The Death of Ivan Ilyich

by Leo Tolstoy

The Death of Ivan Ilyich


At a glance:

The Story

This story begins with the news of Ivan Ilyich’s death reported by his closest acquaintance from law school, Piotr Ivanovich. When his coworkers hear the news, their immediate reaction is one of self-centered concern over their possible promotions and other changes that Ivan’s death might bring about in their own lives. Only after these considerations do the dead man’s so-called friends think of the tiresome duties of attending the funeral and consoling the widow.

Giving up his usual nap to attend the wake, Piotr, meeting his bridge partner at the...

(The entire page is 2014 words.)

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