When Marshal of the Nobility Pozdnyshev suspects his wife of having an affair with her music partner, his jealousy consumes him and drives him to murder. Controversial upon publication in 1890, The Kreutzer Sonata illuminates Tolstoy’s then-feverish Christian ideals, his conflicts with lust and the hypocrisies of nineteenth-century marriage, and his thinking on the role of art and music in society.In her Introduction, Doris Lessing shows how relevant The Kreutzer Sonata is to our understanding of Tolstoy the artist, as well as to feminism and literature. This Modern Library Paperback Classic also contains Tolstoy’s Sequel to the Kruetzer Sonata .
Here are parts of poems to give you a little idea of the broad range of thoughts and feelings that the author expresses. A CHILD IS BORN Though a secret so revealing Deep within dark walls concealing There's a life that's quite unfeeling Of the world outside it's realm. Yet in time it must surrender, Be it male or female gender. There's a service it must render To the Captain at the helm. So it is, all we endeavor First born in the mind so clever. We take credit, yet we never Really should ourselves adorn. Do not egos be inflating Now's the time for celebrating After all these months of waiting God has let a child be born. BAG LADY of ALLTOWNS, U.S.A. Torn and tattered she roams the streets Pushing a store cart which holds all her things. How does she maintain a heart that sings? Frail and needy of body and bone A happy spirit, but quite alone. FREIGHT TRAIN The old freight train is passing by, Rumbling on the track. The lonesome grind of the wheels keeps saying Coming back, coming back, coming back. GHASTLY, GHOSTLY GHETTOES Row on row the ghosts stand With gaping space Where eyes once peered To catch a glimpse of life. Now, monuments to a dead past An inspiration to an unknown future. Slovenly sections revealing Immature rampages of youthful tyranny.
