Secondary sourceBook1911
Tolstoy by Romain Rolland
Romain Rolland · 1911
An English translation of a biographical essay on Tolstoy by the French writer Romain Rolland, published in 1911.
A biography by a French admirer who had personal contact with Tolstoy, showing his international influence.
PDF · 264 pagesAbout this source
What it is
This is an English translation, published in 1911, of a biographical study of Leo Tolstoy originally written in French by Romain Rolland as Vie de Tolstoï. Rolland was a French writer who engaged with Tolstoy's ideas and visited him.
Why it matters
This book shows how Tolstoy's influence reached beyond Russia into European intellectual life, with admirers like Rolland studying and interpreting his life and thought for readers abroad. Its quick translation into English also shows the strong international interest in Tolstoy after his death.
Look closer
- Why might a French writer be drawn to study a Russian author's life?
- What might change in meaning when a biography is translated into another language?
- What does the international interest in Tolstoy after his death suggest about his reputation?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Leo Tolstoy on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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