83 pages • 2-hour read
Resurrection
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Background
Authorial/Philosophical Context: Leo Tolstoy and Christian Anarchism
Resurrection was Leo Tolstoy’s final novel, published in 1899. By this time, Tolstoy had undergone a radical spiritual and philosophical transformation that would define the rest of his life. Following the international success of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Tolstoy experienced a deep moral and existential crisis. He rejected organized religion and state authority and criticized private property and aristocratic privileges, even though he continued to live on his ancestral estate. He championed a personal form of Christianity rooted in the Sermon on the Mount, with a strong emphasis on pacifism, nonviolence, manual labor, and ethical living. These beliefs formed the basis of what is now called Christian anarchism—a philosophy that rejects all forms of coercive government in favor of a life modeled on the teachings of Jesus.
Tolstoy’s personal commitment to these ideals is reflected throughout Resurrection. He donated all authorial royalties from the novel to support the Doukhobors, a persecuted Christian pacifist sect in Russia. The novel itself reads as both a scathing indictment of Russian institutions and a moral parable about redemption. It reflects Tolstoy’s belief that moral reform must begin with the individual, but also critiques systems of punishment, law, and religious hypocrisy that corrupt society as a whole.
The book’s protagonist, Prince Dmitri Nekhlyudov, functions as a surrogate for Tolstoy himself, undergoing a profound moral awakening as he witnesses the cruelty of prisons and the indifference of the ruling class. Rather than promote revolution, Tolstoy advocates for radical forgiveness, nonviolent resistance, and a return to spiritual integrity. These convictions—unorthodox at the time—set Tolstoy apart from both the Russian Orthodox Church and the secular radical movements of his day, establishing him as a singular moral voice in Russian and global literature (Morris, Brian. “Tolstoy and Anarchism,” The Anarchist Library).
Historical Context: Russia at the Turn of the 20th Century
Tolstoy’s Resurrection emerged during a period of widespread social unrest and political agitation in the Russian Empire. The final decades of the 19th century saw the rapid growth of industrialization, urban poverty, and discontent among the peasantry, all of which fueled revolutionary ideologies and grassroots calls for reform. The novel’s scathing portrayal of the Russian legal and penal systems coincides with the growing public debate about state repression, inequality, and corruption. The 1860s had introduced judicial reforms under Tsar Alexander II, including the establishment of trial by jury and standardized legal procedures. However, these reforms proved superficial in many respects, especially for women, peasants, and the poor, who remained deeply vulnerable to abuse within a system still dominated by aristocratic privilege and bureaucratic apathy.
At the same time, censorship was tightening in response to the spread of radical and socialist ideas. Many of the political prisoners depicted in the novel reflect real movements and figures from this period, including populists (Narodniks), anarchists, and early Marxists. The figure of the idealistic revolutionary or exile was familiar in Russian literature and society by this point, as was the experience of Siberian penal colonies, which became synonymous with state violence and moral decay.
In this climate, Resurrection functioned not only as a novel but also as a social document. Its publication marked Tolstoy’s renewed emphasis on fiction after a period largely focused on religious and philosophical writing. The novel’s critical reception was polarized: While some praised its moral force, others, including the Russian Orthodox Church, condemned it. Tolstoy was excommunicated shortly after its release. The novel foreshadows the coming revolutions by exposing the structural cruelty of autocratic Russia, challenging readers to consider how institutions dehumanize under the guise of order (Casson, Richard. “Evolution of the Judicial System in 19th Century Imperial Russia.” Colby College).
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