Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, born on September 9, 1828, into a noble Russian family, faced early loss with his mother's death at two and his father's at seven. Raised by relatives and tutors, he initially pursued Oriental languages at Kazan Univerity but later left without a degree. Returning to Yasnaya Polyana, his family estate, Tolstoy began a literary career with his first novel, ""Childhood"" (1852). Read More Read Less