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The Last Station: A Novel of Tolstoy's Final Year
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
Starring Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, & James McAvoy
In 1910, Count Leo Tolstoy, the most famous writer in the world, is caught in the struggle between his devoted wife and an equally devoted acolyte over the master's legacy. Sofya Andreyevna fears that she and the children she has borne Tolstoy will lose all to Vladimir Chertkov and the Tolstoyan movement, which preaches the ideals of poverty, chastity, and pacifism.
As Tolstoy seeks peace in his final days, Valentin Bulgakov is hired to be his secretary and enlisted as a spy by both camps. But Valentin's loyalty is to the great man, who in turn recognizes in the young idealist his own youthful struggle with worldly passions.
Deftly moving among a colorful cast of characters, drawing on the writings of the people on whom they are based, Jay Parini has created a stunning portrait of an enduring genius and a deeply affecting novel.
Starring Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, & James McAvoy
In 1910, Count Leo Tolstoy, the most famous writer in the world, is caught in the struggle between his devoted wife and an equally devoted acolyte over the master's legacy. Sofya Andreyevna fears that she and the children she has borne Tolstoy will lose all to Vladimir Chertkov and the Tolstoyan movement, which preaches the ideals of poverty, chastity, and pacifism.
As Tolstoy seeks peace in his final days, Valentin Bulgakov is hired to be his secretary and enlisted as a spy by both camps. But Valentin's loyalty is to the great man, who in turn recognizes in the young idealist his own youthful struggle with worldly passions.
Deftly moving among a colorful cast of characters, drawing on the writings of the people on whom they are based, Jay Parini has created a stunning portrait of an enduring genius and a deeply affecting novel.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
65 people are currently reading
1384 people want to read
About the author
Jay Parini
191 books152 followersJay Parini (born 1948) is an American writer and academic. He is known for novels and poetry, biography and criticism.
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November 2, 2024
Tocmai a apărut o nouă ediție...
O „ficțiune biografică” despre ultimul an (1910) din viața lui Tolstoi. Evenimentele sînt prezentate de cinci naratori: Sofia Andreevna (soția lui Lev Nikolaevici), Sașa (fiica lor cea mai mică), Bulgakov (secretar), doctorul Makovițki (medicul de familie), Certkov (prieten al lui Lev Nikolaevici, editor al operelor sale, șeful „clanului” tolstoist). Între capitole, autorul transcrie fragmente din scrierile lui Tolstoi.
Jay Parini a avut la dispoziție un materialul imens. Numai cine n-a vrut n-a scris despre viața lui Tolstoi: fii, fiice, nepoți, prieteni, admiratori, adversari etc. Valentin Bulgakov (apare în roman ca unul dintre naratori) a redactat o carte cu titlul Ultimul an din viața lui Tolstoi. V. G. Certkov nu s-a lăsat mai prejos și a scris un articol despre Ultimele zile ale lui Tolstoi. Sofia Andreevna (soția scriitorului) a ținut un jurnal minuțios (voi cita mai jos un fragment): însemnările din anul 1910 sînt destul de consistente. Nu mai pun la socoteală biografiile știute: Henri Troyat, Viktor Șklovski, Pavel Basinski (Fuga din rai acoperă cam același subiect).
Pentru cineva care a citit titlurile de mai sus, „romanul” lui Jay Parini nu aduce aproape nimic nou. Casa lui Tolstoi de la Iasnaia Poliana devenise de mult un soi de balamuc. „Torente de musafiri” se revarsă pe ușile conacului pentru a primi binecuvîntarea lui Tolstoi (p.37. dr. Makovițki, medicul de familie). E vizitat de „cerșetori, revoluționari, studenți, călugări și vizionari, tîlhari, tineri visători” (pp.142, 145: Sașa / Alexandra, fiica cea mai mică a prozatorului). Nu trebuie să-i uităm pe ereticii de toate soiurile. Tot Sașa spune: „Pentru el [Lev Nikolaevici] atenția e ca lumina soarelui pentru o plantă (p.145). Sofia Andreevna e și mai precisă: „E atît de lacom de faimă, atît de însetat de laude...” (p.67). Musafirii sînt primiți în cabinetul de lucru și apoi poftiți la masă. Universul pare a se roti în jurul Învățătorului. Cînd Tolstoi spune ceva (oricît de banal), Bulgakov, doctorul Makovițki, Sașa culeg cu smerenie picăturile de înțelepciune: „În tot acest timp, dr. Makovițki consemna tot ce spunea tata în carnețelul pe care-l ținea ascuns sub masă” (p.61, Sașa).
Jay Parini vede în Tolstoi un individ de o modestie exemplară, un mare chinuit, dar personajele din cartea lui par să aibă un ochi mai ager decît autorul, au observat altceva. Tolstoi e dependent de atenția celorlalți. Trăiește de mult în public. E fotografiat (în familia Tolstoi, toți au mania pozelor: și Sașa, și Sofia Andreevna, și Certkov), filmat, ascultat, înregistrat, adulat. În schimb, portretul Sofiei Andreevna nu beneficiază de aceeași bunăvoință. Mi se pare, pe alocuri, caricatural. În Ultima gară, portretul femeii e nemilos: soția lui Tolstoi e o femeie isterică, are o „o voce stridentă” (p.134, Certkov), este grasă, insomniacă, nevrotică, voluntară, impulsivă, necugetată etc. Doctorul Makovițki menționează „avariția ei legendară” (p.37).
Dar femeia asta „oribilă” plătește slugile, ține socoteala cheltuielilor și, în plus, face corectura seriei de opere a soțului care, în tot acest timp, joacă vinț, șah, discută subțirimi cu Certkov, se plimbă prin pădure călare pe calul Delire și stă de vorbă cu scopiții. Tot femeia asta „oribilă” i-a născut 13 copii, deși, după cum bine știm, Lev Nikolaevici era un fanatic al castității.
Cînd fuge de acasă însoțit de doctorul Makovițki, Tolstoi nu are nici cea mai vagă idee unde se va opri. Își revede una dintre surori la o mănăstire, pornește mai departe. Ajunge în stația Astapovo. Sfîrșit.
P. S. De unde o fi scos Jay Parini acest amănunt sinistru? „Buzele îi fuseseră cusute, ca să împiedice maxilarul să se deschidă” (p.274, relatarea lui Bulgakov).
P. P. S. Un fragment semnificativ din jurnalul Sofiei Andreevna: „Nu m-au lăsat la Lev Nikolaevici, m-au ținut cu forța, au încuiat ușa, mi-au sfîșiat inima. În 7 noiembrie (stil vechi), la ora 6 dimineața, Lev Nikolaevici s-a stins din viață. În 9, a fost îngropat la Iasnaia Poliana” (Viața mea - fragmente de jurnal, trad. de Antoaneta Olteanu, Editura ALFFA, 2012, p.317).
