At the age of fifty, Tolstoy (1828-1910) had written "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina", the novels that secured his immortality. He was a husband, a father of many children, and a holder of immense wealth. He was a "happy man" with excellent health. And yet, life had lost all meaning...
"Confession" is the poignant autobiographical testimony of a personal crisis recognizable by many people. In this text, Tolstoy records his despair and alienation from the world, his desperate attempt to find answers to life's simplest questions, and the beginning of a passionate spiritual quest "for a religion that does not promise future happiness but that, when put into practice, will offer happiness on earth."