The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Leo Tolstoy, Four Stars

A dark but enjoyable short story. In some ways, it prefigures Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis but without the absurdity. It certainly gives a peek under the genial and polite skin friends and family wear around one another and portrays perhaps a darker more selfish reality underneath. It also serves as a warning about the vanity and pointlessness of much in this life, and perhaps a reminder to consider final things at least once in awhile while engaging in the day-to-day rat race. I often find the short stories of authors who otherwise write lengthier ones are sometimes their best works, and this was certainly not a disappointment. More than just a good read!