Power of Darkness
by Leo Tolstoy
The Power of Darkness is a five-act play by Leo Tolstoy, written in 1886 and published in 1887. A grim drama of Russian peasant life, it was banned from the Russian stage until 1902, though André Antoine staged it in Paris in 1888.
- Editions tracked
- 1
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- Absolute Classics1989 Paperback I own The Power of Darkness, or If a Claw Is Caught, the Bird Is Lost, Absolute Classics 1989 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- The Power of Darkness film, 1918
- Die Macht der Finsternis stage play
- The power of darkness stage play
In print
- Editions recorded
- 53 on Open Library, 44 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 13 languages
- Free to read
- Project Gutenberg (out of copyright in the US)
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Leo Tolstoy
Questions about Power of Darkness
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Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of Power of Darkness are there?
We track 1 edition of Power of Darkness. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has Power of Darkness been adapted?
Yes, including Die Macht der Finsternis (stage play), The power of darkness (stage play), The Power of Darkness (film, 1918), according to Wikidata.
When was Power of Darkness first published?
Power of Darkness by Leo Tolstoy was first published in 1887.
Can I read Power of Darkness for free?
Yes: the text is out of copyright in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg. Collectors still pay for the first edition, which is the physical object, not the words.
Where these facts come from
- The Power of Darkness, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Power of Darkness (Q1214669), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
- Vlastʹ tʹmy editions, Open Library (openlibrary.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 28 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.