Hajj Murad

Tolstoy wrote this novel in the last years of his life, during a period when he was suffering from the illness that led to his death. It has even been said that it appears as a stand he wished to take against injustice and to discuss the meaning of justice. On the other hand, the novel conveys Tolstoy's critical view of how Tsarist Russia dealt with the people of Dagestan. In this novel, as in "War and Peace," Tolstoy, while appreciating heroic qualities and rejecting injustice, seems to oppose the idea of annihilation for glory. Therefore, he portrays an inglorious end for that exemplary hero. And as in most of his works, he presents a picture of the entirety of Russian history, filled with wars, conspiracies, betrayals, and suffering as well. However, the core of this novel remains the life of that character, Hadji Murat, whom he depicted in an attractive and endearing manner, and the harsh life of the people of the Caucasus and the injustice they endure. Despite its small size, "Hadji Murat" has been considered one of Tolstoy's most beautiful masterpieces and received widespread acclaim from readers, even influencing Gandhi's idea of peaceful resistance. The renowned philosopher Wittgenstein, who admired it, said of it: "It has the coolness and clarity of a late work."