Rating: 
Summary: Tired work from a tired man
Review: I once thought of Russian literature like I think of pizza: when it's good it's really good, when it's bad it's still pretty good. Most readers know this saying in another context, but what they may not know is that by this standard, Resurrection doesn't even qualify as a food product.I'll stop with the tortured metaphors. Tolstoy, the great creator of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, has only just barely managed to write what I would call a novel. It's a polemic tract in fictional guise. Apparently Tolstoy spent twenty years after Anna Karenina writing purely polemic essays during his long search for spiritual truth, and it has rubbed off here. I personally have no objection if Tolstoy wishes to savage the church, but he could at least do it in the context of the story. Instead, he uses the heavy handed technique of simply inserting lines, paragraphs, even almost entire chapters in which he simply lectures directly to the reader. Similarly, he states that so-and-so discovered the truth about God or life or something of that sort, kindly letting the reader know by his omniscient wisdom that we need not fear that we've misinterpreted the passage. Often there is nothing to misinterpret or understand, since Tolstoy's explicit telling of the truth is all we get. Despite the claims on the back cover, Tolstoy turns a `highly critical eye on' above all, the penal system. Only in the last ten pages, where he resorts to blatant reproduction of bible verses, and in a few other places, does he really write much about religion. The story is mainly about a Russian prince who ends up following a group of convicts to Siberia, getting to know them, trying to help them, and observing that there are no true criminals in prison, or anywhere else in the world except in positions of power. These observations are just as often made directly through the mouth of Tolstoy as through the main character, Nekhlyudov, who in any case is just a stand-in for Tolstoy. The rest of the time he goes around to various officials making petitions and begging requests, all while observing how stupid these higher men are. Of course, as the author he can make them exactly that. I did find it interesting that Nekhlyudov's brother-in-law, who we meet once, and is called by Tolstoy to be a most despicable man, was in fact probably the most intelligent character in the book - not a difficult task I'll grant. Of course, in reflecting on nineteenth century Russian government it's quite easy to be critical, so why did Tolstoy do such a bad job of it? I think of Resurrection, being Tolstoy's last work, and compare it to The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoyevsky's last. But while Dostoyevsky just became more interesting the more he wrote, Tolstoy was clearly writing like a tired and embittered old man. Near the end of his life he had only tired platitudes, delivered as a sermon from on high by the all knowing author. And that is what Resurrection is all about.
Rating: 
Summary: A Study of Conscience
Review: In 'Resurrection', Tolstoy states that "people live and act partly according to their own ideas, and partly because they are influenced by the ideas of others. The extent to which they do the one or the other is one of the chief things that differentiate men." Nekhlyudov, the protagonist of the novel, acted according to the influence of others, ten years prior to the setting of the novel. Scheduled to join the Russian army shortly, he believes himself entitled to a life of squander and debauchery, of loose morals, and even looser sense of responsibility, according to his pledge of his life to the cause of the army. If he is willing, and very likely, to die for his country, then the country owes him. Such was the sense of entitlement common in the mind of Russian men at the time. Following this belief, Nekhlyudov finds himself seducing young Katusha, and bedding her, on the eve of his departure. He abadons Katusha after succumbing to the lust he feels for her, and leaves her to whatever life brings, without a second thought. Ten years later, Nekhlyudov has that second thought, when he and Katusha are reunited, on opposite sides of the law. Katusha stands accused of robbing and poisoning a 'client,' as her life has led her to prostitution. Nekhlyudov sits on the jury that will decide her fate. When a guilty verdict is returned, and Katusha is sentenced to hard labor in Siberia, Nekhlyudov experiences a life-changing sense of guilt in the situation, believing that if he had not given into his animal desires with this girl, she never would have experienced such a downward spiral in life, and now he must make this up to her, by whatever means necessary, even if it means abandoning his life of priviledge and following the girl to Siberia, and marrying her, to right the wrong he did to her all those years ago. What follows is a journey of self-discovery for Nekhlyudov, as he learns some of life's most valuable lessons. (1) You can't ever go home again (2) Money cannot buy happiness, and (3) You cannot save someone unless they wish to be saved. Nekhlyudov fails to see anything but the girl he knew so long ago, still the same Katusha, but in unfortunate circumstances. With romantically idealistic eyes, he watches her in the courtroom, not realizing that perhaps she has grown in the past ten years, and perhaps she has reason for entering into a life of prostitution. Katusha herself explains to him that men, above all else, want the pleasure of the flesh and look upon her favorably enough that she can provide them with this simple pleasure. She sees it as fortunate for her that she is possessed of the good looks and