"Leo Tolstoy" (1828 – 1910) Russian author and philosopher

Leo Tolstoy was a famous Russian author and social reformer who lived in the 19th century. He was born in 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, Russia, a small estate located about 100 miles south of Moscow. Growing up, Tolstoy was educated at home by his parents and tutors, and was strongly influenced by his mother, Princess Marya Volkonskaya.

Tolstoy's writing career began in the 1850s, when he started writing stories, essays, and plays. His most famous work, the novel War and Peace, was published in 1869 and is considered one of the greatest works of literature of all time. Other famous works by Tolstoy include Anna Karenina and The Death of Ivan Ilych. In addition to being a great author, Tolstoy was an active social reformer. He was a critic of the Russian Orthodox Church and advocated for the emancipation of serfs, the poor, and women. He also spoke out against war and violence, and was an advocate for non-violent resistance. Tolstoy's beliefs had a significant impact on the development of civil rights movements around the world. Tolstoy's personal life was tumultuous, and he experienced a spiritual crisis in his later years. He died in 1910 at the age of 82. His influence on literature, philosophy, and social reform still resonates today. His works have been adapted into numerous films, plays, and operas, and his ideas are studied in schools and universities around the world. He is remembered as one of the greatest authors of the 19th century and a champion of social justice.