On Life: A Critical Edition

This first annotated translation of an 1886 work from Tolstoy marks a significant achievement in studies of the author. The book remains a difficult one to characterize, as, according to Medzhibovskaya, it’s “neither an abstract nor a technical philosophical treatise” but rather a “piece of literary nonfiction” in which Tolstoy argues that true happiness can come only through “reasonable consciousness,” a kind of spiritual consciousness that transcends the merely physical. Along with a fresh translation, this edition boasts a thorough introduction, which describes the book’s genesis in Tolstoy’s recovery from a near-fatal infection at his country estate, places it in the context of philosophy’s rise as a professional academic discipline in Russia, and traces its contemporary reception (it was banned in Russia but promptly translated into French and English.) Medzhibovskaya also includes a supplement that excerpts relevant sections of Tolstoy’s own diaries and presents a selection of letters, lectures, and reviews about the text—essential material for serious study. Though clearly aimed at Tolstoy scholars, this critical edition will be of interest to anyone attracted to Tolstoy’s unique brand of spirituality. (Nov.)