Sevastopol in December

work by Tolstoy

Also known as: “Sevastopol v dekabre mesyatse”

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July 13, 2026

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In December 1854, during the Crimean War, Leo Tolstoy published "Sevastopol in December," the first of three sketches detailing the Siege of Sevastopol. Sevastopol, a vital Russian naval base on the Crimean Peninsula, endured a lengthy siege by Anglo-French forces from October 1854 to September 1855. Tolstoy's sketch, written from the perspective of a tour guide, focuses on the bravery of ordinary soldiers and explores themes of truth and the morality of observing suffering. This work, along with his other Sevastopol sketches, marked an early stage in Tolstoy's literary career and his experimentation with narrative forms.123

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Leo Tolstoy
First publications of Leo Tolstoy
…“Sevastopol v dekabre mesyatse” (“Sevastopol in December”), “Sevastopol v maye” (“Sevastopol in May”), and “Sevastopol v avguste 1855 goda” (“Sevastopol in August”; all published 1855–56). The first sketch, which deals with the courage of simple soldiers, was praised by the tsar. Written in the second person as if it…
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…“Sevastopol v dekabre mesyatse” (“Sevastopol in December”), “Sevastopol v maye” (“Sevastopol in May”), and “Sevastopol v avguste 1855 goda” (“Sevastopol in August”; all published 1855–56). The first sketch, which deals with the courage of simple soldiers, was praised by the tsar. Written in the second person as if it…
Read More