Leo Tolstoy: The Great Russian Bear

Leo Tolstoy was a prolific writer and philosopher of Russian descent, known for his works of fiction including War and Peace and Anna Karenina. But did you know that he was also a vegetarian, a pacifist, and had a penchant for stripping down to his skivvies?

Born in 1828, Tolstoy was a member of the aristocratic Tolstoy family and spent his childhood on his family’s estate. He was a wild child, often getting into trouble and going on adventurous exploits through the Russian countryside. It was during these formative years that he developed his love for nature and his intense hatred of socks.

As an adult, Tolstoy became interested in religious and philosophical ideas, eventually turning to Christianity and the belief in non-violent resistance. This led him to become a vocal pacifist, much to the chagrin of his contemporaries who wanted to kick some serious Ottoman Empire butt.

In addition to his activism, Tolstoy also became a strict vegetarian, believing that killing animals was a sin against God’s creation. He even wrote a book called The First Step which advocated for vegetarianism and animal rights, though it did not sell well and was overshadowed by his more popular works.

But perhaps the most legendary aspect of Tolstoy’s life was his tendency to strip down to his underwear. He believed that clothing was a symbol of oppression, and often walked around in just his skivvies, much to the shock and/or delight of those around him.

Overall, Tolstoy was a fascinating, multi-faceted man who left a lasting impact on literature and philosophy. He may have been a bit weird, but then again, who isn’t?