The Death of Ivan Ilyich Audiobook By Leo Tolstoy cover art

The Death of Ivan Ilyich

A Leo Tolstoy Short Story

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The Death of Ivan Ilyich

By: Leo Tolstoy
Narrated by: Bill DeWees
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The brilliance of this story is in how a normal bureaucrat, a judge in this case, has a small accident that winds up gradually taking his life. As he deals with this incident, with hope at first and then despair, he comes to terms with his family, his life, and the mediocrities that we all suffer with, except for the exceptional few. This story rings a particularly poignant note for those in early middle age facing the next part of their lives. This story is considered Tolstoy's best.

Public Domain (P)2011 Christina Brown Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Psychological Short Story
Profound Reflection • Insightful Classic • Natural Narration • Excellent Writing • Powerful Message
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I've listened to the “Death of Ivan Illyich” several times and every listen gives me a new prospective in the process of dying and death. Not just the dying of an individual, but the accurate feelings, needs and self protecting aspects of those around the dying. It’s marvelous how Leo Tolstoy taps into the truth of the human heart.

Made Me Think and Sometimes Shutter

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Would you try another book from Leo Tolstoy and/or Bill DeWees?

The only saving grace for this Audio book is the story itself. Bill DeWees is awful and lifeless. For a period of time I thought it was a computer generated voice and then realized it was a person. I struggled to listen to this lifeless narration.

The narrator almost makes listening impossible...

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Everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime. I just hope I don't feel the same way when I go.

I spent five minutes motionless after it finished.

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Leo Tolstoy is one of the greatest writers of all times ... this book is very unique ... through a smiple but incridably well written story all the questions of life, death, right and wrong are raised and challanged...

A masterpiece

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Everyone alive will, at some point, ponder death.
This prepares you for that discussion with yourself!

Must read/ listen

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This is an excellent collection of Tolstoy's stories. The narration leaves much to be desired.

Excellent Tolstoy. Poor narration.

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What did you like best about this story?

The insights into characters' thoughts and feelings behind the events.

Would you be willing to try another one of Bill DeWees’s performances?

No. He read mechanically, like a kid in a highschool drama performance, but with no teacher to correct his pronunciation. Laughably bad French and embarrassing English.

Distracting narrator

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The story of the decent from vitality to denial to acceptance to embracing the finality of death. A short read but very moving look at one man's fight against the mortal coil. Another great book by Tolstoy.

Embracing death

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Started out a little difficult to follow/slow, but picked up pace nicely. Narrator was ok. It's a great read for end of life as well as terminal illness. I came to this book after reading Being Mortal. I work in hospice and this is an interesting narrative on what end of life is like for my patients.

Great end of life read. Death comes to us all.

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Profound what enslaved us will not provide the thought of a life well lived The work and consume way of life is a hollow life at the end Tolstoy is spot on

A must read.

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