Book discussion: Hadji Murat by Tolstoy

Our next book discussion is on Hadji Murat by Leo Tolstoy.

Written in Tolstoy's final years, Hadji Murat reflects ideas of struggle and remaining faithful under pressure that resonated with Tolstoy as he was approaching death. He also drew on his own experiences serving in the Caucasus during his time in the Russian army.

The novella follows the real historical figure Hadji Murat, an Avar rebel commander who forms an uneasy alliance with the Russian Empire. Set during the 1850s Caucasian War, it explores the themes of imperialism, betrayal, and the struggle for freedom when trapped between two hostile forces.