Resurrection

Leo Tolstoy's "Resurrection," published in 1899, is a profound novel that delves into themes of guilt, redemption, and societal injustice. The narrative centers on a nobleman serving on a jury who is confronted with his past when he recognizes the defendant—a prostitute accused of murder—as a young woman he had seduced and abandoned years prior. Grappling with profound guilt, he embarks on a mission to assist her as she faces the harsh reality of exile to Siberia. This journey forces him to confront a hidden world of injustice, cruelty, and immense human suffering that exists beneath the veneer of his privileged life. Through this powerful story, Tolstoy critiques Russian society, its man-made laws, and the pervasive institutional hypocrisy, all while exploring one man's arduous search for spiritual and moral redemption.

Reading ease score: 71.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.