The Death of Ivan Ilyitch is a novella by Leo Tolstoy written not long after his religious awakening in the late 1870’s and first published in 1886. It is considered one of the masterpieces of his late fiction and one of the best examples of the novella form.  Ivan Ilyitch is an ambitious and highly regarded official of the Court of Justice described as “an intelligent, polished, lively and agreeable man”.  His wife is described as self-absorbed and unsympathetic to her husband, who finds her too demanding and seeks refuge in his work as his family life becomes unfulfilling. He falls accidentally one day, injuring his side, and slowly begins to suffer from an increasing pain. He becomes irritable and finally visits a physician, who cannot pinpoint the problem.  He tries every remedy he can, but to no avail. The pain forces him to stop working and take to his bed, where he begins a long and winding meditation as he grapples with his fate and its meanings. He comes to hate his family, who offer little solace, pretending he is only sick, not dying. Only his young peasant servant offers sympathy and genuine compassion.  He comes to see his life as artificial, self-centered and devoid of much true connection, in contrast to the authentic life of his servant.  In his last days he feels “some force” strike him and is brought into a bright light. His hate for his family turns to pity, his fear of death departs, and somehow even death itself disappears.