The power of darkness: a drama in five acts

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (9th September 1828 - 20th November 1910) was born into a well known Russian family of nobility who was brought up by relatives following his parents death when he was very young.

Described by his teachers at university as 'unable and unwilling to learn' he abandoned all formal education and after running up gambling debts joined the army with his older brother.

Here he started writing and had a moral and spiritual awakening that transformed him from the privileged aristocrat to a social reformer leading the life of an ascetic peasant.

Later still, his interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus made him a fervent Christian anarchist and pacifist.