Other than that it's a perfect purchase.

Why I am here feeling. Life is not what we think everyday . We wasted the little moments which are valuable, in the story we find many complex relationships and people around the main character who was dead .Leo Tolstoy works are very deep .

The story is good. But the page of the book doesn't seem very nice.

One of Tolstoy’s best works