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StoryPDFResurrectionLeo Tolstoy

Resurrection

Leo Tolstoy

Complete text
NovelEnglish

Serving on a jury, Prince Nekhludoff recognizes a woman whose earlier life is entangled with his own conduct. Her prosecution forces him to confront responsibilities he has kept at a distance and to question the institutions through which respectable society judges the vulnerable.

129 sections172,336 wordsAbout 13 h 3 min
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About Resurrection

The contrast between spring's renewal and the city's confinement introduces a recurring tension between living people and hardened systems. Legal procedures, property arrangements and official routines are examined through their effects on particular lives. Nekhludoff's changing intentions are also tested against the difficulty of making restitution without preserving his own authority.

Reading focus

Compare personal remorse with the practical changes Nekhludoff attempts within legal, social and economic institutions.

This reading edition contains 172,336 words in 129 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.

Author: Leo Tolstoy. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.

Opening excerpt

Though hundreds of thousands had done their very best to disfigure the small piece of land on which they were crowded together, by paving the ground with stones, scraping away every vestige of vegetation, cutting down the trees, turning away birds and beasts, and filling the air with the smoke of naphtha and coal, still spring was spring, even in the town.

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Contents

All sections
  1. BOOK I. — CHAPTER I. MASLOVA IN PRISON.6 min
  2. BOOK I. — CHAPTER II. MASLOVA’S EARLY LIFE.9 min
  3. BOOK I. — CHAPTER III. NEKHLUDOFF.9 min
  4. BOOK I. — CHAPTER IV. MISSY.5 min
  5. BOOK I. — CHAPTER V. THE JURYMEN.5 min
  6. BOOK I. — CHAPTER VI. THE JUDGES.6 min
  7. BOOK I. — CHAPTER VII. THE OFFICIALS OF THE COURT.5 min
  8. BOOK I. — CHAPTER VIII. SWEARING IN THE JURY.5 min
  9. BOOK I. — CHAPTER IX. THE TRIAL—THE PRISONERS QUESTIONED.6 min
  10. BOOK I. — CHAPTER X. THE TRIAL—THE INDICTMENT.5 min
  11. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XI. THE TRIAL—MASLOVA CROSS-EXAMINED.10 min
  12. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XII. TWELVE YEARS BEFORE.8 min
  13. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XIII. LIFE IN THE ARMY.7 min
  14. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XIV. THE SECOND MEETING WITH MASLOVA.7 min
  15. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XV. THE EARLY MASS.8 min
  16. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XVI. THE FIRST STEP.5 min
  17. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XVII. NEKHLUDOFF AND KATUSHA.5 min
  18. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XVIII. AFTERWARDS.5 min
  19. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XIX. THE TRIAL—RESUMPTION.4 min
  20. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XX. THE TRIAL—THE MEDICAL REPORT.6 min
  21. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXI. THE TRIAL—THE PROSECUTOR AND THE ADVOCATES.8 min
  22. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXII. THE TRIAL—THE SUMMING UP.6 min
  23. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXIII. THE TRIAL—THE VERDICT.13 min
  24. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXIV. THE TRIAL—THE SENTENCE.5 min
  25. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXV. NEKHLUDOFF CONSULTS AN ADVOCATE.3 min
  26. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXVI. THE HOUSE OF KORCHAGIN.8 min
  27. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXVII. MISSY’S MOTHER.8 min
  28. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXVIII. THE AWAKENING.11 min
  29. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXIX. MASLOVA IN PRISON.6 min
  30. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXX. THE CELL.6 min
  31. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXI. THE PRISONERS.5 min
  32. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXII. A PRISON QUARREL.7 min