O „ficțiune biografică” despre ultimul an (1910) din viața lui Tolstoi. Evenimentele sînt prezentate de cinci naratori: Sofia Andreevna (soția lui Lev Nikolaevici), Sașa (fiica lor cea mai mică), Bulgakov (secretar), doctorul Makovițki (medicul de familie), Certkov (prieten al lui Lev Nikolaevici, editor al operelor sale, șeful „clanului” tolstoist). Între capitole, autorul transcrie fragmente din scrierile lui Tolstoi.
Jay Parini a avut la dispoziție un materialul imens. Numai cine n-a vrut n-a scris despre viața lui Tolstoi: fii, fiice, nepoți, prieteni, admiratori, adversari etc. Valentin Bulgakov (apare în roman ca unul dintre naratori) a redactat o carte cu titlul Ultimul an din viața lui Tolstoi. V. G. Certkov nu s-a lăsat mai prejos și a scris un articol despre Ultimele zile ale lui Tolstoi. Sofia Andreevna (soția scriitorului) a ținut un jurnal minuțios (voi cita mai jos un fragment): însemnările din anul 1910 sînt destul de consistente. Nu mai pun la socoteală biografiile știute: Henri Troyat, Viktor Șklovski, Pavel Basinski (Fuga din rai acoperă cam același subiect).
Pentru cineva care a citit titlurile de mai sus, „romanul” lui Jay Parini nu aduce aproape nimic nou. Casa lui Tolstoi de la Iasnaia Poliana devenise de mult un soi de balamuc. „Torente de musafiri” se revarsă pe ușile conacului pentru a primi binecuvîntarea lui Tolstoi (p.37. dr. Makovițki, medicul de familie). E vizitat de „cerșetori, revoluționari, studenți, călugări și vizionari, tîlhari, tineri visători” (pp.142, 145: Sașa / Alexandra, fiica cea mai mică a prozatorului). Nu trebuie să-i uităm pe ereticii de toate soiurile. Tot Sașa spune: „Pentru el [Lev Nikolaevici] atenția e ca lumina soarelui pentru o plantă (p.145). Sofia Andreevna e și mai precisă: „E atît de lacom de faimă, atît de însetat de laude...” (p.67). Musafirii sînt primiți în cabinetul de lucru și apoi poftiți la masă. Universul pare a se roti în jurul Învățătorului. Cînd Tolstoi spune ceva (oricît de banal), Bulgakov, doctorul Makovițki, Sașa culeg cu smerenie picăturile de înțelepciune: „În tot acest timp, dr. Makovițki consemna tot ce spunea tata în carnețelul pe care-l ținea ascuns sub masă” (p.61, Sașa).
Jay Parini vede în Tolstoi un individ de o modestie exemplară, un mare chinuit, dar personajele din cartea lui par să aibă un ochi mai ager decît autorul, au observat altceva. Tolstoi e dependent de atenția celorlalți. Trăiește de mult în public. E fotografiat (în familia Tolstoi, toți au mania pozelor: și Sașa, și Sofia Andreevna, și Certkov), filmat, ascultat, înregistrat, adulat. În schimb, portretul Sofiei Andreevna nu beneficiază de aceeași bunăvoință. Mi se pare, pe alocuri, caricatural. În Ultima gară, portretul femeii e nemilos: soția lui Tolstoi e o femeie isterică, are o „o voce stridentă” (p.134, Certkov), este grasă, insomniacă, nevrotică, voluntară, impulsivă, necugetată etc. Doctorul Makovițki menționează „avariția ei legendară” (p.37).
Dar femeia asta „oribilă” plătește slugile, ține socoteala cheltuielilor și, în plus, face corectura seriei de opere a soțului care, în tot acest timp, joacă vinț, șah, discută subțirimi cu Certkov, se plimbă prin pădure călare pe calul Delire și stă de vorbă cu scopiții. Tot femeia asta „oribilă” i-a născut 13 copii, deși, după cum bine știm, Lev Nikolaevici era un fanatic al castității.
Cînd fuge de acasă însoțit de doctorul Makovițki, Tolstoi nu are nici cea mai vagă idee unde se va opri. Își revede una dintre surori la o mănăstire, pornește mai departe. Ajunge în stația Astapovo. Sfîrșit.
P. S. De unde o fi scos Jay Parini acest amănunt sinistru? „Buzele îi fuseseră cusute, ca să împiedice maxilarul să se deschidă” (p.274, relatarea lui Bulgakov).
P. P. S. Un fragment semnificativ din jurnalul Sofiei Andreevna: „Nu m-au lăsat la Lev Nikolaevici, m-au ținut cu forța, au încuiat ușa, mi-au sfîșiat inima. În 7 noiembrie (stil vechi), la ora 6 dimineața, Lev Nikolaevici s-a stins din viață. În 9, a fost îngropat la Iasnaia Poliana” (Viața mea - fragmente de jurnal, trad. de Antoaneta Olteanu, Editura ALFFA, 2012, p.317).
December 26, 2011
It's about the final years of Leo Tolstoy. These final years include the dispute on who should own the works (War and Peace, Anna Karenina, etc) and the riches of the famous Russian novelist: his wife or his minions who claim that his works belong to the people. The story of this final years is said to be one of the "saddest in literary world." And this adjective almost always make me run to the nearby bookstore and get myself a copy of the book. I am a sucker for saddest books.
This is indeed a sad book. It's about death. It's about love. It's about being left alone. It's about the people you're leaving, who you all love, fighting for your wealth and legacy. You all love them and you are torn between what you feel and what you believe in. Between your personal life and the people whose right you are fighting for. Jay Parini satisfyingly captured the emotions of the people surrounding Leo Tolstoy at the age of 83 denouncing wealth and government in favor of his extreme moralistic and ascetic views that led to excommunication from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1901. Oh, never mind the excommunication, I say to myself, his works on non-violence particularly The Kingdom of God is Within You inspired the non-revolution works of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. And of course, his works are considered as the best even by other famous novelists like Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Gustave Flaubert, Anton Checkhov, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Thomas Mann, William Faulkner and Vladimir Nabokov (although he hated War and Peace). I would not mind to be excommunicated, if any of these people have praised my non-existent works.
Parini's writing is far from the experience that I had reading War and Peace and Anna Karenina. This book, first published in 1990, uses contemporary English and it lacks the distinct flavor and cadence of an originally-written-in-Russian novel. Not sure whether this is good or bad but when I began reading, I was expecting to be bewildered and relive the beautiful experience of reading Tolstoy novels. However, after a few pages, Parini took me into Tolstoy's estate at Yasnaya Polyana and I was mesmerized I would not want to come out anymore.
