My Confessions (Book)

My Confessions is an autobiographical work written by the Russian author Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy. First published in 1882, this book details the spiritual crisis and existential questioning Tolstoy experienced during middle age. It has been translated into Turkish by various publishers and was published in 2019 by Dorlion Yayınları.

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born in 1828 in Yasnaya Polyana, in the Tula region of Russia. Recognized as one of the major figures in Russian literature, Tolstoy is best known for his works War and Peace and Anna Karenina. In the later stages of his life, he turned toward religious and moral issues, adopted a simple way of life, and died in 1910.

Subject and Central Thesis

My Confessions recounts Tolstoy’s confrontation with the spiritual crisis and fear of death he encountered in middle age. In the work, the author questions the meaning of life and embarks on an inner journey guided by religious and philosophical reflections. Tolstoy offers readers an honest self-examination as he critically reassesses his own life and beliefs.

Method and Sources

In this work, Tolstoy draws on his personal life experiences to convey his observations and thoughts. The text includes analyses of his inner world and philosophical inquiries. In this sense, My Confessions can be regarded as both an autobiographical and a philosophical text.