  33. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXIII. THE LEAVEN AT WORK—NEKHLUDOFF’S DOMESTIC CHANGES.7 min
  34. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXIV. THE ABSURDITY OF LAW—REFLECTIONS OF A JURYMAN.9 min
  35. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXV. THE PROCUREUR—NEKHLUDOFF REFUSES TO SERVE.5 min
  36. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXVI. NEKHLUDOFF ENDEAVOURS TO VISIT MASLOVA.4 min
  37. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXVII. MASLOVA RECALLS THE PAST.7 min
  38. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXVIII. SUNDAY IN PRISON—PREPARING FOR MASS.4 min
  39. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XXXIX. THE PRISON CHURCH—BLIND LEADERS OF THE BLIND.6 min
  40. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XL. THE HUSKS OF RELIGION.5 min
  41. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLI. VISITING DAY—THE MEN’S WARD.8 min
  42. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLII. VISITING DAY—THE WOMEN’S WARD.4 min
  43. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLIII. NEKHLUDOFF VISITS MASLOVA.10 min
  44. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLIV. MASLOVA’S VIEW OF LIFE.4 min
  45. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLV. FANARIN, THE ADVOCATE—THE PETITION.11 min
  46. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLVI. A PRISON FLOGGING.5 min
  47. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLVII. NEKHLUDOFF AGAIN VISITS MASLOVA.4 min
  48. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLVIII. MASLOVA REFUSES TO MARRY.6 min
  49. BOOK I. — CHAPTER XLIX. VERA DOUKHOVA.6 min
  50. BOOK I. — CHAPTER L. THE VICE-GOVERNOR OF THE PRISON.6 min
  51. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LI. THE CELLS.5 min
  52. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LII. NO. 21.4 min
  53. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LIII. VICTIMS OF GOVERNMENT.4 min
  54. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LIV. PRISONERS AND FRIENDS.4 min
  55. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LV. VERA DOUKHOVA EXPLAINS.4 min
  56. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LVI. NEKHLUDOFF AND THE PRISONERS.4 min
  57. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LVII. THE VICE-GOVERNOR’S “AT-HOME”.7 min
  58. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LVIII. THE VICE-GOVERNOR SUSPICIOUS.5 min
  59. BOOK I. — CHAPTER LIX. NEKHLUDOFF’S THIRD INTERVIEW WITH MASLOVA IN PRISON.7 min
  60. BOOK II. — CHAPTER I. PROPERTY IN LAND.10 min
  61. BOOK II. — CHAPTER II. EFFORTS AT LAND RESTORATION.7 min
  62. BOOK II. — CHAPTER III. OLD ASSOCIATIONS.5 min
  63. BOOK II. — CHAPTER IV. THE PEASANTS’ LOT.7 min
  64. BOOK II. — CHAPTER V. MASLOVA’S AUNT.7 min
  65. BOOK II. — CHAPTER VI. REFLECTIONS OF A LANDLORD.10 min
  66. BOOK II. — CHAPTER VII. THE DISINHERITED.6 min
  67. BOOK II. — CHAPTER VIII. GOD’S PEACE IN THE HEART.6 min
  68. BOOK II. — CHAPTER IX. THE LAND SETTLEMENT.11 min
  69. BOOK II. — CHAPTER X. NEKHLUDOFF RETURNS TO TOWN.8 min
  70. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XI. AN ADVOCATE’S VIEWS ON JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS.4 min
  71. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XII. WHY THE PEASANTS FLOCK TO TOWN.4 min
  72. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XIII. NURSE MASLOVA.10 min
  73. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XIV. AN ARISTOCRATIC CIRCLE.9 min
  74. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XV. AN AVERAGE STATESMAN.9 min
  75. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XVI. AN UP-TO-DATE SENATOR.7 min
  76. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XVII. COUNTESS KATERINA IVANOVNA’S DINNER PARTY.6 min
  77. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XVIII. OFFICIALDOM.6 min
  78. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XIX. AN OLD GENERAL OF REPUTE.11 min
  79. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XX. MASLOVA’S APPEAL.6 min
  80. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXI. THE APPEAL DISMISSED.6 min
  81. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXII. AN OLD FRIEND.4 min
