Albert. A Story. by Leo Tolstoy
The story revolves around a young nobleman who seeks to escape the emptiness of his aristocratic life by joining the military and fighting in the Crimean War. He witnesses the horrors of war firsthand and begins to question the morality of the conflict, ultimately leading him to re-evaluate his own values and sense of purpose.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1885 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction · 7 chapters · 13,334 words
First lines
Five rich young men went at three o'clock in the morning to a ball in Petersburg to have a good time.
Much champagne was drunk; a majority of the gentlemen were very young; the girls were pretty; a pianist and a fiddler played indefatigably one polka after another; there was no cease to the noise of conversation and dancing. But there was a sense of awkwardness and constraint; every one felt somehow or other -- and this is not unusual -- that all was not as it should be.
What this Textopian page supports
Albert. A Story. is listed on Textopian as a novella by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1885 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Date: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary, Tragedy
- Length: 13,334 words
- Structure: 7 chapters, 294 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Albert. A Story. by Leo Tolstoy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Albert. A Story.?
- How does this novella by Leo Tolstoy fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep themes of human emotion, societal norms, and the complexities of artistic life, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Drama — The narrative unfolds through dialogue and character interactions, resembling a dramatic structure that highlights personal and social conflicts.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the psychological states of the characters, particularly the musician, exploring themes of despair, longing, and identity.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques social hierarchies and the treatment of artists, reflecting on societal values and the human condition.
Tags
Autobiographical · Biographical · Coming-of-age · Family drama · Literary fiction · Psychological insight · Realistic portrayal · Russian literature · Social commentary · Tragic ending · Young adult themes · Identity crisis
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV
- CHAPTER V
- CHAPTER VI
- CHAPTER VII