The Cutting of the Forest E-Book

Leo Tolstoy

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

In "The Cutting of the Forest," Leo Tolstoy explores the intricate relationship between humanity and nature through a succinct narrative that highlights the moral implications of deforestation and exploitation. The novella employs a realistic style, characteristic of Tolstoy's late career, showcasing his deep ethical concerns and environmental consciousness. Set against the backdrop of rural Russia, the story unfolds with vivid descriptions and poignant dialogues, reflecting the social issues of his time, including the impact of industrialization on rural ecosystems and communities. Leo Tolstoy, a literary giant and moral philosopher, was profoundly influenced by his observations of social injustice and the natural world surrounding him. His own experiences, from his aristocratic upbringing to his later advocacy for simple, ethical living, deeply informed his writings. By the time he penned this work, Tolstoy had become increasingly preoccupied with themes of spiritual awakening and ethical responsibility, positioning "The Cutting of the Forest" as both a cautionary tale and a call to action. This insightful novella is highly recommended for readers interested in environmental literature and the philosophical musings of one of the greatest writers in history. Tolstoy's work challenges us to reconsider our relationship with nature and encourages self-reflection on our societal values. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

Leseprobe

Leo Tolstoy

The Cutting of the Forest

The Story of a Yunker

Published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4064066467470

Table of Contents

Cover

Titlepage

Text

The Cutting of the Forest: The Story of a Yunker

Table of Contents

I

Table of Contents

In midwinter of 185 - the division of our battery- was doing frontier service in the Great Chechnya. Having learned, on the evening of the 14th of February, that the platoon, which I was to command in the absence of the officer, was detailed for the following day to cut timber, and having received and given the proper orders on that very evening, I repaired earlier than usual to my tent; as I did not have the bad habit of warming it up with burning coal, I lay down in my clothes on my bed, which was constructed of paling, drew my lambskin cap down to my eyes, wrapped myself in a fur coat, and fell into that peculiar, profound, and heavy sleep which one sleeps in moments of alarm and agitation before an imminent peril. The expectancy of the engagement of the following day had induced that condition in me.

At three o'clock in the morning, while it was still very dark, somebody pulled the warm fur coat from me, and the purple light of a candle disagreeably startled my sleepy eyes.

" Please get up! " said somebody's voice. I closed my eyes, unconsciously pulled the fur coat over me, and again fell asleep. " Please get up! " repeated Dmitri, pitilessly shaking me by the shoulder. " The infantry is starting." I suddenly recalled the actuality, shuddered, and sprang to my feet. Having swallowed in a hurry a glass of tea and washed myself with ice-crusted water, I went out of the tent and walked over to the park (the place where the ordnance is stationed).

It was dark, misty, and cold. The night fires, which glimmered here and there in the camp, lighting up the figures of the drowsy soldiers who were lying about them, only intensified the darkness by their purple glamour. Near by one could hear the even, calm snoring of men; in the distance there was the motion, talking, and clanking of the infantry's weapons, getting ready for the march; there was an odour of smoke, dung, slow-matches, and mist; a morning chill ran down one's back, and one's teeth involuntarily clattered against each other.

By the snorting and occasional stamping alone could one make out, in this impenetrable darkness, where the hitched-up limbers and caissons were standing, and only by the burning dots of the linstocks could one tell where the ordnance was. With the words, " God be with you! " the first gun began to clatter, then the caisson rattled, and the platoon was on the move. We took off our hats and made the sign of the cross. Having taken up its position among the infantry, the platoon stopped, and for about fifteen minutes awaited the drawing up of the whole column and the arrival of the commander.

" We lack one soldier, Nikolay Petrovich! " said, approaching me, a black figure, which I recognized by the voice only as being that of the platoon gun-sergeant, Maksim о v.

" Who is it? "

" Velenchiik is not here. As we were hitching up, he was here, and I saw him, but now he is gone."

As there was no reason to suppose that the column would march at once, we decided to send Lance Corporal Antonov to find Velenchiik. Soon after, several horsemen galloped past us in the darkness: that was the commander with his suite; immediately there was a stir, the van of the column started, and then we began to march, — but Antonov and Velenchiik were not with us. We had scarcely taken one hundred steps, when both soldiers caught up with us.

" Where was he? " I asked of Antonov.

" Asleep in the park."

" Is he drunk? "

" No, sir."

" Why, then, did he go to sleep? "

" I can't tell you."

For something like three hours we moved slowly in the same silence and darkness over unploughed, snowless fields and low bushes, which crackled under the wheels of the ordnance. Finally, after fording a shallow, but extremely rapid torrent, we halted, and in the van could be heard intermittent volleys of musketry. These sounds, as always, had an awakening effect upon all. The detachment seemed to have wakened from slumber: in the ranks could be heard conversation, animation, and laughter. Some soldiers were wrestling with their comrades; others leaped now on one foot, now on another; others again were munching their hardtack, or, to pass the time, pretended to stand sentry or keep time walking. In the meantime the mist was becoming perceptibly white in the east, the dampness grew more penetrating, and the surrounding objects emerged more and more from the darkness. I could discern the green gun-carriages and caissons, the brass of the ordnance, covered by a misty dampness, the familiar forms of my soldiers, and the bay horses, which I had involuntarily learned to know down to their minutest details, and the rows of the infantry, with their sparkling bayonets, knapsacks, wad-hooks, and kettles over their backs.