Each of the 42 chapters is narrated by the characters, bearing their names as chapter titles, surrounding the dying Tolstoy. Parini gave each of them his or her own voice. However, there is no one narrated directly by Tolstoy himself except when the character quotes Tolstoy directly or by reading his letter or diary entries. I did not feel this to be a shortcoming though, as Parini chose the best memorable lines from Tolstoy's many records or works. Oh, and there are these beautiful poems that are contained in chapters with heading "J.P." and first I was wondering who was he among the characters. Until the very last chapter. Some kind of style there, Jay Parini!
I also liked the way that Parini used the death scene of Ivan Ilych to describe Leo Tolstoy's own death. Very clever and the prose almost moved me to tears. Ironically, when I came to that part, it was Christmas morning and what am I doing all sad and gloomy on the bright Christmas morning of our Saviour's birth!
But then again, I am a sucker for sad novels. So, pray why not if it makes me happy.
Thanks to Maria for giving me a copy of this book, first in my wish list, during the recent Christmas Party!
This is indeed a sad book. It's about death. It's about love. It's about being left alone. It's about the people you're leaving, who you all love, fighting for your wealth and legacy. You all love them and you are torn between what you feel and what you believe in. Between your personal life and the people whose right you are fighting for. Jay Parini satisfyingly captured the emotions of the people surrounding Leo Tolstoy at the age of 83 denouncing wealth and government in favor of his extreme moralistic and ascetic views that led to excommunication from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1901. Oh, never mind the excommunication, I say to myself, his works on non-violence particularly The Kingdom of God is Within You inspired the non-revolution works of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. And of course, his works are considered as the best even by other famous novelists like Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Gustave Flaubert, Anton Checkhov, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Thomas Mann, William Faulkner and Vladimir Nabokov (although he hated War and Peace). I would not mind to be excommunicated, if any of these people have praised my non-existent works.
Parini's writing is far from the experience that I had reading War and Peace and Anna Karenina. This book, first published in 1990, uses contemporary English and it lacks the distinct flavor and cadence of an originally-written-in-Russian novel. Not sure whether this is good or bad but when I began reading, I was expecting to be bewildered and relive the beautiful experience of reading Tolstoy novels. However, after a few pages, Parini took me into Tolstoy's estate at Yasnaya Polyana and I was mesmerized I would not want to come out anymore.
Each of the 42 chapters is narrated by the characters, bearing their names as chapter titles, surrounding the dying Tolstoy. Parini gave each of them his or her own voice. However, there is no one narrated directly by Tolstoy himself except when the character quotes Tolstoy directly or by reading his letter or diary entries. I did not feel this to be a shortcoming though, as Parini chose the best memorable lines from Tolstoy's many records or works. Oh, and there are these beautiful poems that are contained in chapters with heading "J.P." and first I was wondering who was he among the characters. Until the very last chapter. Some kind of style there, Jay Parini!
I also liked the way that Parini used the death scene of Ivan Ilych to describe Leo Tolstoy's own death. Very clever and the prose almost moved me to tears. Ironically, when I came to that part, it was Christmas morning and what am I doing all sad and gloomy on the bright Christmas morning of our Saviour's birth!
But then again, I am a sucker for sad novels. So, pray why not if it makes me happy.
Thanks to Maria for giving me a copy of this book, first in my wish list, during the recent Christmas Party!
May 31, 2022
Rarely does one prefer the movie over the book. Sometimes it just depends on which one had the chance to make a first impression.
In this case, I saw the movie and greatly enjoyed it. One thing I noticed in the movie is how everyone was writing all the time. Letters, diaries, manuscripts — everyone's writing!
The book, however, gives us each person's writing, and the result I found to be too fragmented. Perhaps if I had read the book first, I would have preferred its insights, and then been disappointed by the movie's glossy surfaces.
Still, though, Tolstoy! Another writer who really was in a professional working partnership with their spouse, which makes Tolstoy's actions at the end of his life even more inexplicable.
In this case, I saw the movie and greatly enjoyed it. One thing I noticed in the movie is how everyone was writing all the time. Letters, diaries, manuscripts — everyone's writing!
The book, however, gives us each person's writing, and the result I found to be too fragmented. Perhaps if I had read the book first, I would have preferred its insights, and then been disappointed by the movie's glossy surfaces.
Still, though, Tolstoy! Another writer who really was in a professional working partnership with their spouse, which makes Tolstoy's actions at the end of his life even more inexplicable.
September 22, 2011
Was the book enjoyable? No. (Do you enjoy watching family brawls?)
Was it interesting? Yes, definitely!
You do laugh sometimes.
After reading this book I felt I better understood Leo Tolstoy and who he had become at the end of his life. If you are looking for an in-depth biography of his entire life, look elsewhere. This book only looks at the philosophy and thoughts central to this writer at the very end of his life, right before his death at 82. You look at the last chapter of his life. It is about his relationships with those in his family and his followers.
L.T. and his "disciples" proclaimed the virtues of celibacy, chastity and sexual abstinence. He despised wealth and luxury. He praised religious piety. But then you compare these 'glorious virtues" to how he in reality lived his life. He was from the aristocracy and lived in wealth. He had 13 children and was promiscuous. He was sexually drawn to both men and women. . So his actions before his death, were they a refutal of past errors or were they simply hypocritcal blather? The family members form two camps, those on the side of their mother and those supporting their father. The readers of this book are bystanders watching the turmoil, skirmishes and final battle between the two sides. Family arguments can't get much worse, and we all know how terrible these can be. This is the central theme of the book: Leo's wife, Sonya (Sofya Andreyevna) felt that the proceeds from his books should go to the family. The new will changed this. She fought this with all her heart. She took it as a statement of her husband's lack of love for her and their children. From this core problem the love that did exist between Sonya and Leo was smothered. You glimpse their initial love only at the beginning of the book. From then on the wounds escalate into jealousy, misunderstanding and hatred. Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. I felt that the tedious bickering leading to the final dénouement could have been edited. The book does end with a huge crash, so I almost thought of adding another star. But no, I didn't.
Beware, the names of the individuals can be confusing. Everyone has at least four names, and often you are only given the initials. Each chapter is given the name of the indiviual expressing their point of view. You must know who you are listening to. Each one judges the others differently, From all these divergent opinions you, the reader, can draw your own conclusions. If you think I am joking by the difficulty of keeping track of who is who, read this from page 141. Bulgakov is expressing his views:
'Are you well, Valentin Fedorovich?' Sergeyenko asked, putting a hand on my forearm as I was about to go to bed.
'I have a mild headache, Leo Petrovich. Nothing serious.'
'Keep well, my boy. You are doing excellent work with Leo Nikolayevich. He has communicated this to Chertkov, who asked me to pass the word along. '
'Tell Vladimir Grigorevich that I am honored.'
