Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828–1910), commonly known as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian author considered by many to be one of the greatest novelists of all time. In addition to the present autobiographical work, Tolstoy’s output includes War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and The Death of Ivan Ilyich among other towering works of fiction and nonfiction. Although never a Nobel Prize recipient, he was nominated for both the literature and peace prizes numerous times.

A Confession outlines Tolstoy’s momentous spiritual transformation that resulted from decades of struggle including long bouts of depression and suicidal rumination. This work, including his subsequent writing on religious and moral issues, had an important influence on the philosophies of activists like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. As a deeply personal and honest attempt to answer life’s most important questions, written by one of the most brilliant minds in human history, A Confession stands as an imperishable ally in the war against meaninglessness.