Leo Tolstoy was a renowned Russian author, best known for his epic novels "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina," which are considered masterpieces of world literature. Born in 1828 into an aristocratic family, Tolstoy's early works reflected his experiences in the Russian army, culminating in his semi-autobiographical "Sevastopol Sketches." His later years were marked by a deep spiritual and philosophical transformation, during which he embraced pacifism, Christian anarchism, and social reform, influencing his nonfiction works, including "The Kingdom of God is Within You." Tolstoy's ideas on nonviolent resistance profoundly impacted figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.