So we have six different names here. Is that 6 different people? No! Only four, because:
Vladimir Grigorevich Chetkov is one,
Valentin Fedorovich Bulgakov is the second,
Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy is the third and
Leo Petrovich Sergeyenko the fourth. These four have in addition each their own nickname. You have to remember four names for every individual. I had to get out a pen and paper..... Honestly, after a while you get the hang of it. :0)
Although what I have said might make you think this is all just too depressing, but that is wrong since there is humor in the writing. Sasha (Alexandra Lyvovna), L.T.'s daughter who faithfully supported her father and typed his documents in the "Remington Room" says the following of her sister Tanya:
Tanya, my saintly sister, heard about the latest marital brushfires , and decided to visit us. She is like a wandering bucket in search of a fire. (page 257)
You couldn't survive tha arguments if there were no humor.
After reading the book, you are knowledgeable about the end of Tolstoy's life, you can better judge the opposing viewpoints, you have struggled with names and never-ending family disputes and laughed too.
Read with Sophia Tolstoy. Here is another possibility: Henri Troyat has written a book entitled Tolstoy. I cannot get the title link to appear......
Was it interesting? Yes, definitely!
You do laugh sometimes.
After reading this book I felt I better understood Leo Tolstoy and who he had become at the end of his life. If you are looking for an in-depth biography of his entire life, look elsewhere. This book only looks at the philosophy and thoughts central to this writer at the very end of his life, right before his death at 82. You look at the last chapter of his life. It is about his relationships with those in his family and his followers.
L.T. and his "disciples" proclaimed the virtues of celibacy, chastity and sexual abstinence. He despised wealth and luxury. He praised religious piety. But then you compare these 'glorious virtues" to how he in reality lived his life. He was from the aristocracy and lived in wealth. He had 13 children and was promiscuous. He was sexually drawn to both men and women. . So his actions before his death, were they a refutal of past errors or were they simply hypocritcal blather? The family members form two camps, those on the side of their mother and those supporting their father. The readers of this book are bystanders watching the turmoil, skirmishes and final battle between the two sides. Family arguments can't get much worse, and we all know how terrible these can be. This is the central theme of the book: Leo's wife, Sonya (Sofya Andreyevna) felt that the proceeds from his books should go to the family. The new will changed this. She fought this with all her heart. She took it as a statement of her husband's lack of love for her and their children. From this core problem the love that did exist between Sonya and Leo was smothered. You glimpse their initial love only at the beginning of the book. From then on the wounds escalate into jealousy, misunderstanding and hatred. Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. I felt that the tedious bickering leading to the final dénouement could have been edited. The book does end with a huge crash, so I almost thought of adding another star. But no, I didn't.
Beware, the names of the individuals can be confusing. Everyone has at least four names, and often you are only given the initials. Each chapter is given the name of the indiviual expressing their point of view. You must know who you are listening to. Each one judges the others differently, From all these divergent opinions you, the reader, can draw your own conclusions. If you think I am joking by the difficulty of keeping track of who is who, read this from page 141. Bulgakov is expressing his views:
'Are you well, Valentin Fedorovich?' Sergeyenko asked, putting a hand on my forearm as I was about to go to bed.
'I have a mild headache, Leo Petrovich. Nothing serious.'
'Keep well, my boy. You are doing excellent work with Leo Nikolayevich. He has communicated this to Chertkov, who asked me to pass the word along. '
'Tell Vladimir Grigorevich that I am honored.'
So we have six different names here. Is that 6 different people? No! Only four, because:
Vladimir Grigorevich Chetkov is one,
Valentin Fedorovich Bulgakov is the second,
Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy is the third and
Leo Petrovich Sergeyenko the fourth. These four have in addition each their own nickname. You have to remember four names for every individual. I had to get out a pen and paper..... Honestly, after a while you get the hang of it. :0)
Although what I have said might make you think this is all just too depressing, but that is wrong since there is humor in the writing. Sasha (Alexandra Lyvovna), L.T.'s daughter who faithfully supported her father and typed his documents in the "Remington Room" says the following of her sister Tanya:
Tanya, my saintly sister, heard about the latest marital brushfires , and decided to visit us. She is like a wandering bucket in search of a fire. (page 257)
You couldn't survive tha arguments if there were no humor.
After reading the book, you are knowledgeable about the end of Tolstoy's life, you can better judge the opposing viewpoints, you have struggled with names and never-ending family disputes and laughed too.
Read with Sophia Tolstoy. Here is another possibility: Henri Troyat has written a book entitled Tolstoy. I cannot get the title link to appear......
December 5, 2021
Un roman despre oameni greu de înțeles. Mă întreb de ce soții Tolstoi nu s-au separat mai devreme. Sofia Andreevna putea trăi în vila din Moscova, lăsându-l pe Lev Nikolaevici cu fanii lui.
April 26, 2021
Shockingly, the book is better than the movie. That’s because this book features the fascinating but rotating and indeed competing perspectives of the people who surrounded Tolstoy at the end of his life. It’s hard to say if the chaos of Tolstoy’s last days are testimony to his greatness or his pettiness. And that ambiguity is what lies at the heart of this brilliant Rashomon tale.
October 3, 2010
Huge disappointment, especially because the subject - Tolstoy - is himself the author of one of my favorite novels. However this book is so dull that I couldn't wait for the old geezer to kick the bucket so I could get on to something better. Parini calls his book is a novel, but it's more like a documentary: the characters are flat and there is little narrative pace. The point of view shifts from one character to another as we look into the "diaries" of each one, but they all speak in the same flat voice. Therefore it's impossible to tell with whom the author's sympathies lay. I think it was supposed to be Tolstoy, but I found Parini's Tolstoy an ingrate and a hypocrite; my sympathy lay with his crazy wife.
August 31, 2018
0,5 estrellas
January 25, 2021
„Последната гара“ е исторически роман за последната година от живота на Лев Толстой. Авторът му Джей Парини е преподавател по английски език, писател и автор на биографични романи. Името му не ми беше познато, затова подходих с известна доза недоверие към достоверността на този исторически роман. Разбира се, не очаквам от художествена биографична литература пълно отражение на действителността, но не знаех къде е гринацата в случая с „Последната гара“ и Толстой.
Оказа се, че Джей Парини е прецизен и внимателен писател, който си е написал домашната чудесно и на база дневници, писма, документи и какво ли още не, създава една чудесна, макар и безкрайно тъжна, картина на залеза живота на Толстой.
Винаги съм уважавала и харесвала Толстой, животът му също ми е бил интересен, затова преди време бях чела избирателно тлъстата му биография на изд. Рива. Затова веднага разпознах и основните действащи лица в романа - София Андреевна (съпруга на писателя), Саша (едната му дъщеря), Чертков (близък, много близък съратник и помощник) и т.н. Всяка една глава от книгата е от гледна точка на близък до Толстой човек, който представя версия на основния конфликт в последните години на писателя - съпругата му срещу него самия с отчаяното желание семейството, а не народът, да бъдат тези, които ще получат правата върху произведенията му след смъртта му. Най-общо казано остарелият, почти грохнал Толстой е една пита, от която всеки гледа да дърпа емоционално, материално, както дойде.
