Father Sergius

Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.3

Word count: 96K words
Chapters: 10

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Father Sergius by graf Leo TolstoyAuthor: Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910,Language: English, Class: PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature, Release Date: Feb 5, 2006

Editor's review

Father Sergius is the sharpest of Tolstoy's novellas in its treatment of faith and self-deception. The protagonist moves from a glittering military career to asceticism, then is driven back into the world by fame and desire, and the story peels back layer by layer the vanity behind "holiness." Tolstoy does not simply reject religion; he asks whether the more a devotee is praised, the more easily devotion becomes another kind of performance. Compact in length, finely detailed in psychology, and clear in its turns, it suits discussion of faith, renown, and the true self. The English version is plain in language and not hard going, suitable for reading in one sitting in a quiet stretch, or for reading alongside "Master and Man" to observe different approaches to the self in late Tolstoy.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in religion, faith, and moral self-examination
Readers of novellas who want to understand Tolstoy's late thought
Course participants who need an English text for literary discussion
Readers who like classic fiction with clear psychological turns and short length

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light entertainment who wish to avoid religious themes
Readers expecting a full-length biographical narrative

Reading tips

Divide the story by stages of life and mark the trigger for each change in the protagonist's identity.
Pay attention to how others evaluate him and compare that with his inner monologue.
After reading, consider: is Tolstoy rejecting ascetic practice or rejecting vanity?
If the English is difficult, first read a Chinese translation to sort out the plot, then return to key passages.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can I understand it without a religious background?

Yes. Although the novel involves monastic life and faith, its core questions are fame, self-deception, and authenticity, and it does not require familiarity with Orthodox doctrine. Some basic background helps with details but does not affect grasp of the main line.

Which is harder, this or "Master and Man"?

The two are similar in length. "Father Sergius" spans more time, has more psychological turns, and leans more toward religion and self-identity in its discussion, so it requires more pauses for thought.

Is the Gutenberg edition the complete text?

Project Gutenberg provides public-domain English electronic texts, usually complete works. But such editions generally lack translator and annotation notes, so formal published editions should be checked for research citations.

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About the author

Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910 Author

Leo Tolstoy (Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910) is a highly important writer in the history of Russian literature. Public information about his nationality and exact dates of birth and death is limited; the library records only his name, the number of his works, and representative titles. The library holds 81 of his works, with representative titles including Anna Karenina and War and Peace (Sota ja rauha). These titles show that he excelled at presenting characters' fates and inner conflicts against broad social panoramas, with calm narration and a reflective quality, while questions of family, morality, and the course of history run throughout. His works have been translated into many languages and have a lasting readership and wide influence.