[Levin]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

"He makes observations about others, he gets frustrated by his brother's mistakes, he's confused by the reckless and passionate decisions of others," but he's not judgmental? LOL.

He doesn't understand them; he doesn't get them; but he doesn't sit in judgment of them. If anything, he yearns to fit in and belong with them.

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Self-aware and not indifferent to his serfs? He congratulated himself for picking up a spade and spending a few hours with the serfs every now and then, but then he went out of the sun and ate his gourmet meals and slept in his good bed. Why didn't he give land to them? Make them fee simple owners? He inherited the land and essentially employed slave labor. They had as much claim to it as him; their ancestors were the slaves of Levin's ancestors. People like Levin helped bring on Lenin.

You'd be a terrible historian. I'd hate to read the biography you'd write on any person who happened to live before you. Levin was the George Washington of his time, but based on your response you probably think President Washington "helped bring on Lenin." LOL.

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

I read every word of the book closely, but if I had an urge to scan or skim it was during Levin's internal monologues.

Speaks volumes, and you missed what Tolstoy wanted to give you most: himself.