The Kreutzer sonata and other stories

287 pages

English language

Published 1985 by Penguin Books.

ISBN:
978-0-14-044469-8
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OCLC Number:
13137162

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3 stars (1 review)

40 editions

What the actual fuck

3 stars

The Kreutzer Sonata is such a mind-bending story. I vaguely remember my high-school teacher citing it as a must-read, and retrospectively I cannot help but think: what the actual fuck.

I won't argue with the style (fantastic, gripping) and, sure, the book is full of deep thoughts, existential angst and moral theories about 'man', i.e. the hallmarks of great (straight, white, male) literature. But can we just stop to think about the plot for a second:

Man grows up behaving like a lad, visiting brothels and seducing married women. Man decides it is time to marry, picks young attractive gentlewoman. Man is disappointed because she is not a sex goddess the first time they sleep together. Marriage deteriorates because of lack of communication and shared interests. Sex is occasionally good, but always followed by arguments. The only thing that gives Man some satisfaction is reproducing (though Man blames wife for …

Subjects

  • Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910 -- Translations into English.