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Title: A wonderful collection of classic stories
Review: "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" is the best of the four stories in the volume by far. It is a thought-provoking tale of facing one's mortality. Tolstoy demonstrates incredible insightful in this story; it will cause you to reflect on your life in terms of the certainty of death. Of the other three stories, "Family Happiness" is the strongest. Tolstoy again presents a story that will make readers think--this time in terms of considering their own values concerning marriage, love, commitment and children. The other two stories, "The Kruetzer Sonata" and "The Devil" are well-written explorations of similar themes (lust, jealousy, infidelity, etc.). While still vintage Tolstoy, these stories are weaker than the other two and show his darker side. The book as a whole is a wonderful read and a great place to start reading Tolstoy.
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