Anthony Briggs Bücher

„Krieg und Frieden“ spielt während der Napoleonischen Invasion Russlands im Jahr 1812 und folgt drei der bekanntesten Figuren der Literatur: Pierre Bezukhov, der uneheliche Sohn eines Grafen, der um sein Erbe kämpft und nach spiritueller Erfüllung strebt; Prinz Andrei Bolkonsky, der seine Familie verlässt, um im Krieg gegen Napoleon zu kämpfen; und Natasha Rostov, die schöne Tochter eines Adligen, die beide Männer fasziniert. Während Napoleons Armee einmarschiert, verfolgt Tolstoj eindringlich die Schicksale von Charakteren aus verschiedenen sozialen Schichten – Bauern und Adelige, Zivilisten und Soldaten – während sie mit den spezifischen Problemen ihrer Zeit, Geschichte und Kultur ringen. Im Verlauf des Romans transcendentieren diese Figuren ihre Individualität und werden zu einigen der bewegendsten und menschlichsten Gestalten der Weltliteratur.

The book explores the life of Tolstoy, born in 1828 in central Russia, highlighting his experiences as a soldier and his evolution into a celebrated writer. It focuses on his iconic novels, "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina," while Anthony Briggs analyzes these works alongside others. The narrative delves into the complexities of Tolstoy's character and examines the impact of two detrimental figures in his life, whose influence significantly altered both his personal journey and literary career.

A new short biography of the author of Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov, by a preeminent Russian scholar In this compelling new biography Anthony Briggs explores the effect of Dostoevsky's turbulent life on his literary genius. Described by one contemporary as "the Shakespeare of the lunatic asylum," Dostoevsky famously divided critics during his lifetime. His childhood and family life have been the subject of scrutiny, most famously in inspiring Freud’s essay "Dostoevsky and Parricide." In later life his membership of the Petrashevsky Circle of liberal intellectuals resulted in his prosecution by the authorities: he was forced to attend a mock execution and then exiled for four years to a Siberian prison camp.