Primary sourceSpeech1908
Tolstoy Reads the Fairy Tale The Wolf
Leo Tolstoy · 1908
A rare 1908 phonograph recording of Tolstoy reading his own fairy tale, made on a phonograph given to him by Thomas Edison.
A rare recording of Tolstoy's own voice reading his own fairy tale late in his life.
About this source
What it is
This is a phonograph recording made in 1908 of Leo Tolstoy reading his fairy tale 'The Wolf.' According to the record, it was made on a phonograph given to Tolstoy by Thomas Edison in January 1908.
Why it matters
This recording is a rare direct trace of Tolstoy's own voice, connecting the world-famous Russian writer to the new technology of sound recording and to its inventor, Thomas Edison. It shows how even at an advanced age Tolstoy engaged with modern inventions and continued to share his storytelling.
Look closer
- What does it mean to hear a writer's actual voice instead of only reading their words?
- Why might Edison have sent Tolstoy a phonograph as a gift?
- What limitations does an old recording like this have for understanding the full person?
This speech 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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