The novel revolves around a young nobleman who returns to his family's estate after serving in the military and becomes disillusioned with the societal norms and expectations of his aristocratic upbringing. He begins an affair with a peasant woman, which leads him to question the class divisions and moral codes that govern his world. As he delves deeper into the lives of the peasants, he starts to see the world from their perspective and develops a sense of empathy for them. However, his relationships with both his family and the peasant woman are complicated by his own sense of guilt and shame, as well as the societal pressures that dictate how he should behave. The novel explores themes of class, morality, and personal identity through the protagonist's struggles to reconcile his desires with the expectations placed upon him.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1905 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary