Nico’s Reviews > The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories: "The Raid", "Woodfelling", "Three Deaths", "Polikushka", "The Death of Ivan Ilyich", "After the Ball", "The Forged Coupon" (Penguin Classics) by Leo Tolstoy (28-Feb-2008) Paperback > Status Update

After the Ball - ‘Just as a single drop poured from a bottle is followed by the gushing-forth of the entire contents, so my love for Varenka released the entire amorous capacity of my soul.’

The Death of Ivan Ilyich - Tragic and profound. I find it deeply moving how much this has made me think about how past loved ones have died, and how they each might have faced death, and how some of them lived in the face of death for so long. This is not a story you read once in your life.

Polikushka - Incredible amount of narrative in just 50 or so pages. I’m surprised how well this gripped me, which is probably a reflection of how well it is written. Some really memorable passages here; I will be thinking about this story over the coming days.