Leo Tolstoy's novella "The Kreutzer Sonata" (Pre Read)

"Taking its name from Beethoven's musical score of the same name, The Kreutzer Sonata is the controversial novella that was swiftly censored by the Russian authorities after its publication in 1889. Detailing the main character Pozdnyshev’s increasing jealousy and eventual all-consuming paranoia about his wife and her relationship with her music partner, The Kreutzer Sonata details Tolstoy’s take on the hypocrisy of 19th-century social conventions. Evaluating the role music, art, love and lust play in society, and the complex and multifaceted relationship between the sexes, this illuminating critique should not be missed."

You can find several options to read or listen to the novella "The Kreutzer Sonata" (about 100 pages long) at the bottom of this webpage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kreutzer_Sonata#External_links

You can also find a copy of the David McDuff translation published by Penguin here. (This translation is known for its fidelity to Tolstoy's original language and style.)

(We previously discussed another novella by Tolstoy "The Death of Ivan Illych" in this group.)

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We all seek meaning in our lives and dread futility. Philosophy doesn't provide facile answers, but the philosophical quest to make sense of our fleeting lives is one that we all share.

This group explores answers by looking not only philosophical writing, but also literature and film.