Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, usually referred to as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time.

He received multiple nominations for Nobel Prize in Literature every year from 1902 to 1906, and nominations for Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, 1902 and 1910, and his miss of the prize is a major Nobel prize controvers.

In the 1870’s Tolstoy experienced a profound moral crisis, followed by an equally profound spiritual awakening.

His interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus caused him to become a fervent Christian anarchsit and pacifist.

His ideas on nonviolent resistance, were to have a profound impact on Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

Tolstoy believed that a true Christian could find lasting happiness striving for inner self-perfection through following the Great Commandment of loving one’s neighbor and God rather than looking outward to the Church or state for guidance.

His belief in nonresistance when faced by conflict is another distinct attribute of his philosophy based on Christ’s teachings.

His beliefs became increasingly radical. This saw him seeking to reject his inherited and earned wealth, including the renunciation of the copyrights on his earlier works.

He also opposed private property in land ownership and resulted him renouncing his aristocratic lifestyle.

According to some sources, Tolstoy spent the last hours of his life preaching love, non-violence, and Georgism to his fellow passengers on the train.

He had finally gathered the nerve to separate from his wife, and left home in the middle of winter, in the dead of night.

After a full day’s journey by train, Tolstoy died of pneumonia at Astapovo railway station, at the age of 82. During his last few days, he had spoken and written about dying.