What is the title of Leo Tolstoy’s spiritual autobiography published in 1884?

Leo Tolstoy’s spiritual autobiography published in 1884 is titled A Confession.

The work describes the religious and philosophical crisis Tolstoy experienced after achieving literary fame. He explains how questions about death, suffering, and the purpose of life led him to reject the assumptions of his earlier aristocratic existence and search for meaning in faith and moral action.

Tolstoy began writing A Confession in the late 1870s. Russian authorities restricted its publication because of its criticism of established religious institutions and its unconventional interpretation of Christianity. It circulated in manuscript and foreign editions before appearing legally in Russia.

A Confession is often confused with Tolstoy’s later religious writings, including My Religion and The Kingdom of God Is Within You. Those books develop related ideas, but A Confession is the personal account of the spiritual journey that preceded them.