Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy is a famous Russian writer, the greatest novelist of the 19th century, the golden age of Russian literature. Is the author of worldwide famous works, such as the novels "" and "Anna Karenina". Currently considered one of the best by the author peace. His works are filmed, staged in the theater, and many people refer to them modern authors.
Leo Tolstoy was a representative of the class of nobility, whose roots date back to the times of Peter the Great. The writer had many influential relatives among representatives of the highest aristocracy. On the side of the mother, who bore the surname Volkonskaya as a maiden, there were also many noble people.
Lev Nikolaevich passionately loved his relatives, especially his grandfather, Ilya Andreevich, who later served as the prototype for one of the heroes of the novel “War and Peace.”
The writer's childhood and youth
Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born on September 9, 1828 on the family estate Yasnaya Polyana, not far from Tula, in a family of hereditary nobles. Future great writer was the middle son in big family with four children. In 1830, little Lev lost his mother, who died of childbed fever, and seven years later the boy lost his father. Thus, Tolstoy’s cousin and aunt took custody of Tolstoy, after whose death the boy left for Kazan.
Elementary education Count Leo Tolstoy received houses, he was taught by French and German tutors. In 1843, the count entered the university in Kazan at the faculty of studying oriental culture. However, the future luminary of Russian literature was unable to cope with the difficulties of the curriculum, which forced him to transfer to an easier law faculty. However, difficulties did not leave him at this faculty. As a result, Tolstoy was not even able to graduate from university with a degree.
The young count returned to his native estate, where he began to work on the device Agriculture. True, this endeavor was not crowned with success due to constant departures to Moscow and Tula. However, all this time Tolstoy kept a diary, which inspired him to write many future works. The writer carried with him throughout his life the habit of recording the events that happened to him.
One day, Lev’s elder brother, Nikolai, returning home to spend his vacation, which was due to him as an army officer, convinced his brother to join the troops. Thus, Leo Tolstoy, with the rank of cadet, went to serve in the south, in the Caucasus Mountains, from where he was later transferred to Sevastopol, where the future writer took part in the Crimean War. The main event of the war, which is reflected in the author’s works, is the heroic defense of Sevastopol. The work “is dedicated to her” Sevastopol stories».
The author's literary path
During military service Tolstoy had a lot of free time, and he began to engage in literary creativity. During periods of calm it was written autobiographical work"Childhood", which became the first book in a trilogy of autobiographical books by Tolstoy. "Childhood" was published in Sovremennik, a popular literary magazine, in 1852. The work received flattering reviews, critics began to put Lev Nikolaevich on a par with such writers as Turgenev, Ostrovsky and Goncharov.
During the Crimean campaign, Tolstoy wrote several more works:
- "Cossacks". Work about Everyday life at an army outpost. Started during Crimean War, but completed only in 1862, after the writer left the active troops.
- "Adolescence". Second book from autobiographical trilogy. Surprisingly, the work was written during active hostilities.
- "Sevastopol Stories". In them, the author expresses his attitude towards the war and shows its inconsistency. In this cycle, the writer experiments with style, in particular, changing the narration from the first person, moving to the third. So, in the second story we see the view of an ordinary soldier on the events taking place.
After the end of the war, Tolstoy left armed forces and returned to his homeland.
Having gone to the front as an unknown cadet, he returned to St. Petersburg as a recognized literary talent. In 1857, Lev Nikolaevich left for Paris, at which time he published the final part of the trilogy, “Youth.” Returning to his homeland in 1862, he married the daughter of a doctor, Sofia Andreevna Bers.
Don't miss: how to, basics of literature, step-by-step instructions.
Large works
With his marriage, a bright period began in the writer’s life. Tolstoy feels truly happy with Sofia Andreevna, who helps him in every possible way literary creativity, in the absence of the secretary, rewriting his drafts. So, in the sixties of the 19th century, Leo Tolstoy wrote his most famous work- "War and Peace".
A small part of the work was published in the magazine “Russian Messenger” in the mid-sixties. It was originally called "1805". Three years later, three more chapters were released. In 1869, work on the novel was completed. The product was a huge success.
At the same time, the writer was translating Aesop's fables into Russian. Many people also wonder if Leo Tolstoy wrote stories for children. Just in the period from 1872 to 1875, the author created children's works “ABC”, “Arithmetic”, “Fool” (fairy tale-verse) and several books for children's reading.
