Sevastopol stories

Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy (1828-1910) was born in the estate of Yasnaya Polyana of the Tula province. He was the fourth child in a large noble family. His mother died when he was not yet two years old, and after a few years his father passed away. In 1843, Tolstoy entered Kazan University and studied two years at the Eastern Department and two at the legal.
In the spring of 1851, Lev Nikolayevich left for the Caucasus and became a junker of the artillery brigade. During this period, his literary activity began. In 1852, the magazine "Contemporary" printed the story "Childhood" - the first of the published works of the writer.
With the outbreak of Crimean war, Tolstoy transferred to the Danube Army, participated in the battles of Oltenitsa and Silistria.
"Sevastopol stories" of Tolstoy are devoted to the heroic defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War, whose participant was Lev Nikolaevich himself - then a young lieutenant. He fought on the famous 4th bastion and was awarded the Order of St. Anne for courage, medals "for the protection of Sevastopol" and "in memory of the war of 1853-1856." The siege of Sevastopol lasted more than six months. Tolstoy made notes on battles and army life. After the war, they were processed and received the name "Sevastopol Stories". Published in 1858. The collection consists of three stories, they describe different periods of defense of Sevastopol. Tolstoy tells both the courage and heroism of the defenders of the city, and the meaninglessness of the war, which is alien to human nature