Page:Tolstoy - Essays and Letters.djvu/13



The articles in this volume all belong to the later part of Tolstoy's career. The subjects with which they deal are religion and moral duty: what man should believe and do, and what he should not believe and not do.

Tolstoy's earlier religious works, written between the years 1878 and 1885, have been frequently reprinted and widely read; but the maturer views expressed in the essays on religion contained in this volume—Religion and Morality, Reason and Religion, A Reply to the Synod's Edict of Excommunication, and What is Religion?—written from a different point of view and expressing his final conclusions on the greatest of life's problems, have not as yet received the same amount of attention.

Some of the letters contained in this volume are of the nature of rough essays, or drafts of essays; but if less carefully finished than the other articles, they have the special merit of showing Tolstoy's opinions in application to certain people and to certain definite conditions; and they thus help to bridge the gulf between his theory and practice.

During the preparation of these translations I had the great advantage of receiving repeated assistance, as well as much kind encouragement, from Tolstoy himself.

Footnotes that occur in the original are marked L. T. For those not so marked I am responsible.

AYLMER MAUDE.