Late prose
At a certain period of his life, Leo Tolstoy was deeply immersed in religious teachings and wrote many treatises on the essence of faith. However, in the 1880s and 1890s the author continued to work on fiction. At this time, the writer moves away from the novel genre. The main story becomes a story with a deep moral. Realism in the works also comes to the fore.
So, To late works Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy includes:
Death and legacy
The numerous pilgrimages that Leo Tolstoy made in his old age greatly undermined his health. So, the great writer in November 1910 stopped for the night in a remote railway station Astapovo. However, the lung disease, which had been bothering Tolstoy for some time, made itself felt with a sudden exacerbation, and on November 20, the greatest Russian writer died. He was buried in the family cemetery in Yasnaya Polyana.
He left behind a wife and ten children, who, however, were provided for for the rest of their lives due to Tolstoy's literary fees.
Leo Tolstoy was, is and will be considered one of the greatest Russian and world writers. He truly created magnificent works , on which more than one generation of young people has grown up. “War and Peace” is a novel that is familiar to almost every person not only in our country, but throughout the world. The scientific community highly appreciates Tolstoy as a man with an amazing gift of description human nature and recreation historical era in all its detail and diversity.
Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy is a great Russian writer who created more than 279 literary works. In our article you will get acquainted with the list of the best and most popular books by this author.
Novels
War and Peace
“War and Peace” is an epic four-volume novel written during the hostilities of 1805-1812. Tolstoy was inspired by the events taking place, which is why he decided to create this masterpiece. The book takes place during the war with Napoleon (Russia was an ally of Austria, which was also involved in this conflict). Each volume tells a different story. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
The first volume tells about the life of Russian society in the 19th century, about how people lived in those difficult years, and touches on the stories of poor and rich social strata.
The second volume of the book “War and Peace” describes in detail the arrival of Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov to Austria in the town of Braunau, which was made to inspect and assess the power and strength of the Russian army.
The third volume is considered the most “calm and peaceful”, as it is dedicated to love stories main characters, in particular the young count's son Pierre Bezukhov.
The fourth part of the novel begins with the invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte's troops on Russian soil.
Tolstoy's books are read by the whole worldAnna Karenina
"Anna Karenina" - a novel about unhappy young love married woman named Anna Karenina, who was passionately in love with the brave and courageous officer Alexei Vronsky. also in this work you can find many interesting historical facts about the life of bourgeois and peasant society in the 19th century. The author describes in detail St. Petersburg at that time, and this happens simultaneously with the love events of the novel.
Family happiness
“Family Happiness” is a novel that was first published in the then famous magazine “Russian Messenger” in 1859. The book tells the story of a young village girl who fell in love with best friend his recently deceased father, 38-year-old Sergei Mikhailovich. After some time, the man married a young beauty, so the first years of their married life are described below, including quarrels and separations.
Resurrection
"Resurrection" is a work written in 1899, which is considered last novel Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. The book tells the story of a court hearing at which the case of the theft of money and the poisoning of the merchant Smelkov, who could not be saved, is being considered, as a result of which he dies. The police were able to identify three suspects in this crime. What will be next? Who will be found guilty? You can find out about this by reading the book.
an educated person should be familiar with at least several of Tolstoy's worksStories
Yule night
“Yuletide Night” is a story written in 1853. The book is about a little girl remembering an old Christmas story her grandmother told her. One night a man went in search of fire to warm his wife and newly born child. Along the way, he meets shepherds warming themselves by the fire. The shepherds allowed the stranger to take coals from their fire. They were very surprised that he did not get burned when he took the hot stones in his hands. Who is this mysterious traveler? If you are intrigued, then you need to read this story as soon as possible.
Sevastopol in August 1855
“Sevastopol in August 1855” is a book included in a cycle of three works about the defense of the city of Sevastopol, which took place in 1855 during the Crimean War. The story “Sevastopol in August 1855” describes the fate of the young soldier Volodya, who voluntarily went to the front. This work describes military operations, the experiences of the main character, his personal idea and impression of the war.
Blizzard
"The Blizzard" is a short story written by Leo Tolstoy in 1856. The book is told from the author's point of view and begins with a story about how he jumps into a sleigh to a passing coachman and asks to take him home from the station. On the way, a strong snowstorm begins, the likes of which the city of Novocherkassk has not seen for a long time. Lately. It became difficult for the horse to walk, she could hardly see anything because of the snowstorm, so the driver decided to turn back. Main character tried to help the coachman and decides to get out of the cart to find the trace of the sleigh, but nothing comes of it. How will they manage to cope with this situation?
