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The Death of Ivan Ilyich
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
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The Death of Ivan Ilyich
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Publisher's Summary
Hailed as one of the world’s masterpieces of psychological realism, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is the story of a worldly careerist, a high-court judge who has never given the inevitability of his death so much as a passing thought. But one day death announces itself to him, and to his shocked surprise, he is brought face-to-face with his own mortality. How, Tolstoy asks, does an unreflective man confront his one and only moment of truth?
The first part of the story portrays Ivan Ilyich’s colleagues and family after he has died, as they discuss the effect of his death on their careers and fortunes. In the second part, Tolstoy reveals the life of the man whose death seems so trivial. The perfect bureaucrat, Ilyich treasured his orderly domestic and office routine. Diagnosed with an incurable illness, he at first denies the truth but is influenced by the simple acceptance of his servant boy, and he comes to embrace the boy’s belief that death is natural and not shameful. He comforts himself with happy memories of childhood and gradually realizes that he has ignored all his inner yearnings as he tried to do what was expected of him. Will Ilyich be able to come to terms with himself before his life ebbs away?
This short novel was the artistic culmination of a profound spiritual crisis in Tolstoy’s own life, a nine-year period following the publication of Anna Karenina, during which he wrote not a word of fiction. A thoroughly absorbing glimpse into the abyss of death, it is also a strong testament to the possibility of finding spiritual salvation.
What the critics say
Editorial Review
The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy has long been regarded as one of the most brilliant pieces of literary fiction and psychological realism. This novella is the story of a worldly careerist Ivan Ilyich, a high court judge who has never thought about his death. But one day, death comes to him and shows him what the world and those around him will look like when he is gone. Ivan’s one real moment of truth reveals to him the perils of living life as he has and that the real meaning of life lies in the choices we make and don’t make before it is too late.
Leo Tolstoy is considered one of the greatest literary masters of all time. Some of the Russian author’s most famous works include Anna Karenina, The Kingdom of God is Within You, and War and Peace. The enduring messages in his short novels, short stories, and novellas are reflected in their power to still appear on bestseller lists after all this time.
The Death of Ivan Ilyich was translated into English by the talented Constance Garnett, who can be credited for many Russian masterpieces in English today. Now, listeners can also experience these literary treasures in formats like Audible, like never before. This unabridged audiobook is a moving and sobering look at the finality of death. Still, it is also a testament to the importance of living a good life while we have the opportunity. The Death of Ivan Ilyich is one audiobook that will leave its mark on you long after its conclusion.
What listeners say about The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Barry
- 2024-04-22
Mark my words. This Tolstoy fellow is going to go places.
My enjoyment at reading er…. listening was slow in coming. A very short, very powerful study of a life lead, like any other. A questioning of life, love, family, career, friendship, community and ultimately death. First and ego death and followed immediately by a physical death.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jade
- 2020-11-25
A wonderful reading of a difficult text
The reader does a fantastic job. But the text is difficult. Not for those who don't want to contemplate their own mortality and the mortality of others.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stephanie Zee Fehler
- 2022-05-24
an indictment of modern life
still relevant in 2022. is there more to life? is "comme il faut" all that is required of me in order to say i lived a good life? this unflinchingly honest accounting of one man's life made me think again of how most of us work, live, work, compare, consume, and prioritize in our daily life and never zoom out to think about what the sum total will be.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jeff
- 2022-01-06
That ending……..stillness
Beautiful, thoughtful, transcendent….. superlative wisdom.
Lessons all we can learn from.
The performance, outstanding.
Thank you Leo Tolstoy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Customer
- 2023-09-12
Excellent Reading
Simon Prebble is a fantastic reader. I listened to this book because of his narration of 1984. The subject matter is strangely inspiring and fearful at the same time. An excellent listen.
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