slim figure to invite their lustful looks, and if she can provide this service and make a living at it, why not? Not exactly what you would expect 'the girl next door' to think. Sickened at the thought of Katusha having been led by him into such an existence, Nekhlyudov rejects the lifestyle of excess and grandeur that he leads, and becomes disgusted with his circle of contemporaries, and the lack of substance their lives entail. He embarks on a quest to be the savior of the unfortunate, taking details of convicts to the courts and begging them to reconsider the circumstances. He feels that, had all of these people had a better, more priviledged existance, perhaps they would have turned out very differently, and not have commited the crimes that put them in their present surroundings. Eventually, he realizes that everyone makes their own choices in life, rich or poor, and must accept the consequences of their actions. Throughout his desire to avail himself of Katusha's forgiveness and redeem himself for his past transgressions, Nekhlyudov turns a deaf ear time and again, as she tells him that what has befallen her is her own doing, and not his responsibility, and to leave her to it, and get on with his own life. Desperate to turn her life around, and save Katusha, Nekhlyudov overlooks the fact that Katusha herself has accepted her plight, and feels that the sentence she has been given is deserved. This is a wonderful read, never slow or plodding, occasionally becoming a grand commentary on the state of prisons in Russia in the late 1800's, as well as a vivid portrait of the lives of the lower classes, and a wonderful commentary on Communist beliefs in Russia at the end of the 19th century. The book ends.....very justly. There is no grand-scale Hollywood ending for Tolstoy, at least not here. The feeling one might walk away with is that though things did not end the way you might hope for...they ended exactly as they should....This was my first foray into Tolstoy, and will not be my last. I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in a glimpse into the mind and convictions of a brilliant author.
Rating:
Summary: Responsibility
Review: In the prison yard the name called out was Maslova. Her story was a common one. She was an orphan raised by maiden ladies of the land-owning class. She was spoiled and declined offers of marriage.
The nephew of the old ladies, a prince, came to stay with them when the girl was sixteen. Five months later she knew she was pregnant. The ladies let her leave pursuant to her own request. Her baby died in a foundling hospital.
Katusha as she then was called moved from position to position. By this time Katusha could go into service or enjoy the easier life as a resident of a house. Katusha Maslova chose the life of chronic sin as Tolstoy characterizes the situation. She lived this way for seven years.
Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Nekhlyuda, her seducer, was summoned to serve on the jury in criminal court. The prisoners were brought into the courtroom. The third prisoner was Maslova. The prince thought to himself, no it cannot be. He wondered, whether Katusha Maslova recognized him.
Maslova's attorney asserted that she had been led into a life of debauchery by a man who remained unpunished. Viewing her, Nekhlyudov believed that Katusha was certainly the same person she had been in her youth. Nekhlyudov felt she was innocent of both the theft and poisoning charges.
The jury made a mistake in writing out its findings for the court. As to Maslova, what was omitted was a finding negating an intent to take a life. Her sentence, therefore, was penal servitude in Siberia.
The President of the court advised Nekhlyudov to speak with the advocates to correct the mistake. Nekhlyudov felt that since he had something to do with Maslova getting on the wrong path, he must take measures to correct her situation. Once he realized that he was bad, others were no longer so disgusting to him.
Marriage with Missy, a member of his class, no longer seemed so probable. Nekhlyudov came to see that the persons being tried in the law courts were not the evil-doers he had previously supposed. Indeed, he himself was a deceiver and a rake and no one was trying to punish him. He told the procurator he wanted to follow and marry the prisoner Maslova. He stated that he now considered all judging useless, immoral.
Maslova dealt with her pain by the trick of disassociation. Nekhlyudov's initial words to her centered on his wish for forgiveness. Nekhlyudov expected Katusha Maslova to be pleased. She was not. Furthermore, it seemed she was not ashamed of her position. She is a convict and he is a gentleman and prince. She does not believe he really wants to marry her.
The prince tries to put his affairs in order to enable him to travel to Siberia if necessary. He rents the land from one estate to the peasants for a nominal rent. Maslova's position of appeal to the Senate is denied. As Nekhlyudov prepares his things to follow Maslova and the prisoners to Siberia, he perceives that he has lived through something very hard and very joyful and that he has experienced an inner change.
The description of the procedures used in the transport of prisoners are as fascinating now as when written since, inter alia, the camps of the Czar were the predecessors of the camps of Stalin. The theme is the blindness of the upper classes to the suffering of those below them.
Maslova is allowed to join the political prisoners and thereby escape the harassment of the general convicts. Maslova values and admires the political prisoners. Nekhlyudov comes to change his mind about the revolutionists, (they were being treated harshly, as if in time of war).