Demoted
“Demoted” is a story that was written in 1856, part of the Caucasian cycle of works by Tolstoy. The plot of the book takes place during the Caucasian War in 1850. The story begins with a young prince serving in an artillery battalion Russian army. In a small forest clearing near a fire, officers gather to chat and play a game that was popular at that time - gorodki. Suddenly a strange stranger appears - a little man in a rabbit sheepskin coat, who sits down with the officers and begins to tell his story. Who is this a strange man? You will only learn about this from the book.
Prisoner of the Caucasus
“Prisoner of the Caucasus” is a story that was first published in the magazine “Zarya” in 1873. It tells the story of the Russian officer Zhilin, who, by an unfortunate coincidence, was captured by the mountaineers during the Caucasian War. Zilina's mother sends him a letter asking his son to come see her. The young man immediately decides to go to meet his mother. Along the way he is attacked and taken prisoner.
Filipok
“Filipok” is a story written by Lev Nikolaevich in 1875. The plot describes the life of a small, curious boy named Philip, but his mother affectionately calls him “Filipok.” The boy is interested in everything that catches his eye. Philip dreams of going to school. Every morning he looks with envy at the older kids getting ready for school. One day he decides to sneak into class. What will he do? You can find out by reading the book.
Surat coffee shop
"The Surat Coffee House" is a story created in 1906. It tells the story of one small coffee shop located in the Indian town of Surat. Travelers, travelers and high-ranking officials loved to come to this place, because excellent coffee was brewed in the Surat coffee shop. One day a strange man came here, introducing himself as a scholar-theologian. What is the meaning of his appearance? You can learn about this from the story.
The Young King's Dream
“The Dream of a Young Tsar” is a work written in 1958. It tells about the life of a young king who had recently ascended the throne. For almost 5 weeks he worked tirelessly, with virtually no rest: he signed decrees, attended meetings, received foreign ambassadors and guests. One day he dreamed extraordinary dream. What was he talking about? You can find out about this only after reading this book.
Stories
Childhood
“Childhood” is one of the books included in the trilogy of autobiography by Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, which was written in 1852. The story tells many facts and stories from the writer’s life, describing his experiences, joys, grievances, first love, ups and downs.
Cossacks
“Cossacks” is a story by Lev Nikolaevich, written in 1864. It tells about the Cossack cadet Dmitry Andreevich Olenin, who went from Moscow to the Caucasus to a new duty station. Olenin settled in the small village of Novomlinskaya, located on the banks of the Terek River. A little later, the guy falls in love with the daughter of the owners of the house from whom he rents. The girl’s parents are against such a union, because they already have a groom in mind for their daughter. Who is this? You can only learn about this from a book.
Morning of the landowner
“The Landowner's Morning” is a story created in 1856, which has an autobiographical writing style. It tells about the 19-year-old Prince Nekhlyudov, who comes to his village on vacation. After life in the capital young man He was very surprised by the poor life of the local peasants, so he decided to help the unfortunate people. The guy decides to leave the university, return to his native land and take up farming.
Two hussars
“Two Hussars” is a story first published in the Sovremennik magazine in 1857. Lev Nikolaevich dedicated this work to his beloved sister. It tells about the hussar Fyodor Turbin (count and famous at that time socialite), arriving in a small provincial town, in whose hotel he meets the cornet Ilyin, who recently lost a large sum of money at cards. Turbin decides to help the unfortunate man and comes up with a game plan in order to beat the cheater. Will they succeed?
Idyll
“Idyll” is one of the last stories by Leo Tolstoy, written in 1862. In this work, the author describes the life of his family in the village of Yasnaya Polyana, located in the Tula province. The rural “idyll” of the Tolstoy family is described in detail in this book.
Boyhood
“Adolescence” is the second story from the autobiographical trilogy of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, created in 1855. The book tells about the teenage period of the life of the boy Kolya, who experiences many difficulties: first feelings, betrayal of friends, school exams and admission to cadet school.
Youth
“Youth” is the last story in the autobiographical trilogy, written in 1857. Life is described here young guy Nikolai Irtenyev in his university years, about his friends, their experiences and difficulties that they will encounter more than once.
