Ep. 11 - Tolstoy: The Death of Ivan Ilyich

In this first episode of a new series, Stephen reads Leo Tolstoy’s classic novella, ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich.’ A masterful text from one of history’s great writers, it tells the story of a man whose fatal illness forces him to confront the shallow assumptions of his life and the slowly encroaching, inevitable reality of death. ‘Ivan Ilyich’ is a timeless meditation on the fundamental content of life: finding purpose, loving others, and understanding our finitude.

The translation Stephen is reading from—easily found online, if you'd like to follow along—is by Louise and Aylmer Maude.

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The Ralston College Podcast delivers a series of conversations and lectures aimed at fostering a deeper, livelier, and freer intellectual culture for us all.