the invaders so well that the soldiers all desert. The Old Devil then transforms himself into a nobleman and offers to build Ivan a palace and factories. At first, the people work for him, but once they have enough gold, they stop. They will not even sell him any food. He then spends days talking to the people, to instruct them on how to use their brains rather than their hands to do their work, but they are unimpressed. When he becomes faint from hunger, he asks for bread. They laugh at him, and he collapses. Defeated, he disappears through a hole in the ground. Analysis Although the story is usually considered a children's fairy tale, it is also used as an indication of Tolstoy's political leanings in support of Christianity. Though his brothers are easily tempted by money and military power, unsophisticated Ivan, with his simple way of life, defeats the treacherous devil. Ivan eventually becomes the ruler of the country despite the lack of a standing army or currency. All of the citizens are welcome at Ivan's table, where workers are fed first and intellectuals (those without calluses on their hands) have to eat the leftovers. See also Bibliography of Leo Tolstoy Twenty-Three Tales External links Complete Text: Ivan the Fool: Translated by Louise Maude and Aylmer Maude Ivan the Fool: Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude, at RevoltLib.com Ivan the Fool: Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude, at Marxists.org Complete Text: Ivan the Fool: Translated by Adolphus Norraikow Ivan the Fool: Translated by Adolphus Norraikow, at RevoltLib Ivan the Fool: Translated by Adolphus Norraikow, at Marxists.org Other Complete Text Versions Online text from Bartleby An alternate translation Russian fairy tales 1886 short stories Short stories by Leo Tolstoy Christian anarchism The Devil in fairy tales