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The Death of Ivan Ilyich
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
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The Death of Ivan Ilyich
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Summary
Hailed as one of the world’s masterpieces of psychological realism, The Death of Ivan Ilyich is the story of a worldly careerist, a high-court judge who has never given the inevitability of his death so much as a passing thought. But one day death announces itself to him, and to his shocked surprise, he is brought face-to-face with his own mortality. How, Tolstoy asks, does an unreflective man confront his one and only moment of truth?
The first part of the story portrays Ivan Ilyich’s colleagues and family after he has died, as they discuss the effect of his death on their careers and fortunes. In the second part, Tolstoy reveals the life of the man whose death seems so trivial. The perfect bureaucrat, Ilyich treasured his orderly domestic and office routine. Diagnosed with an incurable illness, he at first denies the truth but is influenced by the simple acceptance of his servant boy, and he comes to embrace the boy’s belief that death is natural and not shameful. He comforts himself with happy memories of childhood and gradually realizes that he has ignored all his inner yearnings as he tried to do what was expected of him. Will Ilyich be able to come to terms with himself before his life ebbs away?
This short novel was the artistic culmination of a profound spiritual crisis in Tolstoy’s own life, a nine-year period following the publication of Anna Karenina, during which he wrote not a word of fiction. A thoroughly absorbing glimpse into the abyss of death, it is also a strong testament to the possibility of finding spiritual salvation.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-12-23
Loved it’s darkness and realness
The narrator added to the pain of the death very expressively. It’s already been added to my repeat read list.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-04-22
insightful, original, enjoyable.
narrator was delightful, the book itself taught many great lessons about life and death - would recommend to anyone looking for a short but interesting story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Marta
- 27-05-22
Wonderful
The best novella I ever read. Now it is one of my favorite works of fiction.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ferry41
- 02-09-22
Very well written
This small novel is a bit of a grim listen but an excellent description of the bourgeoisie of certain period in Russia. I found the reading a bit harsh-sounding. However that might be down to personal preference.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Elina Heininen
- 01-01-23
idk
I don't know why, but I really enjoy Tolstoy's stories. This too, although the story felt a little unfinished. Like, why was the family giving the colleague the stink eye? Also, now I really want to know what the ailment was...
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-10-22
Sobering
Probably one of the best depictions of death in fiction. Tolstoy’s slightly twisted sense of humour shines in his description of the naïve Piotr Ivanovich, and the telepathic dialogue between him and Schwartz.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kate Legum
- 30-07-22
WOnderfully Horrifying
usual brilliant Tolstoy imagagining a long and painful ordinary death in minute detail. Well read. Good to read in a morbid mood.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- papapownall
- 12-11-21
Masterpiece of short story writing sets standard
You have got to hand it to Leo Tolstoy. Not only was he master of the epic (War and Peace, Anna Karenina) he also set the standard when it comes to shorter form works of which The Death of Ivan Ilyich was undoubtedly his finest achievement. I first read Ivan Ilyich when I was at school and, revisiting it again now via this audio book narrated by specialist voice over narrator Simon Prebble it has lost non of its power as we hear of the tale of high court judge Ilyich who looks back over his life and was is important to him.
"Can it be that I have not lived as one ought?" he asks and, my favourite quote of all "everything by which you have lived and live now is all a deception, a lie, concealing both life and death from you". When it comes to end of life contemplation, nothing comes close to Tolstoy's Ivan Ilyich.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jason Hill
- 07-11-22
Masterful
Masterfully written and beautifully performed. Coy and arch in tone, but wise and compassionate in content. My first Tolstoy but not my last.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Tone
- 19-03-22
Comfort to those with chronic illness or pain
There's a remarkable empathy Tolstoy has with the dying and the sick.
Philosophically and practically a guide to enduring death and pain injected with dark humour.
short and sweet for Tolstoy, leaves you wanting more.
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