Resurrection cover

Resurrection

Rating 4.8
Word count
354K words
Chapters
136
ISBN
9787531353836

Tags

Summary

Resurrection is one of Leo Tolstoy's most celebrated novels. Centered on the theme of "resurrection," it depicts the spiritual and moral awakening of Nekhlyudov and Maslova. Maslova was the illegitimate daughter of a serf. At sixteen, innocent and kind-hearted, she sincerely fell in love with Nekhlyudov, only to be abandoned by the young aristocrat. Pregnant, she was turned out of the house and, after many hardships, forced into prostitution. But fate showed the poor girl no mercy, and misfortunes came one after another: she was put on trial for alleged robbery and murder. Nekhlyudov, serving as a juror, recognized Maslova in court; his conscience smitten with profound remorse, he tried every means to save her, asked to marry her, and sought to atone for his guilt. When the appeal failed, Nekhlyudov accompanied Maslova into exile in Siberia. His conduct finally moved Maslova, but unwilling to harm his reputation and standing, she refused his proposal and married a revolutionary instead.

Editor's review

Resurrection is the pinnacle of Tolstoy's late-life intellectual and artistic exploration, and its significance far exceeds that of an ordinary novel. It confronts the core contradictions of Tsarist Russian society—the remnants of serfdom, judicial injustice, and moral decay—and, through the story of redemption and repentance between the young nobleman Nekhlyudov and the serf girl Maslova, unfolds a vast social panorama. Unlike the sweeping epic grandeur of War and Peace or the domestic psychological depth of Anna Karenina, Resurrection is colder in tone and more direct in its critique, charged with a strong call for social reform and religious-moral self-examination. As the most concentrated and profound literary expression of Tolstoyism, the book's long passages of psychological analysis and ideological discourse are both an artistic hallmark and, for some readers, a barrier to entry. This edition from Chunfeng Literature and Art Publishing House offers a reliable path into this monumental work. Reading it is not only an appreciation of literature but a dialogue with a great and anguished soul, a meditation on what true "resurrection" means—for the individual and for society.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers with a deep interest in the classics of the golden age of Russian literature
  • Philosophy and literature enthusiasts seeking to understand Tolstoy's late-life intellectual transformation and social ideals
  • Serious literary readers drawn to themes of social critique, human redemption, and moral self-examination
  • Readers looking for a long novel that offers both literary beauty and intellectual impact

Not a good fit for

  • Readers of popular fiction seeking light entertainment and fast-paced plotting
  • Readers impatient with extensive psychological description, moral discourse, and religious speculation

Reading tips

  1. Read alongside Tolstoy's biography, especially his late-life intellectual crisis and his flight from home, to understand the novel's creative motivation.
  2. Don't rush the plot; the lengthy inner monologues and discourses are key to understanding the characters and themes, so savor them patiently.
  3. Read it in comparison with Dostoevsky's works (such as Crime and Punishment) to appreciate the different paths Russian literature takes on crime, punishment, and redemption.

