Leo tolstoy biography russian orthodox church

"If I were told that what I shall write will be read in twenty years by the children of today
and that they will weep and smile over it and will fall in love with life,
I would devote all my life and all my strengths to it." -Leo Tolstoy

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Use the links below to help find information on Tolstoy:

CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH
EDUCATION
PERSONAL LIFE
RELIGION, LATER YEARS, AND DEATH
WRITING CAREER
ADDITIONAL LINKS

Childhood and Youth

Leo Nicolayevich Tolstoy was born on August 28, 1828, to father Nicolay Tolstoy and mother Marya Volkonsky.  He was the fourth of five children born to wealthy parents on their estate and Tolstoy’s lifelong home, Yasnaya Polyana.  When Tolstoy was only 2 years old, his mother passed away, leaving Tolstoy and his siblings under the care of their father’s cousin, Toinette.  Tolstoy became an orphan at the age of 9, whe