The Kreutzer Sonata

Written by Leo Tolstoy · Translated by Isai Kamen

Jealousy spirals into murder when a husband suspects infidelity.

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129 pages· ~1140L

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Bookroo's summary

Consumed by jealousy, Pozdnyshev suspects his wife of infidelity with her music partner, leading him down a dark path of obsession and murder. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century societal norms, this tale explores the destructive power of jealousy, the complexities of marriage, and the role of art in human emotion. As Pozdnyshev's suspicions grow, so does the tension, raising questions about trust, love, and the fine line between passion and madness. Will his fears be justified, or is he a victim of his own insecurities?

From the publisher

When Marshal of the Nobility Pozdnyshev suspects his wife of having an affair with her music partner, his jealousy consumes him and drives him to murder. Controversial upon publication in 1890, The Kreutzer Sonata illuminates Tolstoy’s then-feverish Christian ideals, his conflicts with lust and the hypocrisies of nineteenth-century marriage, and his thinking on the role of art and music in society. In her Introduction, Doris Lessing shows how relevant The Kreutzer Sonata is to our understanding of Tolstoy the artist, as well as to feminism and literature. This Modern Library Paperback Classic also contains Tolstoy’s Sequel to the Kruetzer Sonata.

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