If you enjoy reading novels by Leo Tolstoy then you might also like the following authors:
Fyodor Dostoevsky is a Russian author who explores human nature and deep moral conflicts in his stories. If you enjoy reading Leo Tolstoy, Dostoevsky’s novels may resonate with you. One great book to start with is “Crime and Punishment”.
It follows Raskolnikov, a young man who commits a crime and then struggles terribly with guilt. Dostoevsky vividly shows Raskolnikov’s inner struggle and the people he meets afterward, creating a realistic, psychological drama you won’t forget.
If you like stories that examine morality, society, and what drives human behavior, Dostoevsky’s work is worth checking out.
Anton Chekhov is a classic Russian writer known for short stories and plays that capture everyday life with subtle humor and clear insight. His short story collection “Ward No. 6” shows Chekhov’s talent in observing human nature and society.
The story “Ward No. 6” centers on Dr. Ragin, a passive doctor who calmly runs a neglected psychiatric ward. Ragin starts conversations with one of his patients, Ivan Gromov, whose questions make him rethink life and sanity.
Readers who enjoy Tolstoy’s close look at people’s lives and thoughtful questions about society might find that Chekhov also has much to offer.
Ivan Turgenev was a Russian novelist who explored human relationships and social tensions in nineteenth-century Russia. Readers who appreciate Leo Tolstoy’s realistic portrayal of Russian society might enjoy Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons”.
The book focuses on the generational conflicts between traditional values and youthful ideas of nihilism, embodied in the character of Bazarov. Bazarov’s interactions with family members and friends reveal complex emotions and shifting attitudes in Russia during that time.
Simple but meaningful conversations throughout the book create vivid characters and real-life dilemmas, appealing to anyone who values thoughtful stories about personal growth and social change.
If you enjoy Leo Tolstoy, you might also appreciate the works of Alexander Pushkin. Pushkin is a classic Russian author known for his poetic style and memorable stories. One of his most famous works is “Eugene Onegin.”
It tells the story of a wealthy, bored young man who inherits his uncle’s estate in the countryside. There he meets the thoughtful and romantically minded young woman, Tatyana.
Their complicated relationship takes many unexpected turns, and the book explores love, regret and the choices people make in life. If you liked the rich characters and thoughtful storytelling in Tolstoy’s books, you’ll probably enjoy exploring Pushkin as well.
If you enjoyed Leo Tolstoy’s novels about society and detailed characters, you might appreciate Honoré de Balzac. Balzac was a French author who wrote about different types of people from various layers of French society.
His stories focus closely on characters’ lives, ambitions and their complex relationships. One of his best-known works is “Père Goriot.” This novel is set in Paris and follows the elderly Goriot, a man who sacrifices everything for his two daughters.
The story is full of strong, memorable characters. Balzac shows how ambition, money and family relationships shape people’s lives. If you enjoy exploring human nature and detailed social settings in literature, “Père Goriot” offers an engaging experience.
Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist famous for his realistic style and careful attention to detail. Readers who like the works of Leo Tolstoy would likely appreciate Flaubert’s book “Madame Bovary”.
This novel follows the life of Emma Bovary, a country doctor’s wife who dreams of romance and luxury. Her desires conflict sharply with the realities of her everyday life and lead to complicated relationships and personal struggles.
Flaubert vividly shows the tensions Emma feels between her dreams and what society expects of her. If you’ve enjoyed Tolstoy’s detailed characters and realistic storytelling in novels like “Anna Karenina”, “Madame Bovary” could make for an engaging read.
Victor Hugo was a French writer famous for novels that explore human struggles, morality and social justice. If you’ve enjoyed Leo Tolstoy, you might appreciate Hugo’s novel “Les Misérables”.
It follows Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, who seeks redemption after his release. Valjean’s story is combined with a dramatic portrayal of poverty and revolution in 19th century France.
The novel includes several memorable characters, such as Inspector Javert, Fantine and Cosette. The emotional narrative and vivid characters make it a favorite for those interested in stories about injustice and personal redemption.
Charles Dickens wrote stories that focus on human struggles, making them relatable on an emotional level. If you enjoy Tolstoy’s way of exploring social issues and the depth of his characters, you might find Dickens equally thoughtful.
In “Bleak House,” he weaves a complex tale about class, law, and personal sacrifice. “Great Expectations” follows an orphan navigating ambition, love, and betrayal, with a strong emphasis on moral growth.
Both works dive into the conflicts between personal desires and society, a theme Tolstoy often explored in his own way.
Thomas Hardy writes stories that explore deep human emotions and struggles, often set against vivid natural landscapes. If you enjoy the way Tolstoy examines personal and societal conflicts, you might find works like “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” and “Jude the Obscure” engaging.
These books portray characters caught in cycles of love, loss, and ambition, while questioning the forces of social norms and fate.
Henry James tells stories that dig deep into human nature and relationships. If you enjoy Leo Tolstoy, you might appreciate the way James examines people and their choices. In “The Portrait of a Lady,” he explores freedom and betrayal through the life of Isabel Archer.
“The Ambassadors” looks at personal growth and moral dilemmas, with a focus on cultural clashes. Both novels have that layered understanding of character you’d find in something by Tolstoy.
Hermann Hesse’s works explore deep questions about the human experience, which might appeal to someone who enjoys Tolstoy. His novel “Siddhartha” follows a man’s spiritual search for meaning, blending personal struggle with a sense of universal truth.
“The Glass Bead Game” touches on themes of knowledge and the tension between society and individuality. Both books offer rich, reflective journeys that linger in the mind.
George Eliot wrote stories that explore human relationships and the choices people make in their lives. If you enjoy Tolstoy’s understanding of human nature, you might find Eliot’s work fascinating.
In “Middlemarch,” she paints a detailed picture of a community while exploring ambition, love, and morality. “The Mill on the Floss” is more intimate, focused on sibling bonds and personal struggles. Both novels have a depth and realism Tolstoy readers often appreciate.
Mary Shelley is best known for her novel “Frankenstein,” a story that explores ambition, moral limits, and human struggles. It’s not just about science; it’s deeply personal and emotional, much like Tolstoy’s works.
Another of her novels, “The Last Man,” paints a haunting picture of loneliness and survival in a collapsing world. Her writing often questions human nature in ways that might remind Tolstoy fans of his probing explorations of morality and society.
Marcel Proust wrote stories that explore people, emotions, and society in a deep way. If you enjoy Tolstoy’s attention to human relationships, you might like Proust’s “Swann’s Way” or “The Guermantes Way.”
These books look closely at love, memory, and how personal choices shape lives, all within the backdrop of a complex social world. His characters feel real, and his observations about life are thoughtful.
John Steinbeck wrote stories that deal with big ideas and the struggles of ordinary people, which might remind you of the way Leo Tolstoy explores human nature and society. In “The Grapes of Wrath,” he captures a family’s fight to survive during the Great Depression.
“East of Eden” looks at deep questions about family and morality, set against the backdrop of California’s farmland. His characters feel real, and his themes often touch on universal truths.