The Death of Ivan Ilyich
The Death of Ivan Ilyich, first published in 1886 and translated into English in 1902, is a profound exploration of mortality, the search for meaning, and the nature of a life well-lived. The novella follows Ivan Ilyich, a high-ranking Russian judge whose seemingly successful life is upended by a terminal illness. Through his harrowing physical decline and existential reckoning, Tolstoy examines the superficiality of societal norms, the alienation of modern life, and the redemptive power of confronting death with honesty. Written in Tolstoy's later years, the story reflects his spiritual awakening and critique of materialism, offering a timeless meditation on human existence.
