The Death of Ivan Ilyich
by Leo Tolstoy

"So they lived. They moved in the best circles and their home was frequented by people of importance and by the young. There was complete accord between husband (Ivan Ilyich), wife and daughter about their circle of acquaintances....So they lived. Everything went on without change and everything was fine."

Ivan Ilyich is soon to find out that everything is not fine, and that change is inevitable. This tale is fascinating as it details Ivan's attempts to deal with a slowly progressing but fatal illness. Ivan's whole life is laid out for the reader's perusal, and as Ivan himself tries to understand his life, the reader watches as he is forced to come to terms with his death. This novel is a quick read that is unnerving and thoughtful...