Until his health deteriorates, an unreflective St. Petersburg judge lives a carefree life. Learning that his death is imminent, he learns to face his mortality without fear and yet feel compassion for the family he is leaving behind. The result is a strong testament to finding spiritual salvation. A short novel by the author of War and Peace. Winner of a Listen Up award from Publishers Weekly. "In the lovely, low tones of a fine storyteller, [Davies] guides us through the stages of Tolstoy's mini-masterpiece."—Publishers Weekly