1Tolstoy's exceptional account of the New Testament summarises the principles of Jesus Christ.

As well as being a renowned author, Leo Tolstoy was an avid reader and enthusiast of religion. His stories were commonly imbued with a spiritual element, and he would vest much energy in researching and absorbing the tenets of faith. To this end, he published numerous works surrounding his philosophy and religious beliefs.

The Gospel in Brief is a commentary of the New Testament. The chapter titles are modelled after The Lord's Prayer, with each chapter examining various points in Jesus Christ's life as well as the principles of faith which the Son of God spoke of. Concepts such as the Kingdom of God and how to avoid the many temptations inherent to life are examples of leading subjects.

Using his skills as a writer, Tolstoy ably and accurately relays the stories which Jesus tells his followers. Christ's allies and adversaries are mentioned, alongside their various interactions with Jesus. The summaries of Jesus Christ's preaching and arguments against those who would reject his exhortations of man are lucid, clear, and accessible.

This edition's translation to English is by Louise and Aylmer Maude, who were responsible and famous for translating many of Tolstoy's works. Together the pair helped to popularise Tolstoy's writings to Western audiences, themselves being great admirers of his work. Tolstoy himself, having read several of the Maudes' translations, praised their accuracy and tone.