Hadji Murad
“Hadji Murad” is a story published in 1890. The book tells about the life of the famous brave Avar Hadji Murad, who fought in Caucasian War against the Russian army. Hadji Murat goes over to the enemy's side, abandons his compatriots and runs away from them into the mountains. Next, he tries to improve relations with Russian soldiers, starting to fight alongside them.
Along with this also read
The above works, written by Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, are considered one of the best and most famous among readers all over the world. But, there are books that are no less popular and interesting. These include:
- "Polykushka";
- "Mother";
- "Diary of a Madman";
- "Master and Worker";
- “Posthumous Notes of Elder Fyodor Kuzmich”;
- "Father Sergius";
- "The History of Yesterday";
- "Two horses";
- "Kholstomer";
- "Lucerne";
- "Expensive";
- "Fake coupon";
- "Alyosha Pot";
- "For what?";
- "The Power of Childhood";
- "Father Vasily";
- "Three days in the village";
- "Khodynka";
- "Infected Family";
- "Nihilist";
- "Fruits of Enlightenment";
- "Grateful Soil";
- "The Aeronaut's Tale";
- "Bounce";
- “The power of darkness, or the Claw is stuck, the whole bird is lost”;
- "Peter Khlebnik"
- “All qualities come from her”;
- “Dramatic adaptation of the legend of Ageya”;
- “Song about the battle on the Chernaya River on August 4, 1855.”
In this article you learned about the best and interesting works Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. The most popular novels, novellas and short stories were described here. Each of which we recommend reading.
Like Pushkin in poetry, so Tolstoy in prose - our everything! And this despite the fact that Lev Nikolaevich has only five full-fledged novels, only several dozen stories and one trilogy - “Childhood. Adolescence. Youth". Stories, fairy tales, fables, poems, translations, dramatic works - few know them, which these works do not deserve at all. Perhaps, remembering them more often, many would discover a new Tolstoy.
The originality of the writer’s prose, his literary style
What distinguishes the work of Leo Tolstoy is the reflection in it of the originality of the author himself: the coexistence in a single whole of a “spontaneous artist” and a “rational thinker.” This is exactly what researchers of the writer’s work have been trying to decompose into atoms for many years. The works of L.N. Tolstoy are a treasure trove for their delights. The artistic and philosophical beginning, complete immersion in these two polar styles cause delight in the reader when reading, among writers, critics, public figures- an incomprehensible thirst for research, reasoning and debate.
Some of them suggest the existence of the author in two forms, radically opposed and fighting with each other. Already in his first work - “Childhood and Adolescence” - the philosophy of images in its best manifestation reveals to readers the amazingly beautiful prose of such brilliant writer like Leo Tolstoy. The author's stories and all his other works are created in a unique style, which gave him the fame of the greatest Russian writer.
Top 5 works by Leo Tolstoy
Our modernity is moving away from the definition of “The best something” (in our case, “ Best books writer"), replacing it with Top 10, Top 100. Let's try to create a Top 10 most readable works Lev Nikolaevich.
Two novels deservedly claim first place - “Anna Karenina” and “War and Peace”. Each of us has our own arguments in favor of one of them, whom we would elevate to the top line. Bringing them is unnecessary, and the dispute may drag on. In our Top Parade we give first place to the two of them, and move on to second.
The novel “Sunday”, the trilogy “Childhood. Adolescence. Youth”, the stories “The Kreutzer Sonata”, “Notes of a Madman”, “The Morning of a Landowner” - all of them are read, loved and are still in demand by filmmakers and theater directors around the world. If it makes more sense to rank the stories as third, and leave the novel and trilogy at second, then the top three already includes seven of Tolstoy’s best works. For the remaining three places in our Top 10, we adequately include the cycle “Sevastopol Stories”, the story “Hadji Murat” and dramatic work“The power of darkness, or the Claw is stuck, the whole bird is lost.”
Of course, our top ten in which we mentioned best works L.N. Tolstoy is just reflections on the topic, but it is quite likely that it coincides with the opinion of many readers.
“War and Peace” - about whom and what
Rarely a reader has not wondered what the novel is actually about? About the heroism of the Russian army, about the stoic courage and bravery of our soldiers, about the honor and dignity of the nobility, or about human relationships that are tested against the backdrop of difficult events for the state?