  82. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXIII. THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR.7 min
  83. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXIV. MARIETTE TEMPTS NEKHLUDOFF.12 min
  84. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXV. LYDIA SHOUSTOVA’S HOME.7 min
  85. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXVI. LYDIA’S AUNT.4 min
  86. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXVII. THE STATE CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE.10 min
  87. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXVIII. THE MEANING OF MARIETTE’S ATTRACTION.7 min
  88. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXIX. FOR HER SAKE AND FOR GOD’S.10 min
  89. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXX. THE ASTONISHING INSTITUTION CALLED CRIMINAL LAW.8 min
  90. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXI. NEKHLUDOFF’S SISTER AND HER HUSBAND.5 min
  91. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXII. NEKHLUDOFF’S ANARCHISM.9 min
  92. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXIII. THE AIM OF THE LAW.7 min
  93. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXIV. THE PRISONERS START FOR SIBERIA.9 min
  94. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXV. NOT MEN BUT STRANGE AND TERRIBLE CREATURES?6 min
  95. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXVI. THE TENDER MERCIES OF THE LORD.8 min
  96. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXVII. SPILLED LIKE WATER ON THE GROUND.8 min
  97. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE CONVICT TRAIN.6 min
  98. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XXXIX. BROTHER AND SISTER.9 min
  99. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XL. THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF HUMAN LIFE.8 min
  100. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XLI. TARAS’S STORY.11 min
  101. BOOK II. — CHAPTER XLII. LE VRAI GRAND MONDE.7 min
  102. BOOK III. — CHAPTER I. MASLOVA MAKES NEW FRIENDS.5 min
  103. BOOK III. — CHAPTER II. AN INCIDENT OF THE MARCH.4 min
  104. BOOK III. — CHAPTER III. MARY PAVLOVNA.5 min
  105. BOOK III. — CHAPTER IV. SIMONSON.5 min
  106. BOOK III. — CHAPTER V. THE POLITICAL PRISONERS.7 min
  107. BOOK III. — CHAPTER VI. KRYLTZOFF’S STORY.8 min
  108. BOOK III. — CHAPTER VII. NEKHLUDOFF SEEKS AN INTERVIEW WITH MASLOVA.5 min
  109. BOOK III. — CHAPTER VIII. NEKHLUDOFF AND THE OFFICER.6 min
  110. BOOK III. — CHAPTER IX. THE POLITICAL PRISONERS.4 min
  111. BOOK III. — CHAPTER X. MAKAR DEVKIN.4 min
  112. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XI. MASLOVA AND HER COMPANIONS.6 min
  113. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XII. NABATOFF AND MARKEL.9 min
  114. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XIII. LOVE AFFAIRS OF THE EXILES.5 min
  115. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XIV. CONVERSATIONS IN PRISON.4 min
  116. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XV. NOVODVOROFF.4 min
  117. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XVI. SIMONSON SPEAKS TO NEKHLUDOFF.6 min
  118. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XVII. “I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY.”4 min
  119. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XVIII. NEVEROFF’S FATE.5 min
  120. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XIX. WHY IS IT DONE?9 min
  121. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XX. THE JOURNEY RESUMED.6 min
  122. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XXI. “JUST A WORTHLESS TRAMP.”5 min
  123. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XXII. NEKHLUDOFF SEES THE GENERAL.8 min
  124. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XXIII. THE SENTENCE COMMUTED.6 min
  125. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XXIV. THE GENERAL’S HOUSEHOLD.9 min
  126. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XXV. MASLOVA’S DECISION.6 min
  127. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XXVI. THE ENGLISH VISITOR.3 min
  128. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XXVII. KRYLTZOFF AT REST.5 min
  129. BOOK III. — CHAPTER XXVIII. A NEW LIFE DAWNS FOR NEKHLUDOFF.11 min

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