Prince Dmitri Nekhlyudov serves as a juror in a trial where Maslova, a woman he seduced and abandoned years earlier, faces charges of poisoning. Despite her innocence, a clerical error in the verdict sentences her to hard labor in Siberia. Recognizing his role in her descent into prostitution and crime, Nekhlyudov seeks to correct the legal mistake and eventually follows Maslova into exile. The narrative tracks his attempts to navigate the corrupt Russian bureaucracy, the inhumane conditions of the prison system, and the contradictions of land ownership. Tolstoy uses this plot to argue against organized religion, state violence, and the hypocrisy of the aristocracy.
Readers interested in the intersection of Christian anarchism and legal reform will find a detailed critique of the late nineteenth-century Russian social order. This book attracts those who want to understand the moral philosophy Tolstoy adopted in his later life, specifically regarding non-resistance to evil. A reader finishes the text with a clear view of the systemic failures within the judiciary and the penal system. They walk away with an understanding of the author's specific interpretation of the Gospels as a blueprint for social justice and individual repentance.
Deep, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1899
- Language
- EN
