Leo Tolstoy lived with his first and only wife for 48 long years. It was Sofya Andreevna who rewrote his endless manuscripts, and after the death of the writer, she resolved issues with their publication.
Today, fans of Lev Tolstov's work often note that his wife was too mundane and could not fully understand and accept the subtle nature of her talented husband. But not everyone knows that Sofya Andreevna was at the same time a wonderful caring wife, a loving mother and a faithful assistant to the writer. And her earthiness can be easily explained: when Lev Nikolaevich suddenly decided to give all his money to the poor, it was his wife who needed to think about how to feed 13 children …
Future Countess Tolstaya
Sova Andreevna permanently lived with her family in Moscow, but from time to time she also went to the Tula estate, which was located not far from Krasnaya Polyana. It was there that, as a little girl, she met her future husband. The count was friends with Sophia's older brother and, on the whole, was well into the family.
The girl received an excellent education. She studied at home with the best teachers in the capital. Parents from early childhood instilled in Sophia a love of literature and history. Later, she even received a teacher's diploma and was able to teach students at home. The hobby of Tolstoy's future wife was writing stories. Later, Lev Nikolayevich himself noted that her works turned out to be very talented.
Once, after a long absence, Tolstoy returned to Moscow and visited the family of Sophia Bers. There he saw not a little girl with whom he had once played merrily in the yard, but a beautiful adult girl. At that time, the count had already built a successful career - not only in writing, but also in the military. The Bers family understood: Lev Nikolaevich was planning to marry one of their daughters. But then they were sure that the eldest, Elizabeth, would become the writer’s choice. The groom himself also doubted for some time which girl to choose. But in the end, Sophia finally conquered him with her beauty, sharp mind and literary talent.
Happy years
Before asking Sophia's parents for her hand, Lev Nikolaevich wrote a letter to the girl herself and asked if she was ready to become his wife. Tolstoy told the chosen one that he was very afraid of being an unloved husband. Sophia replied that she agreed to link her life with the count. Even then, she was in love with a family friend and secretly hoped that his signs of attention would lead to a marriage proposal. Only after the consent of the chosen one, Lev Nikolaevich came to the house of Bers and announced his intention to marry Sophia. The girl's parents blessed the couple.
The writer immediately gave his future wife to read a personal diary, in which he honestly told about his love for gambling and passionate young ladies. So Sophia found out that Tolstoy had a relationship with a peasant girl who gave birth to him a child, and about other novels. All this frightened the bride, but did not change her decision to become the count's wife.
The wedding took place a few days after the engagement. This was the decision of Lev Nikolaevich himself. He urged the bride, her family, and everyone around him in every possible way. Then it seemed to Tolstoy that he had found the very life partner he had dreamed of for many years and who would support him in everything.
An 18-year-old girl for the sake of her beloved husband gave up life in Moscow, balls, social receptions, expensive dresses. Soon after the wedding, Sofya Andreevna moved after her husband to his country estate. Gradually, the girl got used to life in the village and learned how to farm. She, at the request of her husband, took up solving the problems of peasants from the surrounding villages and even dealt with their treatment. During the years of marriage, the couple had 13 children. True, 5 of them did not live up to adulthood.
Difficult period
The first two decades passed smoothly and happily. But gradually, the spouses accumulated resentment against each other. Sofya Andreevna devoted all of herself to her husband and his work, and in return did not feel gratitude. Lev Nikolaevich with each new work went deeper and deeper into himself and plunged into depression. He expected his wife to share all his views and accept any innovations. For example, Tolstoy urged the family to give up meat, expensive quality clothing and any excesses. He tried to do everything necessary for life with his own hands. And he intended to distribute the acquired property to the poor. His wife with difficulty dissuaded Lev Nikolaevich from this reckless step. After all, their children were growing up, and the woman understood that she needed to think about their future. On this basis, the spouses had their first serious scandal.
Further, relations in the family only worsened. Sofia Andreevna during this period took up music and fell in love with the teacher. Her romance with Alexander Taneyev was extremely platonic, but the jealous Tolstoy could not forgive his wife. After another scandal, the count left home. He wrote to his wife that he still loves her, but he can no longer live together. On the way, he fell ill with pneumonia and died.
Tolstaya outlived her spouse by almost 10 years. All this time she was engaged in the publication of Lev Nikolaevich's diaries and nursed her grandchildren.
