Family Happiness

Family Happiness
Leo Tolstoy — New 2023 Translation

Format: Paperback
Pages: 124
Date of Release: 1859

Family Happiness (1859) is one of Leo Tolstoy’s most intimate and psychologically nuanced works, offering a quiet yet powerful exploration of love, marriage, and emotional fulfillment. Told through the eyes of the young and perceptive Masha, the novella traces her romantic awakening, marriage to the older Sergey, and the gradual evolution of their relationship as idealism gives way to lived reality.

With remarkable sensitivity, Tolstoy examines the fragile balance between passion and companionship, individuality and commitment. The story delves into the challenges of an age-gap marriage, the shifting expectations of domestic life, and the question that lies at the heart of the novella: what does lasting happiness truly mean? Rather than dramatic conflict, Tolstoy focuses on inner change—how maturity, self-awareness, and emotional growth shape both love and contentment.

This 2023 translation, rendered into modern American English directly from the original Russian manuscript, makes Tolstoy’s prose especially accessible to contemporary readers while preserving its philosophical depth. The edition includes a thoughtful afterword by the translator, a detailed timeline of Tolstoy’s life and works, and a helpful glossary of philosophical terms, enriching the reading experience and contextual understanding.

Elegant, reflective, and deeply human, Family Happiness is an essential read for admirers of classic literature, relationship-focused fiction, and Tolstoy’s profound insights into the emotional lives of ordinary people.

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