Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828-1910)
On his health, and 'What is Art?'. 1902
Autograph letter signed ('L. Tolstoy') to Aylmer Maude, Yasnaya Polyana, 28 July 1902.

In Russian. One page, 111 x 179mm. Provenance: Christie’s New York, 7 June 1990, part of lot 130 (unsold) – with Heritage Book Shop, 2004.

'I am still very weak and very busy': on his health, and on changes to 'What is Art?'. 'What Loewenfeld says about the changes in W[hat] i[s] A[rt]? refers to the time before publication. After publication, I did not change anything. It goes without saying that I will be very glad to see you and in all likelihood I will be at home and alive. My health is comparatively better, but I am still very weak and very busy'.

Published from Tolstoy's retained copy (letterbook no.5, f.34). Tolstoy's opening statement clarifies a comment in an interview with his German translator Raphael Loewenfeld, that 'At the present time I am writing a few more additions [to What is Art?]'. Aylmer Maude (1858-1938) was Tolstoy's English translator (with his wife Louise) and biographer. He visited Yasnaya Polyana on 9-13 August 1902, only two weeks after the present letter.

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