Contents
Alexey Nikolaevich is a famous Russian and Soviet writer. His work is multifaceted and bright. He did not stop at one genre. He wrote novels about the present and works on historical themes, created children’s fairy tales and autobiographical novels, short stories and plays.
Tolstoy lived in difficult times. He found the Russo-Japanese War, the First World War, the revolution, the palace coup and the Great Patriotic War. I learned from my own experience what emigration and homesickness are. Alexei Nikolaevich could not live in the new Russia and went abroad, but his love for the country forced him to return home.
All these events are reflected in his books. He went through a difficult creative path. Now Alexei Nikolaevich occupies a prominent place in Russian literature.
If you want to get acquainted with the work of the writer, pay attention to our rating of the most famous works of Alexei Tolstoy.
10 Emigration
The novel was written in 1931. Based on real events. Initially, the work had a different name “Black Gold”. After accusations from the Association of Proletarian Writers, Tolstoy completely rewrote it.
In the center of the plot are the financial and political machinations of a group of swindlers – Russians. emigrants. The main characters are the officer of the Semenovsky regiment Nalymov and the former princess Chuvashova. They are forced to live away from their homeland. The loss of property and former status is nothing compared to the fact that these people have lost themselves …
9. Ivan Tsarevich and the Grey Wolf
Alexei Nikolaevich made a great contribution to the development of Russian children’s literature. A special place is occupied by works of oral folk art. He prepared a large collection of Russian folk tales for children.
One of the most famous – “Ivan Tsarevich and the Grey Wolf”. More than one generation of children grew up on this fairy tale. The story of the extraordinary adventures of the tsar’s son Ivan will be of interest to modern children.
The tale teaches kindness and makes it clear that everyone is rewarded according to their deserts. The main idea is that you should listen to the advice of more experienced people, otherwise you can get into a difficult situation.
8. Nikita’s childhood
Tolstoy’s story, written in 1920. She is autobiographical. Alexei Nikolaevich spent his childhood in the village of Sosnovka, which is located near Samara.
The main character Nikita is a boy from a noble family. He is 10 years old. He studies, dreams, plays with village children, fights and makes peace, and has fun. The story reveals his spiritual world.
The main idea of the work “Childhood of Nikita” – to teach children to distinguish good from bad. It is at this happy time that the foundations of the child’s character are laid. Whether he grows up as a worthy person depends largely on his parents and the environment in which he is brought up.
7. Frosty night
Story of the Civil War. Written in 1928. The story is told on behalf of officer Ivanov. He leads the Red Army detachment. An order has been given to hold the Debaltseve railway junction, because seven echelons of White Guards are already heading here.
Some literary scholars believe that Tolstoy wrote “Frosty Night”inspired by someone’s story. No confirmation of these events has been found, but most of the names mentioned in the story belong to real people.
6. Peter the First
A novel on a historical theme. Alexey Nikolayevich wrote it for 15 years. He began work in 1929. The first two books were published in 1934. In 1943, Tolstoy began writing the third part, but did not have time to finish it.
The novel describes real historical events that take place from 1682 to 1704.
“Peter the First” did not go unnoticed in Soviet times. He brought Tolstoy great success. The work was even called the standard of the historical novel. The writer drew parallels between the tsar and Stalin, justified the existing system of power, which was based on violence.
5. Hyperboloid engineer Garin
A fantasy novel written in 1927. Tolstoy was inspired to create it by the public outcry over the construction of the Shukhov tower. This is a monument of Soviet rationalism, located in Moscow on Shabolovka. Radio and TV tower.
What is the novel about? “Hyperboloid engineer Garin”? A talented and unprincipled inventor creates a weapon that can destroy everything in its path. Garin has big plans: he wants to take over the world.
The main theme of the book is the moral responsibility of a scientist to ordinary people.
4. The Golden Key, or the Adventures of Pinocchio
Perhaps the most famous book of Tolstoy. Every inhabitant of our country has read it at least once.
This fairy tale story is a literary adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s work about Pinocchio. In 1933 Tolstoy signed an agreement with a Russian publishing house. He was going to write his own retelling of the Italian work, adapting it for children. Collodi has too many violent scenes. Alexei Nikolaevich got so carried away that he decided to add a little to the tale, to change it. The end result turned out to be unpredictable – there was too little in common between Pinocchio and Pinocchio.
“The Golden Key, or The Adventures of Pinocchio” – not only fascinating, but also instructive work. Thanks to him, children understand that dangers often occur due to banal disobedience. The book teaches not to be afraid of difficulties, to be a kind and faithful friend, a brave and courageous person.
3. Adventures of Nevzorov, or Ibicus
Another work of Tolstoy dedicated to the Civil War. The writer said that the story “The Adventures of Nevzorov, or Ibicus” became the beginning of his literary activity after returning to Russia from emigration. She was met with disapproval in the country, as Tolstoy tried to describe the tragic events in a ridiculous way.
The protagonist – a modest employee of the transport office Nevzorov falls into the maelstrom of events of the Civil War.
The author showed a difficult historical era through the eyes of a petty swindler.
2. Walking through the torture
The most successful and popular work of Tolstoy. The author was awarded the Stalin Prize. He worked on the trilogy for over 20 years (1920–1941).
In 1937 year “The Road to Calvary” fell into a number of banned books, all of them were destroyed. Alexey Nikolaevich rewrote the novel several times, crossing out fragments that were objectionable to the Soviet authorities. Now the work is included in the golden fund of world literature.
The novel describes the fate of Russian intellectuals during the 1917 revolution.
The book has been filmed several times.
1. Aelita
Classics of national fantasy. Tolstoy wrote the novel in 1923 in exile. Later, he repeatedly remade it, adjusting it to the requirements of children’s and Soviet publishing houses. He removed most of the mystical episodes and elements, the novel turned into a story. At the moment, the work exists in two versions.
This is the story of engineer Mstislav Los and soldier Alexei Gusev. They fly to Mars and discover a highly developed civilization there. Mstislav falls in love with the daughter of the ruler of the planet Aelita…
Critics received the story negatively. “Aelitu” appreciated much later. Now it is considered an organic part of Tolstoy’s work. It is aimed at a youth audience. The story is easy and enjoyable to read.