Super Short Summary

In Tolstoy: A Biography, A. N. Wilson explores Leo Tolstoy's life, revealing how his creativity stemmed from intense self-consciousness and a desire to reinvent himself. Beginning with Tolstoy's first effort, "A History of Yesterday," Wilson traces his development through his diaries and varied identities, delving into his tumultuous marriage, inner conflicts, literary achievements, and eventual renunciation of fiction for religion and activism. Sensitive topics include explicit details of sexual history, violence, and traumatic relationships.