How Much Land Does a Man Need?

Russian author Leo Tolstoy published “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” in 1886, during the literary realist period. The short story follows Pahom, a Russian peasant who has been tempted by the devil into trying to acquire as much land as possible. Pahom’s growing greed leads him to forfeit everything, eventually even his own life. Though “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” can be read as a cautionary tale about the hazards of pride and greed, Tolstoy’s realist approach places Pahom’s journey within a relatable portrayal of everyday life—which renders the story’s lessons all the more convincing.