A new translation into modern American English directly from the original Russian manuscript. This edition contains an Afterword by the translator, a timeline of Tolstoy's life and works, and a glossary of philosophic terminology used throughout Tolstoy's literature and philosophy. Kreutzer Sonata (Крейцерова соната) (1889) is a novella written by Leo Tolstoy, inspired by the homonymous Beethoven violin sonata. The story revolves around the protagonist, Pozdnyshev, who recounts his tragic tale of jealousy, passion, and murder to a fellow passenger during a train journey. Pozdnyshev becomes consumed by jealousy and suspicion over his wife's supposed affair with a violinist who performs the Kreutzer Sonata. Tolstoy uses this narrative to explore the complexities of human relationships, societal conventions, and the destructive power of unchecked emotions, particularly jealousy and possessiveness. The novella's philosophical merit lies in Tolstoy's critique of marriage, his examination of the role of societal norms in shaping our understanding of love, and his exploration of the darker aspects of the human psyche.