Leo Tolstoy was born in 1828 near Moscow and was deeply affected by the loss of his parents and aunt at a young age, leading him to obsess over death. He published his first novel in 1852 and his masterpiece War and Peace in 1869. Tolstoy created his own religious faith emphasizing natural living, love, equality and nonviolence. In his later years, Tolstoy renounced his wealth and estate, causing a rift with his family except his youngest daughter. He died of pneumonia in 1910 at a train station while trying to start a new life, though thousands came to pay their respects to the renowned author.

1. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)<br />Leo Tolstoy was born at his family’s estate near Moscow. The tragic loss of his parents and a beloved aunt affected him profoundly, leading to a life -long obsession with the inevitability of death. Tolstoy’s first novel was published in 1852, followed by a collection of short stories. War and Peace (1869), a novel about Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 was immediately regarded as a masterpiece for its graphic depiction of war, its insights into Russian culture, and its exploration of the meaning of life. Tolstoy created his own religious faith that emphasized a natural existence, universal love, equality, and nonviolence. For as the last days of Tolstoy were playing out, he still at times agonized over his self-worth and regretted his actions from decades earlier. Having renounced his ancestral claim to his estate and all of his worldly goods, all in his family but his youngest daughter Alexandra scorned him. He was intent on starting a new life and did so on 28 October 1910, making it as far as the stationmaster’s home at the Astapovo train station. Leo Tolstoy died there of pneumonia on 20 November 1910. Although he wanted no ceremony or ritual, thousands showed up to pay their respects. He was buried in a simple wooden coffin .<br />