Tolstoy Part 2 of 3 Author:Henri Troyat Part Two Of Three Parts Tolstoy was at least as interesting as the books he wrote, his own character more complex than any he marshalled in print. He is often called the world's greatest novelist, though he wrote only two novels that were successful. The source of Tolstoy's genius lay in a contradiction deep in his character. A nobleman, h... more »e wanted to live like a peasant. A soldier, he preached non-violence. A sensualist, he embraced the spiritual. Only in his writing could he give expression to those conflicting impulses. And like many artists, his personal life was a disaster...estranged from his wife and family, remote from the peasants he tried to emulate, finally dying at age 82 on his way to join a monastery.« less