LEV NIKOLÀEVIČ TOLSTÒJ
Scholarship 2025
Worth up to approximately $1,000, this scholarship is awarded for the best essay on the subject of Lev Tolstoy
Is Tolstoy the greatest writer of all time?
Lev Nikolàevič Tolstòj is considered one of the giants of Russian literature. His exploration never extends beyond what is directly perceptible to ordinary mortals, yet he responds more intensely than ordinary mortals to the appeal of beings and things. Instead of drawing us closer to the Beyond, he brings us nearer to the Here-and-Now. He observes a piece of carrion as attentively as a flower. The fatigue in the eyes of an aged horse is as significant to him for understanding the universe as the fatuous conceit shining in a captain’s face.
The paradox lies in his pantheistic process of creation, which binds together the pure and the impure, the great and the small, the beautiful and the ugly, the animate and the inanimate. This process suffuses his entire work with the majesty of a second genesis.
How to Apply
Write an essay (max 30.000 characters) in any language on the following prompt:'Explore the intricate threads of human nature, morality, and societal upheaval in Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace. How do the characters navigate the chaos of war and the quest for personal meaning? Analyze Tolstoy's portrayal of love, power, and the human condition, and discuss the enduring relevance of these themes in today's world
Elegibility
There is no age limit to participate. The contest is open only to individuals who have not professionally published an essay on the same topic. Professional publication is defined as receiving payment and achieving either a circulation of at least 5,000 copies or 5,000 online hits
Send Us your Essay
Send us your essay in PDF format by November 20th, 2025, to the following email address: info@torflrussian.com
“What is bad? What is good? What should one love, what hate? Why live, and what am I? What is lie,what is death? What power rules over everything?" he asked himself. And there was no answer to any of these questions except one, which was not logical and was not at all an answer to these questions. This answer was: "You will die--and everything will end. You will die and learn everything--or stop asking.”
Lev Tolstòj, War and Peace
Important Dates
20 November 2025
Applications closes
11 December 2025
Winner Announced
14 December 2025
$1000 Prize Allocation
When will I Know the outcome?
Applicants will be notified of the outcome via email within 6-8 days after the winner is announced
Selection Criteria
50% Social Media Engagement
Participants who receive a high number of Facebook shares and Instagram tags (#TORFLContest) will increase their chances of winning by showcasing their popularity among social media users.
50% Jury Evaluation
Our panel of jurors, consisting of professional writers and novelists, will assess the essays based on:
-
Quality of the Essay
-
Writing Skills
What are the benefits?
A prize of up to $1,000