A brilliant work, where Leo Tolstoy is the inimitable author - “War and Peace”! The author seems to invite each reader to find the answer to the question: who is interested in war - the presentation of the main battles contains almost completely reliable historical accuracy, who wants to plunge into a wonderful description of the feelings experienced by the heroes - will definitely find what they are looking for in the novel.
In a work unique in its scale, style, and language of presentation, such as the novel “War and Peace,” every line is imbued with the main thing - happiness ordinary life, both in sorrow and in joy. In it, both go in parallel, step by step, hand in hand through all trials and obstacles. Good, naturally, wins, and evil dies defeated.
Did Anna Karenina's creator sympathize with her?
As in “War and Peace,” in “Anna Karenina” there are two polar loves: sublime, pure, sinless, and its antipode - basely vicious, almost dirty. Tolstoy provokes the reader with an interpretation of the relationship between Anna and Vronsky in the mouth of the “society,” allowing him to decide for himself the degree of sublimity or baseness of their feelings. The author tries not to build concrete walls between these definitions; the transition from one state to another is imperceptible: on one line we meet a complete justification of this love, on the other - its universal condemnation. And like shaky but frequent bridges between these lines - the torment of the main characters, their doubts and the final choice, no matter what.
So what assessment does the author himself give to his character? Does he justify her, sympathize with her, feel sorry for her, support her? Tolstoy here acts as an irreconcilable moralist - in all his works, criminal love is doomed to a tragic end. The author created his heroine in order to kill her demonstratively as an edification to others. An image that evokes sympathy does not cause so much suffering.
“Childhood” as one of Tolstoy’s main works
This story occupies a prominent place in the writer’s creative heritage. Perhaps the first work in which Leo Tolstoy declared himself to be a great author was “Childhood.” Not because the reader is exposed to the problems of a little man, inaccessible to the understanding of adults, who sees the world in which he lives like an adult, feels its unveiled good and evil, sincerity and falsehood. The reader, following Nikolenka, goes through the school of his growing up, analyzes his and other people’s actions, learns to accept the world as he sees it.
The boy’s ability to acutely sense cunning, cunning, his worries about the fact that he sees these unsightly qualities in himself, force the reader to look back at his childhood and rethink his actions. One can learn from Nikolenka to love people, not only those with whom he lives, but also those who are friends with him or have somehow impressed his childish heart. And the story also teaches how not to destroy this love. The ability to read between the lines will give a lot to those who try to understand this work, just like the short prose that Leo Tolstoy wrote - stories.
Themes of Lev Nikolaevich's stories
About wildlife and defenseless animals, about smart children and wise adults. He doesn’t have many stories; there are only four dozen works on this list, most of which, as already mentioned, to a wide circle readers are unfamiliar. A little more fortunate were such types of short prose from Tolstoy’s legacy as “After the Ball”, “The Jump”, “False Coupon”, “The Power of Childhood”, “Conversation with a Passerby”, and, of course, the cycle “Sevastopol Stories”.
A noticeable intensity in writing stories was observed from 1905 to 1909 - the last years in the life of Lev Nikolaevich; he died, as is known, in 1910. A huge period of his life was devoted to other genres of literature in which there was simply no place for stories. Stories for children, which are worth talking about separately, since the world of these works amazes with its depth, the subtle transmission of a child’s impressions about the problems of life, and explain the formation of his personality. This theme is also reflected in such a genre as the fables of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy.
Stories about children and for children
Prose for children and about themselves occupies a prominent place in the writer’s work. Trilogy “Childhood. Adolescence. Youth” Tolstoy did not limit his attempts to understand the ways in which a person’s personality is formed from birth to his entry into adulthood. The stories “Three Bears”, “How Uncle Semyon told about what happened to him in the forest” and “Cow”, included in the collection “New ABC”, are imbued with love for children and compassion for their little problems. The works of L. N. Tolstoy are rich in thoughts about children.
The story “Philippok” was born after the writer’s careful observation of peasant children and ingenuous communication with them. Lev Nikolaevich always found time for the peasants; he even opened a school for their children on his estate. And one of the first stories that can be classified as children's is a small work about the dog Bulka, her aching devotion to the only close creature - her owner. Until his death, Leo Tolstoy recalled his own childhood and how he wanted to find a “green stick” that would help him make everyone on earth happy.
The place of fables and fairy tales in Tolstoy’s works
Just as we remember the prose of Ivan Andreevich Krylov from childhood and lessons in our native speech, so too do the moralizing fables of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, imbued with subtle morality.
