After the Ball. Stories

The collection includes works by Leo Tolstoy (1828—1910), written during his mature years: the novel «Family Happiness», the novellas «Albert», «The Death of Ivan Ilyich», «Polikushka», «The Devil», «The Stolen Ticket», «Kholstomer»; the stories «Notes of a Marker» and «After the Ball»; the fairy tale «The Assyrian King Ashurbanipal»; the parable «Three Sons».
The writer, from the height of his years and experience, looks at various life situations. First love, which happens by chance. A wasted talent. The transformation of feelings and relationships between people in marriage. Pathological passion, gambling, and alcohol that destroy a person. Some works take on the character of a parable. Tolstoy's heroes realize that by causing harm to another person, they also ruin themselves. That evil begets evil, while good begets good. They reflect on their years before death and ask themselves: were they happy?