About the publisher

Chunfeng Literature and Art Publishing House is a local professional literature and art publisher focusing mainly on modern and contemporary literary works, while also publishing classical literature, foreign literature, and books on culture and the arts. Its well-known brands include the "Cloth Tiger Series" and the "Little Cloth Tiger Series." Judging from the 257 titles in the database, its publishing scope covers social novels, classic works, classical literature, foreign literature, folk literature, and philosophy. Representative books include Lao She's Camel Xiangzi, Lu Xun's Call to Arms and Wandering, Wu Cheng'en's Journey to the West, Xiao Hong's Tales of Hulan River, and foreign classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Don Quixote, and The Golden Rose. Its authors include leading Chinese and foreign writers such as Lao She, Lu Xun, Feng Zikai, Wu Cheng'en, and Jane Austen, reflecting a publishing profile that combines Chinese classics with world literary masterpieces.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 导读
  3. 《复活》主要人物表
  4. 《复活》主要地名
  5. 第一部
  6. 一
  7. 二
  8. 三
  9. 四
  10. 五
  11. 六
  12. 七
  13. 八
  14. 九
  15. 十
  16. 十一
  17. 十二
  18. 十三
  19. 十四
  20. 十五
  21. 十六
  22. 十七
  23. 十八
  24. 十九
  25. 二十
  26. 二十一
  27. 二十二
  28. 二十三
  29. 二十四
  30. 二十五
  31. 二十六
  32. 二十七
  33. 二十八
  34. 二十九
  35. 三十
  36. 三十一
  37. 三十二
  38. 三十三
  39. 三十四
  40. 三十五
  41. 三十六
  42. 三十七
  43. 三十八
  44. 三十九
  45. 四十
  46. 四十一
  47. 四十二
  48. 四十三
  49. 四十四
  50. 四十五
  51. 四十六
  52. 四十七
  53. 四十八
  54. 四十九
  55. 五十
  56. 五十一
  57. 五十二
  58. 五十三
  59. 五十四
  60. 五十五
  61. 五十六
  62. 五十七
  63. 五十八
  64. 五十九
  65. 第二部
  66. 一
  67. 二
  68. 三
  69. 四
  70. 五
  71. 六
  72. 七
  73. 八
  74. 九
  75. 十
  76. 十一
  77. 十二
  78. 十三
  79. 十四
  80. 十五
  81. 十六
  82. 十七
  83. 十八
  84. 十九
  85. 二十
  86. 二十一
  87. 二十二
  88. 二十三
  89. 二十四
  90. 二十五
  91. 二十六
  92. 二十七
  93. 二十八
  94. 二十九
  95. 三十
  96. 三十一
  97. 三十二
  98. 三十三
  99. 三十四
  100. 三十五
  101. 三十六
  102. 三十七
  103. 三十八
  104. 三十九
  105. 四十
  106. 四十一
  107. 四十二
  108. 第三部
  109. 一
  110. 二
  111. 三
  112. 四
  113. 五
  114. 六
  115. 七
  116. 八
  117. 九
  118. 十
  119. 十一
  120. 十二
  121. 十三
  122. 十四
  123. 十五
  124. 十六
  125. 十七
  126. 十八
  127. 十九
  128. 二十
  129. 二十一
  130. 二十二
  131. 二十三
  132. 二十四
  133. 二十五
  134. 二十六
  135. 二十七
  136. 二十八

FAQ

Where does Resurrection stand in Tolstoy's creative career?
Resurrection is Tolstoy's last novel, written over ten years and composed after the upheaval in his worldview. It marks a shift in his artistic style from the early objective epic to the late direct preaching and moral judgment; it is a summative artistic expression of his intellectual quest, valued both as literature and as a document of thought.
What are the main difficulties in reading this book?
The main difficulty lies in its strong speculative and didactic character. The latter half of the novel contains extensive direct discourse and critique concerning the judicial system, the land system, and religious doctrine, and the plot advances relatively slowly. This demands that readers do more than follow the story—they must engage in thought and follow the author in moral and social exploration.
How do Nekhlyudov's "resurrection" and Maslova's "resurrection" differ?
Nekhlyudov's "resurrection" refers primarily to spiritual and moral awakening—an escape from a decadent, hypocritical aristocratic life and a quest for redemption through repentance and action. Maslova's "resurrection" focuses more on the restoration of human dignity and confidence—a recovery of faith in goodness and love from a numb state of injury and humiliation. Their paths to "resurrection" intertwine, together pointing to the possibilities of human nature.

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About the author

Leo Tolstoy Author · Russian · 1828–1910

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a Russian writer of critical realism and a thinker. Born into the nobility, he is widely recognized as one of the world's greatest novelists. His representative works include War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and Resurrection. His writing is known for its broad social vision, delicate psychological portrayal, and profound moral inquiry, and is often classified under foreign literature, world classics, and classic works. This site holds 62 of his works, including the above novels and several English editions. In his later years Tolstoy left home and died at a railway station. Public information is limited, so biographical details cannot be fully described, yet his literary achievement and intellectual influence remain enduring.