For people born into the Russian aristocracy
in the nineteenth century, life was full of interesting
opportunities—unless they were female. At the time,
women generally did not have careers, 1 who were
expected, instead, to focus fully on marrying and raising
families. Sophia Behrs was one such young woman. The
man she 2 married Leo Tolstoy was one of the world’s
greatest writers. When Sophia married Tolstoy, he was
already a well-known author. Both members of the couple
were literary in 3 its interests: Sophia had been a gifted
student and, even at a very young age, was a voracious and
sensitive reader. 4
[1] Sophia’s marriage to Leo gave her the opportunity
to put her abilities as a good reader to use, often advising
him on his work throughout the writing process. [2] She
served as her husband’s copyist (since this was before the
advent of the typewriter), writing out multiple copies of
his novels by hand. [3] She made suggestions for and edits
to his work, many of which were 5 inculcated into the
final product. [4] In addition, she served as his manager,
publicist, and agent, keeping track of the financial and legal
sides of her husband’s writing career. [5] She juggled these
many roles with grace and skill. [6] If Sophia were alive
today, she might have found her calling at a publishing
house or literary agency. 6
7 She wrote her own Russian-language grammar
textbook and translated texts from German and English.
She also 8 wrote fiction. Including a revision of Leo’s
novella The Kreutzer Sonata. In that story, a man recounts
the dramatic breakdown of his marriage; Sophia retold the
narrative from his wife’s point of view. The famous writer
was himself impressed by his wife’s literary talents. “What
force of truth and simplicity!” he wrote in his diary upon
reading one of her stories.
9 Furthermore, Sophia never sought publication for
her own work. Writing was not a pursuit that she took
10 seriously, rather, she regarded the whole enterprise
with “a certain contempt and irony.” 11 Sophia was
limited by personal modesty, her domestic duties, and the
expectations for women in her lifetime. She probably never
even considered seeking fame on her own account. Yet
Tolstoy would never have been able to produce the work he
did without Sophia’s vital contributions.
in the nineteenth century, life was full of interesting
opportunities—unless they were female. At the time,
women generally did not have careers, 1 who were
expected, instead, to focus fully on marrying and raising
families. Sophia Behrs was one such young woman. The
man she 2 married Leo Tolstoy was one of the world’s
greatest writers. When Sophia married Tolstoy, he was
already a well-known author. Both members of the couple
were literary in 3 its interests: Sophia had been a gifted
student and, even at a very young age, was a voracious and
sensitive reader. 4
[1] Sophia’s marriage to Leo gave her the opportunity
to put her abilities as a good reader to use, often advising
him on his work throughout the writing process. [2] She
served as her husband’s copyist (since this was before the
advent of the typewriter), writing out multiple copies of
his novels by hand. [3] She made suggestions for and edits
to his work, many of which were 5 inculcated into the
final product. [4] In addition, she served as his manager,
publicist, and agent, keeping track of the financial and legal
sides of her husband’s writing career. [5] She juggled these
many roles with grace and skill. [6] If Sophia were alive
today, she might have found her calling at a publishing
house or literary agency. 6
7 She wrote her own Russian-language grammar
textbook and translated texts from German and English.
She also 8 wrote fiction. Including a revision of Leo’s
novella The Kreutzer Sonata. In that story, a man recounts
the dramatic breakdown of his marriage; Sophia retold the
narrative from his wife’s point of view. The famous writer
was himself impressed by his wife’s literary talents. “What
force of truth and simplicity!” he wrote in his diary upon
reading one of her stories.
9 Furthermore, Sophia never sought publication for
her own work. Writing was not a pursuit that she took
10 seriously, rather, she regarded the whole enterprise
with “a certain contempt and irony.” 11 Sophia was
limited by personal modesty, her domestic duties, and the
expectations for women in her lifetime. She probably never
even considered seeking fame on her own account. Yet
Tolstoy would never have been able to produce the work he
did without Sophia’s vital contributions.