The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories

"The Kreutzer Sonata and Other Stories" by Leo Tolstoy is a compilation of stories from the late 1800s that looks at big ideas about love, marriage, and doing what's right. The main story, "The Kreutzer Sonata," lets us hear the thoughts of someone named Posdnicheff, who talks about his difficult marriage. The collection isn't just about the stories themselves; they also show Tolstoy's thoughts about what's wrong with marriage and how tricky it is for people to get along. "The Kreutzer Sonata" starts with a train ride where people are loudly sharing their opinions on love and marriage, with a lawyer and a merchant arguing about what men and women should do in a marriage. Posdnicheff is quiet at first, but you can tell he's had problems, hinting at a story full of jealousy and sadness. This sets the stage to explore Tolstoy's harsh thoughts about how people feel and what society expects.