A review by cultbyproxy
The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

With a great commentary on death and the events preceding and succeeding it, Tolstoy unravels the life of a man who, in his own opinion, has lived “well and pleasantly and [with decorum].” Starting the book with the perspective of a friend in attendance of Ivan Ilyich’s funeral before backtracking and showing the progression of Ivan Ilyich’s life and his terminal illness, Tolstoy shows the melancholic loneliness in reaching great heights in life, only to fall at the feet of death. He gives remarkable insight into the way we address our own mortality and the spectrum of emotions experienced by the person dying as well as those around them. He also challenges what it means to truly live a fulfilling life and whether a life of achievements truly means anything in the end. 

“It is as if I had been going downhill while I imagined I was going up. And that is really what it was. I was going up in public opinion, but to the same extent life was ebbing away from me. And now it is all done and there is only death.”

An absolute must-read for anyone who is alive and capable. 
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