А той гледа как да угоди на всички и то без съвсем да се съсипе.
В книгата присъстват много писма на Толстой, които са публикувани в оригиналния си вид. Това е трогателно, защото той е толкова чист и възвишен дори в тях, че няма как да не му стане мило на човек.
„Последната гара“ е не само онази в Астапово, където писателят умира през ноември 1910 година в опит да избяга от жена си, която го съсипва психически (а съсипа и мен тази дърта усойница). Последната гара на Толстой са неговите убеждения, последните му писма, думи, приятелства, трепети, разочарования. Няма да навлизам в детайли около "сюжета", който не е точно сюжет, е реалното развитие на живота на руския писател, но ще кажа, че книгата много ми хареса и си заслужава четенето, особено но онези, които се интересуват от живота му.
Толстой е човек с безкрайно интересен, противоречив и пъстър живот. Че и дълъг. За него все ще е малко, колкото и да се напише, ОБАЧЕ ние можем да четем за него и за хората като него, за да ги познаваме повече и да имаме още повече контекст, когато четем и мислим за книгите им.
Оказа се, че Джей Парини е прецизен и внимателен писател, който си е написал домашната чудесно и на база дневници, писма, документи и какво ли още не, създава една чудесна, макар и безкрайно тъжна, картина на залеза живота на Толстой.
Винаги съм уважавала и харесвала Толстой, животът му също ми е бил интересен, затова преди време бях чела избирателно тлъстата му биография на изд. Рива. Затова веднага разпознах и основните действащи лица в романа - София Андреевна (съпруга на писателя), Саша (едната му дъщеря), Чертков (близък, много близък съратник и помощник) и т.н. Всяка една глава от книгата е от гледна точка на близък до Толстой човек, който представя версия на основния конфликт в последните години на писателя - съпругата му срещу него самия с отчаяното желание семейството, а не народът, да бъдат тези, които ще получат правата върху произведенията му след смъртта му. Най-общо казано остарелият, почти грохнал Толстой е една пита, от която всеки гледа да дърпа емоционално, материално, както дойде.
А той гледа как да угоди на всички и то без съвсем да се съсипе.
В книгата присъстват много писма на Толстой, които са публикувани в оригиналния си вид. Това е трогателно, защото той е толкова чист и възвишен дори в тях, че няма как да не му стане мило на човек.
„Последната гара“ е не само онази в Астапово, където писателят умира през ноември 1910 година в опит да избяга от жена си, която го съсипва психически (а съсипа и мен тази дърта усойница). Последната гара на Толстой са неговите убеждения, последните му писма, думи, приятелства, трепети, разочарования. Няма да навлизам в детайли около "сюжета", който не е точно сюжет, е реалното развитие на живота на руския писател, но ще кажа, че книгата много ми хареса и си заслужава четенето, особено но онези, които се интересуват от живота му.
Толстой е човек с безкрайно интересен, противоречив и пъстър живот. Че и дълъг. За него все ще е малко, колкото и да се напише, ОБАЧЕ ние можем да четем за него и за хората като него, за да ги познаваме повече и да имаме още повече контекст, когато четем и мислим за книгите им.
February 10, 2018
This novel tells the story of life at Yasnaya Polyana during the last year of Leo Tolstoy's life. Surrounded by his children, secretary, hysterical wife, and disciples that idolize him, we catch a glimpse of a very stressful time of the writer's long life. The chapters are cleverly told from the points of view of different members of Tolstoy's inner circle, and you can't help but sympathize to some extent with every character -- no matter how badly they are portrayed from the POV of another character.
If you are looking for a biography of Tolstoy's life or a deep discussion of his philosophy, this is not the book for you. This is a book about a dysfunctional marriage, a battle between moral beliefs and responsibilities, and, obviously, death. However, Jay Parini's writing is somewhat dull and the book felt longer than it actually is.
If you are looking for a biography of Tolstoy's life or a deep discussion of his philosophy, this is not the book for you. This is a book about a dysfunctional marriage, a battle between moral beliefs and responsibilities, and, obviously, death. However, Jay Parini's writing is somewhat dull and the book felt longer than it actually is.
November 22, 2019
This is supposedly about Leo Tolstoy’s final year, told from the perspective of his secretary, wife, daughter, doctor, the milkman etc. But really it is just them lot bitching about each other. No one is likeable and there’s not enough about Tolstoy himself. I’ve made it about 75% through but I’m done. (Gonna watch the film instead 😉)
July 27, 2016
The Passing of a Lion
I bought this book after seeing a trailer for the new movie starring Christopher Plummer as Leo Tolstoy in the final year of his life and Helen Mirren as his embattled wife. It was immediately clear that these were fine roles for two great actors; was the movie based on an equally great book?
In some ways, it did not need to be, for the greatness was already there in Tolstoy's writings and example. In the second part of his life, following the inclinations of his own Levin in Anna Karenina, he took up a simpler life in the country, working alongside the peasants and at least attempting to renounce his wealth. In 1910, when Parini introduces him to us, he is living at his estate of Yasnaya Polyana surrounded by a virtual commune of Tolstoyans (one of several such communities in Russia and abroad) almost worshiping the master and trying to live by his tenets of chastity, poverty, and peace. For Tolstoy himself, this involved many contradictions; the still-married father of numerous children was an unlikely prophet of celibacy, and Russia's most celebrated author might live simply but was certainly not poor. There were also great tensions with his wife, Sofya Andreyvna (Sonya), who was unwilling to renounce the comforts she felt she was due as Countess Tolstoy and mourned the distancing of the affections of her once-beloved husband.
Much as Michael Shaara had done in his Gettysburg novel The Killer Angels, Parini tells the story of Tolstoy's final year through a series of different voices: his wife Sonya, his daughter Sasha, Makovitsky his doctor, Chertkov his closest disciple and agent, and his new secretary Bulgakov; there are also letters and diary entries by Tolstoy himself and three poems by the author. Most of this is based on actual documentary material, but Parini is most effective, I think, when he most uses his own imagination as a novelist. Sonya's reminiscences of their courtship, for example, have a grace that offsets the mentally ill woman she eventually became. Sasha's service as her father amanuensis and ally is humanized by the warmth of a growing love for another woman. And Bulgakov's arrival at the estate is delicious, as an avowed celibate who immediately falls under the spell of one of the master's more attractive acolytes, a worldly-wise young woman called Masha.
