Christmas Night

"Holy Night," "Christmas Night" or "Christmas Eve," known in Russian as "Святочная ночь," was created in 1853. Although written during Tolstoy's early literary career, this short story did not see the light of day until 1928, appearing posthumously in "Лев Толстой. Неизданные художественные произведения" (Leo Tolstoy. Unpublished Artistic Works) under the alternative title "Как умирает любовь" (How Love Dies). The story unfolds in Moscow during the Christmas season, chronicling the experiences of young Sergey Ivin, an eighteen year old newly arrived from his studies, studying his infatuation with Countess Shofing and his later descent into revelry under the influence of cynical older acquaintances.

The notable delay in this story's publication, over seven decades after its creation, is a noteworthy historical detail, suggesting that it did not match with the author's later, more mature philosophical and moral stances, or perhaps it was deemed too raw or controversial for modern sensibilities. Its eventual release in 1928, as part of a collection of previously unissued works, allowed scholars and readers a fuller understanding of Tolstoy's early artistic development and his nascent engagement with themes of moral corruption and the deceptive nature of high society. "Holy Night" delves into the detailed relation of love and self love, portraying how these passions can intertwine to overwhelm a young mind.

This critical reader's edition presents a modern translation of the original manuscript, crafted for the modern reader with clean, modern language and simplified sentence structures that clarify his difficult Russian phrasing and specific antiquated references. Supplementary material enriches the text with autobiographical, historical, and linguistic setting, including an afterword by the translator on Tolstoy's personal history, impact, and intellectual legacy, an index of the philosophical concepts he employs, giving attention to Existentialism and influence by Schopenhauer, a complete chronological list of his published writings, and a detailed timeline of his life, showing the personal relationships that shaped his philosophy.