The Death of Ivan Ilyich

Published in 1886, this work follows Ivan Ilyich, a distinguished official who has built his existence around society's expectations. When terminal illness strikes without warning, his orderly world collapses, forcing him into deep contemplation about the life he has led. Through Ivan's ordeal, Tolstoy explores timeless questions about what it means to be human, how we face death, and whether we truly live authentically.