The main downsides are that it can be hard to get one's bearings at first, some of the switches between novel and documentary are a bit abrupt, and the book tends to be rather episodic; I have noticed this problem in other biographical novels such as The Master, Colm Toibin's book about Henry James. Towards the end, though, when the 82-year-old Tolstoy finally abandons his wife and home to set out as a wanderer, only to fall ill at a tiny railroad station, the historical events carry everything on their tide. The book offers a facinating insight into the character of this literary lion turned lamb, and I am sure that a good screenplay will smooth out the few rough edges.
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LATER: Having just seen the movie, I certainly think that its evocative setting and the warmth of the central performances gives it a rich coherence that the book does not quite have, with its many discursions and changing points of view. The only part of Parini's story that I really miss is the lesbian relationship involving Sasha, but I can see why this had no place in the screenplay.
I bought this book after seeing a trailer for the new movie starring Christopher Plummer as Leo Tolstoy in the final year of his life and Helen Mirren as his embattled wife. It was immediately clear that these were fine roles for two great actors; was the movie based on an equally great book?
In some ways, it did not need to be, for the greatness was already there in Tolstoy's writings and example. In the second part of his life, following the inclinations of his own Levin in Anna Karenina, he took up a simpler life in the country, working alongside the peasants and at least attempting to renounce his wealth. In 1910, when Parini introduces him to us, he is living at his estate of Yasnaya Polyana surrounded by a virtual commune of Tolstoyans (one of several such communities in Russia and abroad) almost worshiping the master and trying to live by his tenets of chastity, poverty, and peace. For Tolstoy himself, this involved many contradictions; the still-married father of numerous children was an unlikely prophet of celibacy, and Russia's most celebrated author might live simply but was certainly not poor. There were also great tensions with his wife, Sofya Andreyvna (Sonya), who was unwilling to renounce the comforts she felt she was due as Countess Tolstoy and mourned the distancing of the affections of her once-beloved husband.
Much as Michael Shaara had done in his Gettysburg novel The Killer Angels, Parini tells the story of Tolstoy's final year through a series of different voices: his wife Sonya, his daughter Sasha, Makovitsky his doctor, Chertkov his closest disciple and agent, and his new secretary Bulgakov; there are also letters and diary entries by Tolstoy himself and three poems by the author. Most of this is based on actual documentary material, but Parini is most effective, I think, when he most uses his own imagination as a novelist. Sonya's reminiscences of their courtship, for example, have a grace that offsets the mentally ill woman she eventually became. Sasha's service as her father amanuensis and ally is humanized by the warmth of a growing love for another woman. And Bulgakov's arrival at the estate is delicious, as an avowed celibate who immediately falls under the spell of one of the master's more attractive acolytes, a worldly-wise young woman called Masha.
The main downsides are that it can be hard to get one's bearings at first, some of the switches between novel and documentary are a bit abrupt, and the book tends to be rather episodic; I have noticed this problem in other biographical novels such as The Master, Colm Toibin's book about Henry James. Towards the end, though, when the 82-year-old Tolstoy finally abandons his wife and home to set out as a wanderer, only to fall ill at a tiny railroad station, the historical events carry everything on their tide. The book offers a facinating insight into the character of this literary lion turned lamb, and I am sure that a good screenplay will smooth out the few rough edges.
======
LATER: Having just seen the movie, I certainly think that its evocative setting and the warmth of the central performances gives it a rich coherence that the book does not quite have, with its many discursions and changing points of view. The only part of Parini's story that I really miss is the lesbian relationship involving Sasha, but I can see why this had no place in the screenplay.
March 29, 2018
This is a wonderful evocation of Tolstoy's last days, the people surrounding him and the aura created by the event. He was considered not only Russia's greatest living writer, but a powerful religious figure---more revered and beloved than the Tsar. Disciples sought him out on almost a daily basis, yet Tolstoy himself was torn between his aspirations to religious asceticism and his enormous wealth.
Parini captures all the excitement and intrigue of the last days for this literary icon wealthy man who, ironically, had no interest in the very wealth that he had amassed. The story tells of a battle for control of his soul, heart, and money. A battle between his wife and chief adviser, Chertkov. Each chapter in the book is written as if in the first person by six different voices, including Tolstoy himself, Sophia, Vladmir Chertkov (Tolstoy’s companion and promoter of his work) and Tolstoy’s secretary, Valentin Bulgakov. His wife, Sophia, is portrayed showing signs of hysteria and paranoia as she tried to protect her families inheritance from the group of Tolstoyans formed around Vladmir Chertkov, who felt that the great man’s legacy belonged to the world.
The story is based on the real diary of Tolstoy's secretary, Bulgakov, and it reads like a thriller with a denouement when Tolstoy flees toward the Caucasus to, hopefully, die alone. He only gets as far as a stationmaster's house in the small town of Astapovo. There the public gawkers and the press wait for him to die. While it helps to have some familiarity with Tolstoy's earlier years this is still a great read for those who do not. Just as Tolstoy was larger than life as a writer, he becomes, in death, a mythic figure.
Parini captures all the excitement and intrigue of the last days for this literary icon wealthy man who, ironically, had no interest in the very wealth that he had amassed. The story tells of a battle for control of his soul, heart, and money. A battle between his wife and chief adviser, Chertkov. Each chapter in the book is written as if in the first person by six different voices, including Tolstoy himself, Sophia, Vladmir Chertkov (Tolstoy’s companion and promoter of his work) and Tolstoy’s secretary, Valentin Bulgakov. His wife, Sophia, is portrayed showing signs of hysteria and paranoia as she tried to protect her families inheritance from the group of Tolstoyans formed around Vladmir Chertkov, who felt that the great man’s legacy belonged to the world.
The story is based on the real diary of Tolstoy's secretary, Bulgakov, and it reads like a thriller with a denouement when Tolstoy flees toward the Caucasus to, hopefully, die alone. He only gets as far as a stationmaster's house in the small town of Astapovo. There the public gawkers and the press wait for him to die. While it helps to have some familiarity with Tolstoy's earlier years this is still a great read for those who do not. Just as Tolstoy was larger than life as a writer, he becomes, in death, a mythic figure.
February 22, 2010
The story of Tolstoy's running away from home at the end of his life is well known. This particular version has been made into a movie with award-winning stars, so I was curious . . . and disappointed. First of all, I was slightly annoyed that the main character was called Leo Nicholaevich rather than the Russian Lev Nicholaevich. Secondly, it is difficult to understand Lev and Sofia's alleged estrangement unless you know a lot more about their backgrounds, their marriage, and their personalities than this book explains.
On the other hand, completing this book compelled me to read two other books that I already had in my private library including "The Diary of Sofia Tolstoy, " a really excellent translation with good footnotes. Now I'm curious about the movie; a good director could do a lot to flesh out the sketchy characters and motivations in the book.
