61 pages • 2 hours read
Leo TolstoyThe Death of Ivan Ilyich
Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1886A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Leo Tolstoy's novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Ivan Ilyich Golovin, a high-ranking judge, reflects on the meaning of life and his own mortality as his illness progresses, highlighting societal and familial superficiality in contrast to genuine human connection and self-awareness. The story raises pressing questions about individual priorities and social interaction.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich is lauded for its profound exploration of existential themes and the human condition, earning praise for its depth and emotional resonance. Some readers, however, find the novel's pacing slow and its tone overly bleak. A powerful, if somber, reflection on mortality and the meaning of life.
Who Should Read The Death of Ivan Ilyich?
A reader who would enjoy The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy is likely interested in existential themes, the human condition, and introspective narratives. Ideal for fans of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and Camus' The Stranger, this novella offers a poignant exploration of life's meaning and the inevitability of death.