Walk in the Light And Twenty-Three Tales

Longhailed as one of thewestern world's greatest writers, Leo Tolstoy is best known for hisepic Warand Peaceand his novel AnnaKarenina.Yet the undiminished popularity of his shorter works - including thetwo dozen collected here - attests to his equal prowess as a masterof the short story.

Uncluttered by thecomplexities of plot and character that daunt so many readers of thelonger Russian masterpieces, Tolstoy's tales illumine eternal truthswith forceful brevity. While inspired by a sense of spiritualcertainty, their narrative quality, subtle humor, and visionary powerlift them far above the common run of "religious"literature. Moralists purport to tell us what our lives should mean,and how we should live them. Tolstoy, on the other hand, has anuncanny gift for simply conveying what it means to be truly alive.

From "Walk inthe Light," a parable-like piece that reflects Tolstoy'sfascination with the early Christians, to beloved tales such as "Ivanthe Fool," "A Prisoner in the Caucasus," and "WhatMen Live By," the stories in this volume have stood the test oftime for over a century. Together they form a rare treasure-trove youwill want to return to often