On the other hand, completing this book compelled me to read two other books that I already had in my private library including "The Diary of Sofia Tolstoy, " a really excellent translation with good footnotes. Now I'm curious about the movie; a good director could do a lot to flesh out the sketchy characters and motivations in the book.
May 30, 2008
This novel is based on the last year of Leo Tolstoy's life. By combining fact an fiction, Jay Parini provides both an interesting novel and an interpretation of a fascinating man. I doubt that I'll watch the movie: Mr Parini's imagery is all the visual interpretation I need.
February 12, 2022
Really interesting book. I loved listening to it because of all the different voices and perspectives of both Leo Tolstoy and the people who loved him and helped him the last year of his life. Perspectives included were Tolstoy's wife Sofia, his daughter Sasha, his doctor, his book publisher and dear friend, his personal secretary and the famous author himself. I got so interested in Tolstoy from this book that I have decided to read his famous novel War and Peace as well as some of his spiritual texts!
December 17, 2007
Parini's The Last Station is a study of the end of Russian author Leo Tolstoy's life. You don't need to be a fan of Tolstoy to enjoy it--you don't even need to have read any of his novels. This book stands on its own merits.
Told in multiple first person narratives, the book explores how the various players see themselves and each other, enabling the reader to make up their own mind about their characters and motives. Personally, I came to like Tolstoy's long-suffering wife Sofya Andreyevna the best, if only because all the other characters are ranged against her. She's depicted by them as insane, hysterical, controlling, and I don't know what else, when all she wants is to secure the royalties from Tolstoy's work to their descendants. This simple--some might say, laudable--ambition finds her ranged against her husband, their daughter Sasha, and various of Tolstoy's adherents and hangers-on. As it becomes obvious to her that she's failed, she rages in various frightening--and impotent--ways, and finds herself excluded from her husband's deathbed. The winners write the history: she drove Tolstoy from his lifetime home; she wouldn't let him die in peace. But Parini makes sure Sofya's voice is also heard.
Russia stands on the brink of momentous change, but this novel, like Tolstoy's own work, is more about the personal than the political. Tolstoy may despise the luxury in which he lives, but he's unable to break away from it. He may wish to make the grand gesture of leaving his work to the nation, but he does it in secret, fearing a confrontation with his wife. What we see is a man who's lionised by everyone around him--except Sofya--but who is too weak to live up to their perception of him. Yet his feet of clay go unobserved. He's already an icon, no longer a man. All that's left to him, therefore, is to die.
Parini writes well, and does a good job of distinguishing the various narrators--Sofya, Tolstoy himself, their daughter Sasha, Tolstoy's new secretary Bulgakov, his doctor Makovitsky, and the scary Chertkov, the leader of Tolstoy's fan club. The most likeable character is Bulgakov, whose love affair troubles him only a little in the light of one of the leading tenets of Tolstoyism: celibacy. He's more worried about the mission Chertkov has given him: to spy on Tolstoy and report back. Like Tolstoy himself, his solution is to obfuscate. He begins a tentative friendship with Sofya, but soon adopts the majority view of her.
Interspersed in the narrative are some of the author's original poems. If it is ironic that I found myself skipping them just like I skipped Tolstoy's reflections on the nature of history in War and Peace, I'm not convinced that the irony was intentional. On the whole, I didn't feel that the poems belonged--they broke up the narrative and disturbed the fictive dream.
That reservation notwithstanding, this is a highly readable novel which gives an insight into the nature of illustriousness--and its price.
Told in multiple first person narratives, the book explores how the various players see themselves and each other, enabling the reader to make up their own mind about their characters and motives. Personally, I came to like Tolstoy's long-suffering wife Sofya Andreyevna the best, if only because all the other characters are ranged against her. She's depicted by them as insane, hysterical, controlling, and I don't know what else, when all she wants is to secure the royalties from Tolstoy's work to their descendants. This simple--some might say, laudable--ambition finds her ranged against her husband, their daughter Sasha, and various of Tolstoy's adherents and hangers-on. As it becomes obvious to her that she's failed, she rages in various frightening--and impotent--ways, and finds herself excluded from her husband's deathbed. The winners write the history: she drove Tolstoy from his lifetime home; she wouldn't let him die in peace. But Parini makes sure Sofya's voice is also heard.
Russia stands on the brink of momentous change, but this novel, like Tolstoy's own work, is more about the personal than the political. Tolstoy may despise the luxury in which he lives, but he's unable to break away from it. He may wish to make the grand gesture of leaving his work to the nation, but he does it in secret, fearing a confrontation with his wife. What we see is a man who's lionised by everyone around him--except Sofya--but who is too weak to live up to their perception of him. Yet his feet of clay go unobserved. He's already an icon, no longer a man. All that's left to him, therefore, is to die.
Parini writes well, and does a good job of distinguishing the various narrators--Sofya, Tolstoy himself, their daughter Sasha, Tolstoy's new secretary Bulgakov, his doctor Makovitsky, and the scary Chertkov, the leader of Tolstoy's fan club. The most likeable character is Bulgakov, whose love affair troubles him only a little in the light of one of the leading tenets of Tolstoyism: celibacy. He's more worried about the mission Chertkov has given him: to spy on Tolstoy and report back. Like Tolstoy himself, his solution is to obfuscate. He begins a tentative friendship with Sofya, but soon adopts the majority view of her.
Interspersed in the narrative are some of the author's original poems. If it is ironic that I found myself skipping them just like I skipped Tolstoy's reflections on the nature of history in War and Peace, I'm not convinced that the irony was intentional. On the whole, I didn't feel that the poems belonged--they broke up the narrative and disturbed the fictive dream.
That reservation notwithstanding, this is a highly readable novel which gives an insight into the nature of illustriousness--and its price.
February 8, 2010
This little Novel about the last year of Tolstoy's life is certainly worth the read.
Told from multiple perspectives the plot revolves around the coflict between Tolstoy's wife and his disciples over the great author's legacy and the copyright to his works.
Depending on whose point of view strikes you as most accurate, Tolstoy is either a great man fighting his flaws, a misguided extremist failing to accept his humanity, or a hero who, despite his flaws, stands for values that we should all cherish and internalize. These vales are egalitarianism, non-violence, justice, and basic human dignity.
One of the most intersting perspectives in the novel is that of Tolstoy's wife. She is concenred with pratical things. Managing the household, protecting her children's inheritance. Frequently such characters come off negatively in writings of those committed to the spiritual and ethical life. To some extent Tolstoy, and even more so his disciples, see her that way. But her portrayel is a very human one.
The values that Mrs. Tolstoy stands for are given a full defense. This is often left out of books about men like Tolstoy, it is a very fine aspect of the novel.
