The Last Station

A Novel of Tolstoy's Last Year

By: Jay Parini

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne, Lorna Raver, Rebecca Lowman, Mark Bramhall, Richard McGonagle, Robertson Dean

Soon to be a major motion picture.

A New York Times Notable Book.

As Leo Tolstoy’s life draws to a tumultuous close, his tempestuous wife and most cunning disciple are locked in a whirlwind battle for the great man’s soul. Torn between his professed doctrine of poverty and chastity and the reality of his enormous wealth and 13 children, Tolstoy dramatically flees his home, only to fall ill at a tiny nearby rail station. The famous (and famously troubled) writer believes he is dying alone, unaware that over a hundred newspapermen camp outside awaiting hourly reports on his condition. Jay Parini moves deftly between a colorful cast of characters to create a stunning portrait of one of the world’s most treasured authors. Dancing between fact and fiction, The Last Station is a brilliant and moving literary performance.

©2007 Jay Parini (P)2008 Random House

Critic reviews

"Utterly satisfying. . . . A loving and thoughtful rendering of the complex character of Leo Tolstoy." (Washington Post Book World)
"One of those rare works of fiction that manage to demonstrate both scrupulous historical research and true originality of voice and perception." (The New York Times Book Review)