Topic: Leo Tolstoy

Chapter & Verse Boston marathon bombing: how it connects Tolstoy, David Foster Wallace

Echoes of one of Tolstoy's great works, inspired by the conflict between Russia and Chechnya, can be found in the final novel by David Foster Wallace.

Chechnya: How a remote Russian republic became linked with terrorism

The main suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing are two brothers from Chechnya, a Russian republic that has been the scene of cyclical revolts and brutal crackdowns for the past 200 years.

2013 Oscar nominations: 15 films that came from the printed page

The list of Oscar nominations features 15 movies that got their start in the world of words, from Snow White to a Tolstoy classic.

Jude Law in 'Anna Karenina' does well at box office as 'Breaking Dawn' breaks records

Jude Law stars in 'Anna Karenina,' which performed well in a limited release during Thanksgiving weekend.  'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2' had a boffo opening which ranks eighth on all-time debuts.

Leo Tolstoy: 10 quotes on his birthday

10 quotes from Leo Tolstoy, esteemed author of classic novels "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" 

Chapter & Verse Gore Vidal biography will be released in 2015

Vidal's close friend, author and academic Jay Parini, will write the biography.

Latin America Monitor Is it fair to rank 'failed' states?

Media outlets and think tanks like rankings because they inspire debate, but ranking failed states based on perceived failings is irresponsible, writes a guest blogger.

Chapter & Verse Keira Knightley is 'Anna Karenina' in a new trailer for the film

Director Joe Wright's adaptation of Russian classic Anna Karenina' is scheduled for release Nov. 9.

Chapter & Verse How fast can they write? E-books push writer productivity

A dozen books a year? Some writers are accelerating the pace in this brave new world of e-books.

My Russian

On a snowy night near Tolstoy's house, a tongue-tied American tries to summon the courage to converse.

Oscar nominations: 'Hugo' leads the way with 11

Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday morning and Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo' garnered 11, including best picture. Also nominated for an Oscar are 'The Artist,' The Descendants,' and 'The Help.'

What Oprah has done for books

Her impact on the book world was called the "Oprah Effect" for good reason – everything she touched became publishing gold.

Reader recommendation: My Reading Life

Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.

"William and Kate" books rush to press

"William and Kate" are magic names in publishing as a slew of insta-books rush to press, chronicling the love story of Britain's Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton.

My Reading Life

One of America’s most popular writers tells how the act of reading became his salvation.

The Best American Essays 2010

The essays in this year's anthology – edited by Christopher Hitchens – are both varied and bold.

Let Our Fame Be Great

Journalist Oliver Bullough delivers a detailed, moving history of the too often overlooked people of the Caucasus.

Love Ranch: movie review

Helen Mirren stars in 'Love Ranch,' a slow tawdry drama about a husband and wife who run a legalized brothel in 1970s Nevada.

Top Picks: 'The Last Station,' 'A Capitol Fourth,' Tanglewood, and more recommendations

'The Last Station,' featuring Christopher Plummer as Leo Tolstoy on DVD, PBS hosts 'A Capitol Fourth' from Washington D.C., the annual Tanglewood music festival begins, and more top picks.

Sophia Tolstoy: A Biography

Sophia Tolstoy spent a lifetime striving to be her husband’s keeper.

Best books for the next generation: Harry Potter – and "The 9/11 Commission Report"?

British readers had some unusual answers when asked what books they most wanted to pass on to the next generation.

The Last Station: movie review

In 'The Last Station,' Leo Tolstoy's domestic life and epic marriage is the story.

"Android Karenina": no end in sight to mash-up novels

Are mash-ups junk lit or do they drive young readers to the classics?

Ten best films of 2009

Uncovering some gems in an uneven year at the movies.

Mystery fans embrace a "new" Agatha Christie story