Tolstoy is a master storyteller. Besides his two famous novels Anna Karenina and War and Peace he also wrote numerous short stories and novellas. This compilation has six stories that focus on loss, powerty, unjust suffering, doubts in God's way with man, forgiveness and compassion.

The first one - and the longest - is also the best, Father Sergius. It's about a young man in the military with a promising career, who give up everything to become a monk, later a hermit and a pilgrim. But throughout his life he doubt's his way of life and the meaning of existence, believing he's a complete failure. It's a moving portrait. Also I liked The Prisoner of Caucuses which is an exhilarating escape-story and God Sees the Truth, but Waits about a man who is unjustly sentenced for a murder. Two of the stories work more like gospel-parables. They are moving, but very sentimental and too heavy on moral teaching.

The short stories have been compiled for an audiobook only edition - read by the always good Simon Vance. ( )