- "The Wolf and the Old Man."
- "The Lion and the Dog"
- "The Crane and the Stork."
- "The head and tail of a snake."
- "Ferret".
- "The Dog and Its Shadow."
- "The Monkey and the Pea."
- "The Squirrel and the Wolf."
- "The Lion, the Donkey and the Fox."
- "The Lion and the Mouse."
This is only a small fraction of the famous fables that complement the great works of Leo Tolstoy that we love. Through fables, he ridiculed what he could hardly explain in people, and what was unacceptable to him: deception and cunning, anger and hatred, meanness and betrayal. The opposite traits were shown in his prose as sometimes unprotected, open to attack, and this made them even more endearing. Tolstoy seemed to believe that in works for children, and he wrote his fables more for them, there is no room for justifying base actions, it is necessary to explain in an accessible and simple way what is “good” and what is “bad.” I also always believed that children are quite smart and understand subtle morals much closer to the truth than adults.
The confrontation between love and duty is a distinctive feature of the characters of Tolstoy
The genius that Leo Tolstoy created during his life - “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina”, his stories, fables, fairy tales and stories, reflected primarily his own morality. He transferred his religious dogmas, his mental turmoil and doubts, his beliefs onto paper and endowed them with the characters he sympathized with. Some of his works lacked even light humor, and every phrase in them was strictly verified and thoroughly thought out. He often rewrote what had already been published in magazines, creating what he thought was the ideal character.
The image of Konstantin Levin in “Anna Karenina” appears before us as a bright personality, with his painful love for Kitty and a sense of duty towards his convictions. Inimitable and majestic are Pierre Bezukhov from War and Peace, Nikolai Rostov, who assumed his father’s debts and did not take a penny from the dowry of his wife, Princess Bolkonskaya, to pay them off. Many of his characters go through the torment of desires and real actions. The author puts them through psychological tests and makes them even stronger and worthy of respect. This was the writer’s own world, and it was left to us by L.N. Tolstoy. Works stories for children, fairy tales, fables, for adults - novels, stories, drama. They make him so near and dear to us.
Lion and dog
In London they showed wild animals and for viewing they took money or dogs and cats to feed the wild animals.
One man wanted to see the animals: he grabbed a little dog on the street and brought it to the menagerie. They let him watch, but they took the little dog and threw him into a cage with a lion to be eaten.
The little dog tucked its tail and pressed itself into the corner of the cage. The lion came up to her and smelled her.
The little dog lay down on its back, raised its paws and began wagging its tail.
The lion touched it with his paw and turned it over.
The dog jumped up and stood on its hind legs in front of the lion.
The lion looked at the dog, turned his head from side to side and did not touch it.
When the owner threw meat to the lion, the lion tore off a piece and left it for the dog.
In the evening, when the lion went to bed, the dog lay down next to him and put her head on his paw.
Since then, the dog lived in the same cage with the lion, the lion did not touch her, ate food, slept with her, and sometimes played with her.
One day the master came to the menagerie and recognized his dog; he said that the dog was his own, and asked the owner of the menagerie to give it to him. The owner wanted to give it back, but as soon as they began to call the dog to take it from the cage, the lion bristled and growled.
So the lion and the dog lived for a whole year in the same cage.
A year later the dog got sick and died. The lion stopped eating, but kept sniffing, licking the dog and touching it with his paw.
When he realized that she was dead, he suddenly jumped up, bristled, began to whip his tail on the sides, rushed to the wall of the cage and began to gnaw at the bolts and the floor.
All day long he struggled, thrashed about in the cage and roared, then he lay down next to the dead dog and fell silent. The owner wanted to take away the dead dog, but the lion would not let anyone near it.
The owner thought that the lion would forget his grief if he was given another dog, and let a live dog into his cage; but the lion immediately tore it into pieces. Then he hugged the dead dog with his paws and lay there for five days.
On the sixth day the lion died.
Kitty
There were brother and sister - Vasya and Katya; and they had a cat. In the spring the cat disappeared. The children looked for her everywhere, but could not find her.
One day they were playing near the barn and heard someone meowing in thin voices overhead. Vasya climbed the ladder under the roof of the barn. And Katya stood and kept asking:
- Found? Found?
