The Cossacks // Happy Ever After // The Death of Ivan Ilyich

This Penguin edition presents three of Tolstoy's major shorter works, translated and introduced by Rosemary Edmonds. The collection showcases Tolstoy's range from early romantic fiction to late moral philosophy, capturing his philosophical depth and portrait of Russian society.

"The Cossacks" follows a young Russian aristocrat who seeks authentic life among Cossack communities. "Happy Ever After" explores marriage and romantic love through a young woman's coming-of-age. "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" presents Tolstoy's profound meditation on mortality, examining a bureaucrat's confrontation with death and the meaning of life.

These works span Tolstoy's career and demonstrate his evolution from romantic novelist to moral philosopher. "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" is particularly acclaimed as one of the greatest novellas ever written, influencing existentialist literature and philosophical discussions of mortality. The collection shows Tolstoy's psychological realism and moral questioning at their finest.

"The Death of Ivan Ilyich" was written during Tolstoy's spiritual crisis and reflects his growing preoccupation with death and moral meaning. "The Cossacks" drew on Tolstoy's military service in the Caucasus and his fascination with "natural" peoples. The works influenced writers from Chekhov to Kafka and continue to be studied for their psychological insight and moral complexity.