Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy (September 9, 1828-November 20, 1910) was the common name of Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, a Russian author and one of the greatest novelists ever. Foreign tutors educated Tolstoy until he entered the University of Kazan. Leaving school without a degree, he served as a soldier for the Russian Army where he published several magazine articles and a novel, The Cossacks, about his experiences with war. After retiring from the military, Tolstoy established a school and published an educational journal called Yasnaya Polyana. His most famous works include War and Peace, Anna Karenina, "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," and the drama, The Power of Darkness. Later in his life, he published religious tracts, including My Confession, and The Kingdom of God Is Within You.