But Vasya did not answer her. Finally Vasya shouted to her:
- Found! Our cat... and she has kittens; so wonderful; come here quickly.
Katya ran home, took out milk and brought it to the cat.
There were five kittens. When they grew a little and began to crawl out from under the corner where they had hatched, the children chose one kitten, gray with white paws, and brought it into the house. The mother gave away all the other kittens, but left this one to the children. The children fed him, played with him and took him to bed.
One day the children went to play on the road and took a kitten with them.
The wind moved the straw along the road, and the kitten played with the straw, and the children rejoiced at him. Then they found sorrel near the road, went to collect it and forgot about the kitten.
Suddenly they heard someone shouting loudly: “Back, back!” - and they saw that the hunter was galloping, and in front of him two dogs saw a kitten and wanted to grab it. And the kitten, stupid, instead of running, sat down to the ground, hunched its back and looked at the dogs.
Katya was scared of the dogs, screamed and ran away from them. And Vasya, as best he could, ran towards the kitten and at the same time as the dogs ran up to it.
The dogs wanted to grab the kitten, but Vasya fell with his stomach on the kitten and blocked it from the dogs.
The hunter jumped up and drove the dogs away, and Vasya brought the kitten home and never took it with him into the field again.
Hares
Forest hares feed on tree bark at night, field hares feed on winter crops and grass, and bean hares feed on grain grains on threshing floors. During the night, hares make a deep, visible trail in the snow. Hares are hunted by people, dogs, wolves, foxes, crows, and eagles. If the hare had walked simply and straightly, then in the morning he would have been found by the trail and caught; but the hare is cowardly, and cowardice saves him.
The hare walks through fields and forests at night without fear and makes straight tracks; but as soon as morning comes, his enemies wake up: the hare begins to hear the barking of dogs, the screeching of sleighs, the voices of men, the crackling of a wolf in the forest, and begins to rush from side to side in fear. He will gallop forward, get scared by something, and run back in his tracks. If he hears something else, he will jump to the side with all his might and gallop away from the previous trail. Again something knocks - again the hare turns back and again jumps to the side. When it becomes light, he will lie down.
The next morning, the hunters begin to disassemble the hare's trail, get confused by double tracks and distant jumps, and are surprised at the hare's cunning. But the hare didn’t even think of being cunning. He's just afraid of everything.
Bulka
I had a face. Her name was Bulka. She was all black, only the tips of her front paws were white.
In all faces, the lower jaw is longer than the upper and the upper teeth extend beyond the lower ones; but Bulka’s lower jaw protruded forward so much that a finger could be placed between the lower and upper teeth. Bulka's face is wide; the eyes are large, black and shiny; and white teeth and fangs always stuck out. He looked like a blackamoor. Bulka was quiet and did not bite, but he was very strong and tenacious. When he would cling to something, he would clench his teeth and hang like a rag, and, like a tick, he could not be torn off.
Once they let him attack a bear, and he grabbed the bear’s ear and hung like a leech. The bear beat him with his paws, pressed him to himself, threw him from side to side, but could not tear him away and fell on his head to crush Bulka; but Bulka held on to it until they poured cold water on him.
I took him as a puppy and raised him myself. When I went to serve in the Caucasus, I didn’t want to take him and left him quietly, and ordered him to be locked up. At the first station, I was about to board another transfer station, when suddenly I saw something black and shiny rolling along the road. It was Bulka in his copper collar. He flew at full speed towards the station. He rushed towards me, licked my hand and stretched out in the shadows under the cart. His tongue stuck out the entire palm of his hand. He then pulled it back, swallowing drool, then again stuck it out to the whole palm. He was in a hurry, did not have time to breathe, his sides were jumping. He turned from side to side and tapped his tail on the ground.
I found out later that after me he broke through the frame and jumped out of the window and, right in my wake, galloped along the road and rode like that for twenty miles in the heat.
How wolves teach their children
I was walking along the road and heard a scream behind me. The shepherd boy shouted. He ran across the field and pointed at someone.
I looked and saw two wolves running across the field: one seasoned, the other young. The young man carried a slaughtered lamb on his back and held its leg with his teeth. The seasoned wolf ran behind.
When I saw the wolves, I ran after them along with the shepherd, and we began to scream. Men with dogs came running to our cry.
As soon as old wolf When he saw the dogs and people, he ran up to the young man, snatched the lamb from him, threw it on his back, and both wolves ran faster and disappeared from sight.
