The brother of the writer Leo Tolstoy was a source of inspiration for the great writer. The life of this man was full of passions and sorrowful mistakes.
Among his contemporaries, his amorous adventures, which ended in a wedding with a commoner, made him famous. The landowners, unfamiliar with the history of these relations, either shamed our hero, or did not hide their enthusiasm for his bold act. Only the younger brother could sympathize and describe the whole truth in his works.
Childhood
Seryozha became the second child born to Maria Volkonskaya in the marriage of Tolstoy. He was born in February 1826. After him, 2 more brothers and a sister appeared in the family. When the boy was 4 years old, his mother died. The father was depressed by the loss of his wife, he was not interested in raising children. All the worries about the kids fell on the shoulders of his relative Tatyana Ergolskaya.
From an early age, the heir to the count's family showed amazing intelligence. Mathematics and humanitarian subjects were easy for him. The child drew beautifully and played music. In appearance, Sergei resembled his father Nikolai - he was handsome and stately. He could reach heights in creativity, or make a career in science, but adults have corrupted his character, indulging in whims.
Youth
Wanting to start an independent adult life as soon as possible, Sergei Tolstoy went to Kazan and there he entered the local university. The choice of educational institution was not accidental - the great mathematician Nikolai Lobachevsky gave lectures there. It was interesting to study, but the idea that, having received a diploma, would have to look for a job, frightened the student. He dropped out of college, never getting an education, and enlisted in the army.
Our hero put on a guards uniform in 1849. A noble young man chose this particular branch of the army because he found a cheerful company among his colleagues. The guys littered with money and visited hot spots. Count Tolstoy preferred to visit taverns where gypsies performed. At one of these events, he met the wondrous beauty Maria Shishkina. After serving only one year, the gallant barbel resigned. Before leaving home, he visited the camp where Masha lived. The officer bought the talented singer from her relatives and took her with him.
Passion
In 1850 Sergei Tolstoy and his girlfriend arrived at the Pirogovo estate in the Tula province, which he inherited from his mother. lovers spent all the time together. In 1852, Seryozha had a reason to visit his younger brother Leo - he published the story "Childhood", where his relatives became the prototypes of all the characters. The retired officer went to visit the novice writer alone; it was indecent to take with him a mistress of low birth.
In his estate, the aristocrat actively implemented the ideals of democracy. He had little interest in the economy, which had a bad effect on the local stud farm and the vast fields that were in his possession. The only noble pastime that the former guardsman respected was hunting. Tolstoy did not host any of the aristocrats, so that they would not accidentally offend his beloved.
Two women
10 years later, there was a big holiday in Yasnaya Polyana - the owner married Sophia Bers. They walked widely, invited all the relatives to visit. Here Sergei met Tanya, the bride's sister. Love turned his head. He forgot that he was 20 years older than her, that children were waiting for him at home, and made an offer to Tatyana. The girl agreed and was surprised that the gentleman did not take her to the crown immediately. He suddenly began to doubt his feelings. Only 2 years later, Tanyusha learns the whole truth and tries to poison himself.
Sergei Tolstoy could not betray the love of his youth. He and Maria had four children, in whom he doted. He was very glad when he learned that Tanya, deceived by him, had married a certain Alexander Kuzminsky. Once he even saw her briefly. She nodded her head to him from a passing carriage, and the seducer did not find in her face the slightest sign of mental anguish. For this girl, everything that happened was just an adventure of early youth.
Family man
As time went on, our hero thought about the formalization of his relationship with the former singer. In 1867, the marriage of this couple was legalized. The joy was short-lived - the former serfs ceased to respect the master. Count Tolstoy became disillusioned with the ideals of equality of all people and regretted the change in order in the state. His wife also contributed to Sergei's dislike of commoners. She boasted of her new status, frequenting the church, where everyone could admire the gypsy countess.
The daughters of Sergei Tolstoy grew up and wanted to arrange their personal life themselves. Their father continued to lead a secluded life, therefore they did not know the nobles. So that the young ladies would not take it into their head to play cupids with the servants, their cunning daddy angrily ridiculed in their presence all the young people he hired to work. Nothing came of it - the eldest of the sisters, Vera, was taken away by the Bashkirs, and the youngest, Varya, fled with the cook. Only the mother's namesake, Masha, remained at home. When he got acquainted with the biography and views of her uncle, she went to Yasnaya Polyana and helped the writer in organizing the school. The son of Sergei Tolstoy grew up a drunkard.
Last years
It was unbearable for our hero to watch the collapse of all his romantic illusions. He did not find understanding among the people whom he recently considered the closest. Sergey began to visit his brother Lev more often, the old people argued for a long time, recalled the past. In 1904, the elder Tolstoy's health deteriorated, he had cancer. He died the same year.
