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Sergei L'vovich Tolstoy Sergei Tolstoy was born on the 28th. of June, 1863, at Yasnaya Polyana. He was the first child of Count Leo Tolstoy and his wife Sophia Tolstoy (nee Behrs). From his childhood he experienced the profound influence of his father, Leo Tolstoy, who at one period taught him mathematics. This was followed by other teachers, some of them exceptional in his early childhood Sergei showed a musical gift, later he completed his musical education at the Moscow conservatoire.
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In 1881 Sergei he completed his studies at the Tula Grammar school and entered the Department of Physics and Mathematics of the Moscow University, from which he graduated in 1886 with the degree of a Candidate.
Sergei was fluent in English, French, and German.
After 1906 Sergei lived in Moscow for the most part. After Leo Tolstoy's death, Sergei took an active part in the organization of the Tolstoy Museum in Moscow. He was one of the editors of the 90-volume edition of L. N. Tolstoy Collected Works.
Sergei was a talented musician, composed songs on the poems of Robert Burns, and Rabindranath Tagore, and taught music at the Moscow Conservatoire.
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As were all of Leo Tolstoy's children, he was a gifted writer, and wrote a story which was approved by his father. At the end of his life he finished a major book of recollections 'Sketches of the Past". In 1943, on his 80th anniversary, Sergei received an award from the Soviet Government - Order of The Red Banner. |
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Sergei Tolstoy called the period of his life, when he helped the Doukhobors in their emigration, the most significant one. In 1898 Leo Tolstoy advised Sergei to assist the Doukhobors' resettlement to Canada. He was 35, and disappointed in his work and his marriage. |
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He dedicated all of his energy to the Doukhobor task. At that period he was very close to his father. In his diary Leo Tolstoy noted how Sergei was "so close to him by heart and deed".
Sergei accompanied the Doukhobors to Canada with some other friends - Prince Dmitry Khilkov, Maria Sats, Efrosin'ia Khir'iakova, Maria Cherkovich, and Leopol'd Sulerzhitsky. In the conclusion of his book, he wrote: "I am happy that I have spent almost six months with the Doukhobors and have come to know them. And not only do I not regret having participated in their emigration, but I am proud to have had at least a small part in bringing it about. It is a pity that these good people have left Russia, but their emigration was unavoidable. Naturally, the first years of their life in Canada will be very difficult but their future is assured"
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After reaching an accord with the Russian authorities for the Doukhobors to emigrate to Canada, writer Lev (Leo) Tolstoy asked his eldest son Sergej to accompany one of the first boatloads. On 4 January 1899 Sergej L. Tolstoy sailed from the Black Sea port of Batun aboard the S. S. Lake Superior bound for Halifax, escorting some 2,300 Doukhobors to their promised new land. Here they attempted to fulfil their hopes for a freer life unencumbered by the surveillance and religious persecution of the past. It was a journey of hardship (more than 20 people died during the move) and endurance (weeks of waiting in quarantine off the Nova Scotia coast). But it was also one of excitement-as the Doukhobors finally boarded the convoy of six special trains to the west, and began the adventure of opening up the Canadian prairie frontierland at the turn of the century. |
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Edited
by Andrew Donskov
Compiled by Tat'jana Nikiforova Translation from the Russian by John Woodsworth Published by the Slavic Research Group at the University of Ottawa and the L.N. Tolstoy Museum, Moscow. |
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After reaching an accord with the Russian authorities for the Doukhobors to emigrate to Canada, writer Lev (Leo) Tolstoy asked his eldest son Sergej to accompany one of the first boatloads. On 4 January 1899 Sergej L. Tolstoy sailed from the Black Sea port of Batun aboard the S. S. Lake Superior bound for Halifax, escorting some 2,300 Doukhobors to their promised new land. Here they attempted to fulfil their hopes for a freer life unencumbered by the surveillance and religious persecution of the past. It was a journey of hardship (more than 20 people died during the move) and endurance (weeks of waiting in quarantine off the Nova Scotia coast). |
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But it was also one of excitement-as the Doukhobors finally boarded the convoy of six special trains to the west, and began the adventure of opening up the Canadian prairie frontierland at the turn of the century. (Aside from the many of the artifacts that can be viewed such as drawings, photographs and manuscripts within the Tolstoy Exhibit, Sergei Tolstoy's book, A Journey to Canada; can be purchased at the Museum). |
All this is vividly described by Sergej Tolstoy - along with his own experience of self-discovery in the process - in his Diary and Letters home. These are published here in their original Russian and English translation (both for the first time), together with letters by friends and officials on either side of the Atlantic.