Based on historical events, Tolstoy’s beloved final novella tells the story of the rebel leader Hadji Murat―whom Tolstoy described as “the leading daredevil of the Caucasus”―and of the precarious alliance he forged with his enemies during his final days. Set during the Russian conquest of the Caucasus in the 1850s and expressing empathy for the resistance of the native peoples of Dagestan and Chechnya, Hadji Murat raises significant questions of power, imperialism, and betrayal, and remains moving and relevant today. This richly annotated edition features a selection of illuminating background materials that help situate the novella in its historical and literary context.