http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201102140205.html
Japanese book explores mystery of Tolstoy's death.BY SHUNSUKE YAITA STAFF WRITER 2011/02/15
［photo］Artist Natalia Tolstaya, great-great-granddaughter of Leo Tolstoy, left, and Natalia Belaya, the wife of Russia's ambassador to Japan, hold books by Fumiko Davis. (Toshiyuki Takeya) Fumiko Davis
A Russian translation of a Japanese book pursuing the mystery surrounding the final years of Russian master novelist Leo Tolstoy will appear in bookstores in his home country this spring.
The original book, "Torusutoi-ke no Hakobune" (The Tolstoy family's ark), was written by Fumiko Davis, who is from Kita-Kyushu, and published by Gunzosha Publishing Co. in 2007.
The book caught the attention of the Russian Foreign Ministry, which published a Russian translation last year to mark the centennial of the writer's death.
To shed light on Tolstoy's abrupt departure from his home and his subsequent death at a remote railway station about a month later, Davis researched his family and others close to him, including his most faithful disciple, Vladimir Chertkov.
Davis' extensive research included diaries of Tolstoy's wife Sophia and his assistant, Valentin Blugakov, as well as a memoir by Tolstoy's youngest daughter Aleksandra.
The author traces Tolstoy's life through his battles with state and church authorities, his desire to abandon his wealth and his troubles with Sophia, who gave birth to 13 children.
Tolstoy, born in 1828, wrote numerous books, including the epic "War and Peace."
The relationship with Sophia became strained as she tried to control Tolstoy's copyrights, following his decision to release his work into the public domain.
Tolstoy left home in late autumn of 1910, but he died of pneumonia at Astapovo station at 82.
Publication of a Russian translation of "The Ark" was a project of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in Japan.
"'The Ark' was well-accepted in Japan and the book contains things not well known in Russia," said Natalia Belaya, the wife of the Russian ambassador to Japan, who contributed to the publication project. "I hope the book will attract many Russian readers."
The book was translated by Tatyana L. Sokolova-Delyusina, who is known for her translation of the 11th-century classic "The Tale of Genji."
The book was designed by Natalia Tolstaya, a great-great-granddaughter of Tolstoy. Tolstaya, 56, visited Japan late last year for an exhibition of her works to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tolstoy's death at Showa Women's University in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward.
"Many books written in the past read as if Tolstoy and Sophia did not get along well," she said. "But Davis understood Sophia's feelings and her contribution to cataloging Tolstoy's vast library."
Davis is a porcelain painter based in Singapore. After graduating from the Russian University of People's Friendship in Moscow in 1975, she married a U.S. trading firm employee.
From 1999 to 2002, she lived in Moscow, where she met Tolstaya, and had access to valuable resources that helped her write "The Ark."
Davis also translated a recollection of Japan by Aleksandra, who stayed in Japan before finding asylum in the United States.
A project is under way to make a joint Japan-Russia film based on Davis' and Aleksandra's books.
"Searching for Sophia's image from a woman's point of view, I found she was a hard-working, dutiful and intelligent mother," Davis said.
"Japan-Russia relations are shaky due to the disputed Northern Territories and other problems, but, in terms of culture, I hope my book will convey a sense of affinity and help promote friendship."
http://book.asahi.com/clip/TKY200702260290.html
「トルストイ家の箱舟」―文豪トルストイの家出の謎に迫る 2007年02月26日 竹谷俊之
文豪トルストイ（１８２８～１９１０）が生涯を閉じたのは、家出した旅先の小さな駅だった。世界から尊敬を集めながら８２歳にしての家出だけに、原因は様々に語られてきたが、最晩年の秘書が残した日記を軸に、トルストイ周辺で何がおきたのかを解き明かそうという『トルストイ家の箱舟』（群像社）を、シンガポール在住のふみ子・デイヴィスさんが出版した。
ふみ子さんは福岡県出身。９９年から３年間モスクワで生活した時にトルストイの子孫と出会ったのをきっかけに、家出の謎に関心を持って調べ始めた。
トルストイの家出をめぐっては、正宗白鳥と小林秀雄が３０年代に展開した「思想と実生活論争」が知られる。論争の中心は妻ソフィアだった。正宗が「人生救済の本家のように世界の識者から信頼されていたトルストイが、山の神を恐れ、世を恐れ、おどおどと家を抜け出て」と恐妻ゆえの家出であったと主張したのに対し、小林は「心が、『人生に対する抽象的煩悶（はんもん）』で燃えていなかったならば、山の神を怖（おそ）れる要もなかったであろう」と反論した。
最晩年の秘書、ブルガーコフは１９１０年１月に秘書となり、同年１１月のトルストイの家出や死に遭遇した。その日記は、川端香男里・川村学園女子大副学長（ロシア文学）によると研究者なら目を通す基礎文献だが、日本語に翻訳・出版されたことはないという。
日記によればトルストイの生活は規則正しい。一方来客は実に多い。作家や詩人が次々と訪れ、多くは数日間滞在する。近くの農民も、遠くからの信奉者もやってくる。「気が遠くなるほど。家族のプライバシーなどなかったにちがいない」とふみ子さんは見る。
家族にとって何より重荷だったのは、トルストイの思想だったようだ。トルストイとの間に１３人の子をもうけたソフィアは子育てと家事に追われるが、夫は平等で簡素な生活を心がけるとして、貴族の階級や財産を捨て、使用人も少ない。理想に生きる夫と、現実に直面せざるをえない妻とのギャップの大きさが浮かび上がってくる。
ソフィアの立場を「思想的につき従えない思索家との距離を、彼の世話を焼いてきた妻の立場にしがみついて埋めようとした」とふみ子さんは分析、「まれに見る献身的な良妻であり、情感豊かな優れた女性」と考える。ソフィアはソクラテスの妻と並んで悪妻の代名詞になったが、川端さんも「同時代の人たちには貞淑な賢夫人として知られていた。家出した時のヒステリーにばかり注目され、悪妻に仕立てられるのは後世のこと」という。
社会主義のソ連でトルストイの子孫がたどった過酷な運命も、ふみ子さんは追っている。偉大な思想は子孫にも重くのしかかっていたようだ。
トルストイ家の箱舟 朝日新聞２０１０年１２月２５日より
