Ilyás by Leo Tolstoy (1885)
The novel revolves around the life of Ilyás, a young Tatar who lives in the Caucasus region during the Russian conquest. The story explores his relationships with his family and community, as well as his interactions with the Russian authorities. Ilyás's father is a wealthy merchant who has converted to Islam, but his mother remains a Christian. This creates tension within the family, particularly between Ilyás and his father. As the novel progresses, Ilyás becomes increasingly disillusioned with the Russian occupation and begins to question his own identity and loyalties. He eventually joins a group of rebels fighting against the Russians. The novel ultimately ends in tragedy, as Ilyás is killed in battle. The story serves as a commentary on the complexities of cultural identity and the struggles of living under colonial rule.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1885 · Genre: Fiction, Social Commentary, Realism · 2,131 words
First lines
There once lived, in the Government of Oufá, a Bashkir named Ilyás. His father, who died a year after he had found his son a wife, did not leave him much property. Ilyás then had only seven mares, two cows, and about a score of sheep. He was a good manager, however, and soon began to acquire more. He and his wife worked from morn till night; rising earlier than others and going later to bed; and his possessions increased year by year. Living in this way, Ilyás little by little acquired great wealth. At the end of thirty-five years he had 200 horses, 150 head of cattle, and 1,200 sheep. Hired labourers tended his flocks and herds, and hired women milked his mares and cows, and made kumiss,235 butter and cheese. Ilyás had abundance of everything, and everyone in the district envied him. They said of him:
What this Textopian page supports
Ilyás is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Date: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Social Commentary, Realism, Philosophical, Tragedy
- Length: 2,131 words
- Structure: 1 section, 43 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ilyás by Leo Tolstoy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional story centered around the life of Ilyás, exploring his rise and fall in wealth.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques social status, wealth, and the nature of happiness, reflecting on societal values.
- Realism — The portrayal of Ilyás's life and struggles is grounded in realistic depictions of rural life and human experiences.
- Philosophical — The dialogue and reflections on happiness and misfortune delve into philosophical themes about life and contentment.
Tags
Russian Literature · 19th Century Novel · Philosophical Fiction · Existentialism · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Morality Tale · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis · Cultural Clash · Family Dynamics