Walk in the Light While There Is Light

by Leo Tolstoy, Lawrence Jordan (Compiler)

Three classic tales of Christianity by Russias most widely read novelist packaged as a gift book. The stories are Walk in the Light, While There Is Light, The Long Exile, and Little Girls Wiser Than Their Elders.

Genres: Fiction, Christian, Russia

122 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1893

About the author

Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Russian: Лев Николаевич Толстой; most appropriately used Liev Tolstoy; commonly Leo Tolstoy in Anglophone countries) was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist fiction. Many consider Tolstoy to have been one of the world's greatest novelists. Tolstoy is equally known for his complicated and paradoxical persona and for his extreme moralistic and ascetic views, which he adopted after a moral crisis and spiritual awakening in the 1870s, after which he also became noted as a moral thinker and social reformer.

His literal interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus, centering on the Sermon on the Mount, caused him in later life to become a fervent Christian anarchist and anarcho-pacifist. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as The Kingdom of God Is Within You, were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reviews

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have tried to read other books by Tolstoy and not made it through but loved this little book. It is so inspiring and lifting. I sometimes pick it up and just read a little to get a lift. That is written by Tolstoy only makes it better. Surely, he is a member now.

[Aruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wauw Virkelig en intens smuk novelle

[Perry Whitford · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the prologue a typical collection of rich Russian city dwellers gather for an evening of hospitality and conversation, all admitting that they are not happy in their lives, nor for their children's prospects of finding happiness.

There is general agreement that a spiritual life of high ideals is one thing, but marrying that with a practical life seems impossible, for a multitude of persuasive reasons.

There follows a story from the first generations of Christianty, where a couple of childhood friends from a province of Cilicia in the 1st century take a very different course in life - one living the life of wealth, ambition and indulgence, the other joining a Christian community.

Tolstoy spent his later years trying to educate both the aristocracy, and peasantry of his native Russia, writing highly didactic Christian tracts such as this one, which I bought primarily in order to own a genuine 19th century publication of one of his works.

It's just as well that this was my main motive for buying it because the work itself is of very little value to read, merely an extended parable, with the simplistic morals of the story padded with a handful of dialogues.

The aim is a noble one, to argue for the compatibility of living in a Christian brotherhood within a pagan society, but the result is something for Sunday School only, not for entertainment.

[Kari Stromhaug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this while looking for Anna Karenina at the library. It was a fun little philosophical read -- a lifelong discussion between a rich merchant and his friend, a Christian, at around 100 CE -- that examines our motivations in life and what really brings happiness

Then I went down a rabbit hole on Tolstoy's religious awakening in his 50's, when he adopted a rationalistic, anarchist derivation from Christianity. He was influential enough to inspire what became called "Tolstoyanism", which he himself frowned upon, not wanting people to blindly accept his thoughts without having thought them through and coming to their own conclusions. Interesting stuff

[Crystal Doiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first folk tale “walk in the light while there is light” is a good story and I enjoyed reading it. I have really enjoyed Tolstoy’s writings for several years now and from knowing his style I believe it is very possible that the stories in this collection were translated too simply. They do not contain his normal poetic style.

The second story “the long exile” was nice although more could’ve been done with it. I would’ve loved for him to have had more time to reflect on his life and circumstances. It seems more like a loose draft of a story than a complete and published story.

The last story “little girls wiser than their elders” was hardly a story at all. I think it took place over 2 whole pages?

[Ahmadov · Rating 4 out of 5]

في كل ألم أو تجربه أو مرحله في الحياة عبره باطنية تنتظر استبطانها لاستخراجها والاستنارة بها


الكتاب فكرته بسيطه جدا يخوض حول الحول الحب الشخصي الاناني الحيواني و الحب النابع من الوجدان الحساس العقلاني

لولا التكرار الممل، استحق ٥ نجوم

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been on my shelf for ages and finally picked it up when it fell off and I decided it would be a short distraction. The title story is very philosophical, but the last few paragraphs are poignant. The other two stories in the collection are very short but thoughtful.

[Hari Sood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A v thought provoking short story from Tolstoy! Interesting takes on religion, values and priorities for life. Would recommend for anyone with a few days to dare in between books looking for something to think about. We are all on a path!!

[Maria B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit of a rough translation, but Tolstoy is still amazing.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good to read Tolstoy's short stories about the Christian life.

[bitou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor guy can’t catch a break.