Russia by Donna Welles

News Analysis and Opinion by a Fluent Young American

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Tolstoy’s ‘The Death of Ivan Illych’

August 31st, 2008 · No Comments

    
     In Russian Ivan is John and Ilya is Elijah. His dad’s name is Elijah, so it’s necisarily his middle name. I always thought that was an interesting biblical reference, Elijah is the old school version of telling people what’s what and John the apostle is known as the evangelist. Tolstoy always has a reason [...]

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Tags: Culture · Literature