The Kreutzer Sonata

Leo Tolstoy · 1828–1910 · Russia

Originally Kreytserova Sonata (Russian)

Why it matters

A man confesses on a night train to murdering his wife in a jealous rage, unspooling a scalding indictment of marriage, lust, and the sexes' mutual contempt. So scandalous it was banned by Russian censors on first release.

At a glance

A short, feverish first-person confession, though its sexual frankness and misogyny unsettle.