Through the prince's efforts, Maslova's sentence to hard labor is commuted to exile. Maslova seeks to release Nekhlyudov from his self-imposed task by marrying another person, one of the political prisoners.
Rating:
Summary: The 'Pay Forward' of Tsarist Russia
Review: In this book Tolstoy was trying to further his own ideas of non-resistance to 'evil,' and one good turn leading to a chain reaction of goodness. The effect, however, is the opposite to what he intended. The most readable and successful part of his book shows the insignificance of individual volition in determining individual good or evil. The tale of Prince Nekhlyudov powerfully shows how people are subject to external, social forces that determine whether they are 'good' or 'bad.' Against these deep-rooted determinants of human behaviour, the preachy, twinkle-eyed stuff that make up the rest of the book, seems rather superficial.
Rating: 
Summary: please
Review: Personal feelings aside, I beseech, urge, command that whoever has not read Tolstoy before to stay away from this book until you have read ALL of Tolstoy's previous work. Then you'll realize how simplistic and dull this book is. If you want spiritual guidance, go to church or watch Oprah; if you want art, read all of Tolstoy through Anna Karenin. Peace.
Rating:
Summary: "My business is to do what my conscience demands of me."
Review: Resurrection (1899) is the last of Tolstoy's great novels and unlike the previous War and Peace and Anna Karenina the architectural lines are fairly unique. Whereas in the previous novels attention is continually shifted from one hero to another, in Resurrection Tolstoy follows Dimitri Nekhlydov step by step, drilling to the core of his thoughts, commenting on his actions, analyzing his motives, evincing his engendered acts, and verbalizing the purging of his soul that inexorably manifests into a non-Christian regeneration process. Tolstoy hardly lets Nekhlydov out of sight for an instant: his conscience continually demands of him to atone for his sin. Interwoven with the flow of the story is Nekhlydov's painful realization of the demoralization that develops into such perfect madness of selfishness. If it had not been for the Doukhobors, who was accused of fighting against the spirit of God by the Orthodox Church, Tolstoy might never have finished the novel, the idea for which had been suggested to him ten years previously in order to raise fund for the sect. A nobleman, namely, Dimitri Nekhlydov, serves on a jury and recognizes the prostitute on trial for theft and poisoning a merchant as a girl he had seduced and loved when he was a young man. Katusha (Maslova), who is a yellow-card prostitute sanctioned by the government, has a checkered fate. She is wrongfully convicted as the jury inadvertently left out the phrase "no intent to take life" in the verdict. She is found not guilty in the theft but guilty of administering a powder and is sentenced to hard labor in the outlandish Siberia. As Nekhlydov embarks on the campaign to appeal for Katusha and do her justice, in the depth of his soul he becomes so conscious of all the cruelty, cowardice, and baseness - not only of this particular action of his but of his whole idle, dissolute, selfish and complacent life. The dreadful veil that has all this time, for ten years, conceals from him his sin, and the whole of his life, dictated by the religious sophisms, begins to wobble. He has to confront with his entire being that the faith of his is farther than anything else from being the right thing. One can gauge the progress of Nekhlydov's awakening by Katusha's attitude toward him. Ten years of prostitution has not completely extinguished the spiritual spark in her. This can be proven by the merchant's trust in her, the truth behind the poisoning of which she was accused, her behavior with a breath of equanimity at the trial toward the real culprits, the attitude of her fellow prisoners, and the outburst in which she would not allow Nekhlydov to gain his salvation at her expense. When Nekhlydov witnesses the cruelty of the government officials who put duties and responsibilities of office above humanity and the sufferings of the innocent people who have not in the least transgressed against justice or committed lawless acts but merely because they are an obstacle hindering the officials and the rich from enjoying the wealth they amass from the people, he repents of his selfishness and a spiritual resurrection dawns on him. Simplicity of the explanation seems very overwhelming: the officials can insensibly ill-treat others without feeling any personal responsibility for the evil they do because they are completely devoid of not only compassion but the chief human attribute, that is, love and pity for one another. As Nekhlydov becomes the mouthpiece for the innocent in Siberian prison, in whom Tolstoy expresses his own deepest aspirations and views on aspects of human existence. Nekhlydov's ambitious and heroic search to discover the purpose of life not only has become readers' striving, rekindled Katusha's love for him, but also unites with Tolstoy's ideals. Through the convoluted relationship between Nekhlydov and Katusha, Tolstoy treats the themes of love, passion and death with such compelling sincerity that one's heart is infected by pity and compulsive need to crusade against cruelty, injustice and repression. Resurrection is psychologically superb in the treatment of one man's thoughts and feelings, which stem from a study of his physical being. Tolstoy deftly builds up this "dramatis personae" line upon line, and through which he turns a highly critical eye on the law, the penal system and above all, the Church. He ridicules the usual sophisms that so inveterately dictate his hero's life, that the enlightened ones plunge the people into greater darkness with their hypocrisy and heresy. Line by line Tolstoy sets up Nekhlydov's awakening in which he must overcome the laborious path of expiation stimulated by a voluntarily moral desire to repent. This very teaching brings Tolstoy at loggerhead to the Church, whose practices of deceit and delusion Tolstoy vehemently rejects with utter intransigence. Resurrection gives us a vision that is beyond the historical reality of the given time period. A literary masterpiece it is, Tolstoy propagates his faith and moral ideals through his hero. Resurrection is an ultimate achievement of literary power that accentuates life of people in Russia. 2004 (43) ©MY
