What Men Live By, and Other Tales

About this book

Leo Tolstoy presents four tales that ask what truly sustains a human life. A shoemaker receives a mysterious visitor; a king seeks answers to three questions; strangers debate faith in a coffee house; a peasant's greed for land leads him on a fateful walk. Written in Tolstoy's late plain style, these parables strip away ornament to confront charity, humility, and the limits of ownership. They are simple enough to read quickly yet resonant enough to linger. For readers who want Tolstoy's spiritual seriousness without committing to a long novel, this small collection is an ideal starting point.