Also interesting is the role of sex in the Characters' lives. In later life Tolstoy embraced celebicy. The logic behind embracing celiby, according to this novel, is that sex is too animal for the higher spiritual life. The Characters who have sex, however, end up concluding the opposite; that sex is a kind of spiritual ecstasy and union, whereas celibcy an unhealthy denial of life.
This "pro-sex" theme is hardly original. It is, however, nicely done, and fits in well with Parini's critique of Tolstoyism in general.
It remains unclear what Parini wants us to think of Tolstoy's values and ideals. Some seem noble and admirable, such as Tolstoy's non-violence, his passion for social justice and rights for the poor and working classes. Others seem deeply problematic, such as the aforesaid celiby. Tolstoyism as a whole is, however, neither clearly bad nor good. Perhaps we are to make our own judgments.
As I mentioned above, it depends on which character is talking with us ... the true value of Tolstoyism is a matter of perspective.
Told from multiple perspectives the plot revolves around the coflict between Tolstoy's wife and his disciples over the great author's legacy and the copyright to his works.
Depending on whose point of view strikes you as most accurate, Tolstoy is either a great man fighting his flaws, a misguided extremist failing to accept his humanity, or a hero who, despite his flaws, stands for values that we should all cherish and internalize. These vales are egalitarianism, non-violence, justice, and basic human dignity.
One of the most intersting perspectives in the novel is that of Tolstoy's wife. She is concenred with pratical things. Managing the household, protecting her children's inheritance. Frequently such characters come off negatively in writings of those committed to the spiritual and ethical life. To some extent Tolstoy, and even more so his disciples, see her that way. But her portrayel is a very human one.
The values that Mrs. Tolstoy stands for are given a full defense. This is often left out of books about men like Tolstoy, it is a very fine aspect of the novel.
Also interesting is the role of sex in the Characters' lives. In later life Tolstoy embraced celebicy. The logic behind embracing celiby, according to this novel, is that sex is too animal for the higher spiritual life. The Characters who have sex, however, end up concluding the opposite; that sex is a kind of spiritual ecstasy and union, whereas celibcy an unhealthy denial of life.
This "pro-sex" theme is hardly original. It is, however, nicely done, and fits in well with Parini's critique of Tolstoyism in general.
It remains unclear what Parini wants us to think of Tolstoy's values and ideals. Some seem noble and admirable, such as Tolstoy's non-violence, his passion for social justice and rights for the poor and working classes. Others seem deeply problematic, such as the aforesaid celiby. Tolstoyism as a whole is, however, neither clearly bad nor good. Perhaps we are to make our own judgments.
As I mentioned above, it depends on which character is talking with us ... the true value of Tolstoyism is a matter of perspective.
December 26, 2012
In a secondhand bookshop in Naples, Jay Parini (novelist, poet, biographer, scholar) chanced upon the diary of Valentin Bulgakov, Tolstoy's secretary during the final year of the great man's life. Parini subsequently discovered that diaries were also kept (and later published) by numerous other members of Tolstoy's circle. From these, he has crafted a magnificent fictionalised account of the events which led up to Tolstoy abandoning his wife and his home, and to end up dying in a railway stationmaster's house in a village in the middle of nowhere, Russia. Even for someone like me who has never read a page of Tolstoy, this is a gripping, exciting, extraordinary story, revealing so much about the creative process, about political and theological philosophy, about mental illness, and about Russia before the revolution. I now want to read all of Parini's work - particularly his biographies of Robert Frost and John Steinbeck. And I now feel slightly less bad about losing my life's savings in a disastrous secondhand bookshop business in a back street in Yorkshire; I don't remember a visit from Jay Parini, but I suppose it's just possible that a book from my shop kindled a similar literary enterprise; that's a thought that might comfort me a little as I contemplate the financial wreckage.
November 13, 2014
The Last Station which examines the personal conflicts in the household of Leo Tolstoy is the fruit of a simple brilliant idea by Jay Parini. Leo Tolstoy was at the end of his life the most famous writer of his time and an extremely rich man. He was surrounded by group of ruthless friends and equally ruthless family members who all wanted a piece of him and his fortune. Everyone in the circle wrote well and kept diaries. Parini takes the stories from these diaries to compose a single cogent narrative that describes how Tolstoy was harassed out of his own home and died on the run in at a remote railway station in Southern Russia under the watch of a huge international press corps that was chasing the story.
Parini invents nothing. If anything he refrains from using much of the most lurid material available to him. This novel is fascinating to read. It is the worked of a skilled hand who uses the highly noxious material available to him with admirable discretion. This is very fine writing.
Make a point of downloading the movie with Christopher Plummer and Helen Miren which is very faithful to the letter and the spirt of this outstanding novel.
Parini invents nothing. If anything he refrains from using much of the most lurid material available to him. This novel is fascinating to read. It is the worked of a skilled hand who uses the highly noxious material available to him with admirable discretion. This is very fine writing.
Make a point of downloading the movie with Christopher Plummer and Helen Miren which is very faithful to the letter and the spirt of this outstanding novel.
January 1, 2014
I loved the movie but probably should have read this first. Intrigued by Tolstoy and his wife, tho the end of their 50 year marriage was fraught with anger, hurt, disappointment (to say the least). Ah...famous men... certainly leave behind frustrated and lonely wives. It was interesting that the author read diaries of all the main characters and gave us their varied views of often the same incident.
May 20, 2010
I had high hopes for this book as the cover quotes Gore Vidal saying,"One of the best historical novels written in the last twenty years." However, every characater in the book had at least two different Russian names, so I was halfway through before figuring out who was who! Well written but not satisfying.
March 12, 2012
A portrayal of Tolstoy's final year shows that he was surrounded by people whose agenda was to their own profit, as artisans are always worth more when they are dead. It was interesting to read about the political history of that time, and I want to go onto read one of his books. Only one though!
I would not recommend this book, as there are much better ones out there than this.
I would not recommend this book, as there are much better ones out there than this.
March 8, 2012
Read this for book club and was not impressed. The story about the final days of Leo Tolstoy was mildly interesting, but I did not find a single character likable. Not one. Not even Tolstoy managed to generate kind feelings. The whole thing was just sad.
June 13, 2021
A big disappointment! Forced myself to slog through this mess of family fights and polarization. Told in voices of several narrators, so we get events from their much-varied points of view. Novel was a mishmash of fact [from characters'' diaries] and fiction.
June 10, 2010
The characters in The Last Station were characters, not people. They just weren't believable to me as people. At times they seemed more like caricatures.
July 3, 2010
Really more of a 1.5. This was odd, and made me rather dislike Tolstoy.
October 21, 2020
I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars. What a beautiful read.
May 30, 2017
Las 300 páginas más densas (y aburridas) que recuerdo haber leído en mucho tiempo. Agradezco a todas las divinidades por fin haber juntado fuerzas para terminarlo.
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