Leo Tolstoy, a celebrated Russian writer, philosopher, and thinker, led a life that was as extraordinary as his literary contributions. His journey was marked by a rich tapestry of experiences, reflected in his profound works and personal choices.

1. A Gambler in Youth: In his younger days, Tolstoy was quite fond of gambling. He once lost the main building of his ancestral estate, Krasnaya Polyana, in a card game.

2. A Distant Relative of Pushkin: Tolstoy was related distantly to the renowned poet Alexander Pushkin.

3. Acclaimed During His Lifetime: Even while alive, Tolstoy was recognized as Russia’s leading literary figure, with his works being performed on stages worldwide.

4. A Library of Many Languages: Tolstoy’s personal library boasted over 23,000 books in 39 different languages, showcasing his polyglot abilities.

5. A Noble Gesture: While serving in the military in the Caucasus, Tolstoy gave his George Cross to a fellow soldier, granting him a lifelong pension.

6. A Skilled Homemaker: His wife expertly managed their household affairs.

7. An Aversion to Barking Dogs: Tolstoy could not bear the sound of dogs barking.

8. Frugality and Family Strife: His belief in living in poverty contributed to worsening relations with his wife.

9. Global Correspondence: Tolstoy actively corresponded with readers from around the world.

10. Youthful Vanity: Tolstoy confessed to being extremely vain and self-conscious in his youth.

11. His Wife, the Copier: His wife, Sophia, transcribed almost all of his works, deciphering his messy handwriting.

12. A Late-Life Vegetarian: Tolstoy became a vegetarian around the age of 50.

13. Educator to the Peasants: At 21, Tolstoy opened a free school for peasant children, teaching some classes himself.

14. On ‘War and Peace’: Tolstoy once referred to his celebrated work as verbose nonsense.

15. A Near Duel: Tolstoy almost fought a duel with Turgenev but thankfully avoided conflict.

16. A Large Family: He had 13 children with his wife, Sophia, though five died in infancy.

17. Respect for His Mother-in-Law: He genuinely respected and honored the mother of his future wife, Sophia.

18. A Voluminous Author: His complete works span 90 substantial volumes.

19. A Favorite Number: Tolstoy had a special affinity for the number 28.

20. Jealousy in Marriage: His wife was deeply jealous of his close friend and confidant, V.G. Chertkov.

21. Corresponding with Contemporaries: He corresponded with numerous famous writers like Nekrasov, Turgenev, Fet, Goncharov, Ostrovsky, Chernyshevsky, Herzen, Saltykov-Shchedrin, Leskov, Bunin, Andreyev, Gorky, and Chekhov.

22. The Laboring Aristocrat: Despite his noble status, Tolstoy engaged in physical labor, like plowing his fields.

23. Nobel Prize Consideration: In 1906, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature but declined it.

24. Critiquing Shakespeare: Tolstoy famously expressed his disdain for Shakespeare.

25. Influencing Gandhi: Tolstoy significantly influenced Mahatma Gandhi.

26. Walking Barefoot in Old Age: In his later years, Tolstoy often walked barefoot, symbolizing his connection to the common people.

27. A Large Progeny: By the early 21st century, about 350 direct descendants of Tolstoy were alive.

28. A Solitary Departure: Tolstoy left his home secretly early one morning to live the rest of his life in solitude, but he fell ill and passed away at a stationmaster’s house.