Rating:
Summary: A touching Novel and an outstanding social history treaty
Review: Resurrection is a very touching novel about prince Nekhlyudov who, one day finds himself appointed as a member of a jury in charge of the trial regarding Maslova's case, a girl who became a prostitute and who is charged of murder. Nekhlyudov recognises in her Katusha, a servant girl who used to live at his aunt's house and he remembers how he deliberately seduced her starting in this way her downfall in life that finally led her to be accused of murder. Nekhlyudov feels that he is guilty for what happened to Katusha and with great passion tries to help her starting a travel through the horrors and brutalities of the Russian 19th Century Judiciary System. He also starts to questions the basic principles of society: the right of men to judge and imprison other men, the right to own great extensions of land when he sees peasants living in terribly humble conditions and easily dying of diseases, the morality of a life of luxury that suddenly, to him, appears empty and meaningless. Although Nekhlyudov, who for many aspects represents Tolstoy himself, is very critic toward institutions and therefore also toward the Church, after his moral growth he reaches the conclusion that if only the basic rules contained in the Gospels were sincerely followed it would be possible to have the kingdom of Heaven on earth. I found particularly beautiful the conclusion of Chapter 40 in part II which starts with "the whole trouble is that people think there are circumstances when one may deal with human beings without love..." It is an invitation to maintain a considerate behaviour towards everyone. If we are not capable of that, the author suggest to occupy ourselves with something else such as unanimated objects or ourselves but not with other men or women.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: This is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys classic literature. The thing that always strikes me about Tolstoy is that his characters - whom he masterfully describes - are really a lot like people today. These truths ring out so often in all of his work, and Ressurection is no exception. I have found that this is a good book to read slow (maybe even while you read others), and just read a chapter every day or so. It leaves an impression on you.
Rating:
Summary: A work of true genius
Review: This is the best translation, and the only to capture the exquisite beauty of the first paragraph, one of the greatest ever put down.
"No matter that men in their hundreds of thousands disfigured the land on which they swarmed, paved the ground with stones so that no green thing could grow, filled the air with fumes of coal and gas, lopped back all the trees, and drove away every animal and every bird: spring was still spring, even in the town. The sun shone warmly, the grass came to life again and showed itself wherever it was not scraped away, between the paving stones as well as on the lawns in the boulevards; the birches, the wild cherries, and the poplars unfolded their sticky and fragrant leaves, the swelling buds were bursting on the lime trees; the jackdaws, the sparrows, and the pigeons were happy and busy over their nests, and the flies, warmed by the sunshine, hummed gaily along the walls. Plants, birds, insects, and children rejoiced. But men, adult men, never ceased to cheat and harass their fellows and themselves. What men considered sacred and important was not the spring morning, not the beauty of God's world given for the enjoyment of all creatures, not the beauty which inclines the heart to peace and love and concord. What men considered sacred and important were their own devices for wielding power over their fellow men."
Tolstoy is a moralist of the highest order and this novel comes after his spiritual conversion, when his morality has reached the highest pitch of maturity. The ever-present irony in this book, where the behavior of men is continuously contrasted with what is good and right, is delightful and sobering at the same time. Compared to Resurrection, Tolstoy's more famous novels are vain and empty exercises in futility. A must read.
Also recommended: The Death of Ivan Illych and other stories, also by Tolstoy.
Rating:
Summary: Great book by a great man
Review: This was Tolstoy's last novel written intermittently over a period of several years. The story is based upon his own experiences to a certain extent and that is what makes this novel interesting. Apart from projecting the status and background of a prostitute, this book delves into the mind of the culprit(Prince),who once was the lover of this young girl working at his house but then he gives in to social pressure and rejects her following which the pregnant girl is forced into her profession. This novel is way different from others like "Anna Karenina" and "War and Peace". And as someone had pointed out, even I couldn't help thinking about its similarities with "Crime and Punishment". Both are good studies of minds lathered with guilt.
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