Welcome to the The Life and Work of Tolstoy with A.N. Wilson

As the author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina, Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy looms large in the Western canon of literature – but how much do we understand about his philosophy of life?

In this six-lesson course, biographer A.N. Wilson discusses the ideas behind Tolstoy’s great works and how he came to influence the world.

You’ll learn about his time spent as a young soldier in the Crimean War, his tumultuous marriage, his work as a campaigner for the emancipation of the serfs, and how he became a Christian anarchist and an inspiration to Gandhi, as A.N. Wilson guides you through the pivotal moments of Tolstoy’s life.

Over the course of six lessons, you will come to see Tolstoy in a new light. You’ll learn about his childhood in a country estate and how his upbringing there affected his philosophy, his work, and indeed the rest of the world. You’ll see how he was a radical ahead of his time, working tirelessly to make the world better for the poor. Finally, you will see his impact on Russia, and how his work and philosophy may have played a part in the Revolution, coming just seven years after his death.

About the Tutor

A.N. Wilson was born in 1950 and educated at Rugby and New College, Oxford. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he is one of the outstanding biographers of our time and a celebrated novelist. His novel, Winnie and Wolf, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. He is the author of The Victorians and The Mystery of Charles Dickens among many other titles. His autobiography Confessions was published by Bloomsbury Continuum in 2022 to critical acclaim. Follow him at anwilson@substack.com 

What you Get

On-demand videos: six video lessons to watch any time

Live online session (March 2025): “Meet the Tutor” with A.N. Wilson. Academy members were invited to ask Tolstoy’s biographer their own questions.  The recording of this session will be added as an extra lesson to the course.

Audio: listen to the lessons in podcast form

Notes: in your printable notes you’ll find lesson summaries, a reading list, and a biographical timeline of Tolstoy’s life and work

Exclusive course forum: chat and share your thoughts on the course with fellow Academy members

Quiz: test what you’ve learned with our fun multiple choice quiz

Certificate: when you pass the quiz you will be sent a personalised Idler Academy Certificate of Completion

Testimonials