Throughout his life, Leo Tolstoy demonstrated a fascination for Americans, a feeling that was avidly reciprocated in the United States. Although Tolstoy was never able to come to America, during his lifetime he was visited at his home in Russia by a number of Americans including writers, journalists, ambassadors, professors and tourists.

Many wrote about the conversations they had with the great Russian novelist. This volume gathers together 30 recollections of such conversations, all originally published in periodicals from 1887 through 1923. A brief introduction to each piece introduces the author of the narrative with concise biographical information, and a bibliographical note indicates the time and place of original publication.