Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born on the 28th of August, 1828 on his family's estate, Yasnaya Polyana, Russia. He was baptized Orthodox into a wealthy family. His parents were Nikolia Llyich and Mayra Nikolayevna Volkonski Tolstoy. Leo had four siblings. Of the eldest were, Nikolai, Sergei, and Dimitri. He had only one younger sibling, his sister, Mayra. Leo was most found of his oldest brother, Nikolai. Leo's sister Mayra grew up and became a nun for the church.
    When Leo was a two years old his mother died. There were no pictures of her so growing up he had no way of remembering her. At the age of nine he moved to Mosscow with his family. They had to live among the poor, well because they were too. But the family returned each summer to their estate. Shortly after the move his father died (murdered). At that time his grandmother took him in and took care of him. But then his grandmother died too. These two deaths of close family members caused him to think seriously about death and happiness. Tolstoy and his siblings were laft as orphans. Tolstoy went to live with his aunt in Kazan. He lived there for the next four years.
    Tolstoy was always self conscience about the way he looked. So to try to fix this insecurity he took up gymnastics in hopes of becoming "the strongest man in the world". Tolstoy was a very shy person. So his conclusion to this was to become obnoxiosly loud. His university days were tough on him. His aunt conviced him take an intrance exam, which he failed the first time. Tolstoy went to Kazan University. He studied language then law. But neither held his interest for to long. He was inspired by French philosopherJean Jacques Rousseau. In 1847 he left the college without a degree.The next four years of his life he did very little. He tried to free the serfs from Yasnaya Polyana, but through their suspisions they rejected him. He then left for St. Petersburg, were he began to write.