Then the boy began to tell how it happened: a large wolf jumped out of the ravine, grabbed the lamb, killed it and carried it away.
A wolf cub ran out and rushed to the lamb. The old man gave the lamb to the young wolf to carry, and he ran lightly next to him.
Only when trouble came did the old man leave his studies and take the lamb himself.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Jackdaw and jug
Galka wanted to drink. There was a jug of water in the yard, and the jug only had water at the bottom.
Jackdaw was out of reach.
She began throwing pebbles into the jug and added so many that the water became higher and could be drunk.
Rats and egg
Two rats found an egg. They wanted to share it and eat it; but they see a crow flying and wants to take an egg.
The rats began to think about how to steal an egg from a crow. Carry? - do not grab; roll? - it can be broken.
And the rats decided this: one lay on its back, grabbed the egg with its paws, and the other carried it by the tail, and, like on a sleigh, pulled the egg under the floor.
Bug
Bug carried a bone across the bridge. Look, her shadow is in the water.
It occurred to the Bug that there was not a shadow in the water, but a Bug and a bone.
She let her bone go and take it. She didn’t take that one, but hers sank to the bottom.
Wolf and goat
The wolf sees that a goat is grazing on a stone mountain and he cannot get close to it; He says to her: “You should go down: here the place is more level, and the grass is much sweeter for you to feed.”
And the Goat says: “That’s not why you, wolf, are calling me down: you’re not worrying about mine, but about your own food.”
Monkey and Pea
(Fable)
The monkey was carrying two full handfuls of peas. One pea popped out; The monkey wanted to pick it up and spilled twenty peas.
She rushed to pick it up and spilled everything. Then she got angry, scattered all the peas and ran away.
Mouse, cat and rooster
The mouse went out for a walk. She walked around the yard and came back to her mother.
“Well, mother, I saw two animals. One is scary and the other is kind.”
The mother said: “Tell me, what kind of animals are these?”
The mouse said: “There’s a scary one, he walks around the yard like this: his legs are black, his crest is red, his eyes are bulging, and his nose is hooked. When I walked past, he opened his mouth, raised his leg and began screaming so loudly that I didn’t know where to go from fear!”
“It’s a rooster,” said the old mouse. “He doesn’t harm anyone, don’t be afraid of him.” Well, what about the other animal?
— The other was lying in the sun and warming himself. His neck is white, his legs are gray, smooth, he licks his white chest and moves his tail slightly, looking at me.
The old mouse said: “You are a fool, you are a fool. After all, it’s the cat itself.”
Lion and mouse
(Fable)
The lion was sleeping. The mouse ran over his body. He woke up and caught her. The mouse began to ask him to let her in; she said: “If you let me in, I’ll do you good.” The lion laughed that the mouse promised to do good to him, and let it go.
Then the hunters caught the lion and tied it to a tree with a rope. The mouse heard the lion's roar, came running, gnawed the rope and said: “Remember, you laughed, you didn’t think that I could do you any good, but now you see, good comes from a mouse.”
Varya and Chizh
Varya had a siskin. The siskin lived in a cage and never sang.
Varya came to the siskin. - “It’s time for you, little siskin, to sing.”
- “Let me go free, in freedom I will sing all day long.”
Old man and apple trees
The old man was planting apple trees. They told him: “Why do you need apple trees? It will take a long time to wait for fruit from these apple trees, and you will not eat any apples from them.” The old man said: “I won’t eat, others will eat, they will thank me.”
Old grandfather and grandson
(Fable)
Grandfather became very old. His legs did not walk, his eyes did not see, his ears did not hear, he had no teeth. And when he ate, it flowed backwards from his mouth. His son and daughter-in-law stopped sitting him at the table and let him dine at the stove. They brought him lunch in a cup. He wanted to move it, but he dropped it and broke it. The daughter-in-law began to scold the old man for ruining everything in the house and breaking cups, and said that now she would give him dinner in a basin. The old man just sighed and said nothing. One day a husband and wife are sitting at home and watching - their little son is playing on the floor with planks - he is working on something. The father asked: “What are you doing this, Misha?” And Misha said: “It’s me, father, who’s making the tub. When you and your mother are too old to feed you from this tub.”
The husband and wife looked at each other and began to cry. They felt ashamed for having offended the old man so much; and from then on they began to sit him at the table and look after him.