Fiction Reviews: A Confession (Tolstoy)

A Confession is an autobiographical story written by the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy in the year 1879 to 1880.

This story is about the impossibility of living without knowing a fundamental existential question:

"If God does not exist, since death is inevitable what is the meaning of life?"

At the age of eighteen years old Leo left university, not believing in what he learned.

Leo is anxious, conscious of the fact that to reply to his existential question is impossible.

He starts very deep research in every field to find a way able to reply to his question.

He discovers Solomon and Schopenhauer; he agrees with them about the inutility of human life.

His philosophical journey hits a wall discovering that there is no answer to the meaning of life.

Suicide is not the solution to have a clear vision on the purpose of his life.

The main reason to discover the meaning of his life is to have faith in God.