Question about Tolstoy

[Psycheinaboat]

The other evening I finished reading Tolstoy's Family Happiness and came to this site to read a little about Tolstoy and look at his other works.

It was my understanding that Tolstoy had only twelve children with his wife, Sonya, and that his thirteenth child was illegitimate and by someone else. This is really no big deal, but according to your info. on Tolstoy all thirteen children were by his wife, Sonya.

It is to satisfy my own curiosity that I ask, and please do not think me carping about Lit. Network. I love this site!

[rachel]

what a thrill to see you online PIAB. I MISSED YOU TONS .

If Leo did have an illigitimate child I can only think it was before his time with his wife because he did have relationships with some of his peasant workers. But I always thought he had thirteen with his wife.
Now I am very intrigued. Where did you read this, how can I access this information?

[lavendar1]

I think a relationship Tolstoy had with a married peasant woman about four years before he married Sonja Behrs produced an illegitimate son. Whether the thirteen children most accounts say he fathered includes that son, I'm not sure.