Count Leo Tolstoy was a renowned Russian writer known primarily for his realistic novels and short stories, including War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Considered one of the world's greatest novelists, Tolstoy first achieved literary acclaim in his 20s for his Sevastopol sketches based on his experiences in the Crimean War, followed by a semi-autobiographical trilogy of novels on childhood, boyhood, and youth. His other works include two additional novels, dozens of short stories, and famous novellas such as The Death of Ivan Ilych, Family Happiness and Hadji Murad.