Leo Tolstoy, author portrait
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Leo Tolstoy

Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born into the Russian aristocracy in 1828. After a licentious youth, he joined the army to serve in the Crimean War. It proved the inspiration for some of his greatest writing, including War and Peace. After the war Tolstoy married Sofia Behrs and returned to the family estate, where he fathered 13 children, ran a school for young peasants, and wrote Anna Karenina. In 1879, Tolstoy underwent a spiritual crisis, and denounced the Orthodox Church, private property, and the demands of the flesh. His extreme asceticism caused decades-long tension with his wife. In 1910, after an argument with her, he died while fleeing the estate.
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Books

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Three Penguin Random House Authors Win Pulitzer Prizes

On Monday, May 5, three Penguin Random House authors were honored with a Pulitzer Prize. Established in 1917, the Pulitzer Prizes are the most prestigious awards in American letters. To date, PRH has 143 Pulitzer Prize winners, including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Josh Steinbeck, Ron Chernow, Anne Applebaum, Colson Whitehead, and many more. Take a look at our 2025 Pulitzer Prize

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Books for LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

In June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. Pride Month is a time to both celebrate the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the ongoing struggles faced by many across the world who wish to live

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