Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy has been wished a happy 186th birthday by today’s Google Doodle.

Tolstoy was born on 9 September 1828 and died from pneumonia at Astapovo train station aged 82 in 1910.

The slideshow doodle begins with an image of a bearded Tolstoy busy writing at his desk by candlelight before presenting scenes from his most famous works, including War and Peace, Anna Karenina and The Death of Ivan Ilyich.

Tolstoy's epic War and Peace is widely regarded as one of the most important works of literature.

It tells of the events surrounding France’s 1812 invasion of Russia and documents life in the Tsarist society of the Napoleonic years through the eyes of five Russian upper class families.

War and Peace features in the Leo Tolstoy Google Doodle (Google)

Tolstoy’s other great novel, Anna Karenina, follows the tragic life of married socialite Anna and her affair with the wealthy Count Vronsky.

Anna grows increasingly paranoid and insecure that Vronsky will prove unfaithful, while issues such as politics, religion, gender and social class are all explored in detail.

A scene from Anna Karenina in the Leo Tolstoy Google Doodle (Google)

Tolstoy’s books are known for being long and complex to read, while the author’s own complicated and extreme moralistic views also proved influential.

Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Show all 7 1 /7 Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Keira Knightley stars in the most recent 2012 British adaptation Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Greta Garbo stars as Anna Karenina alongside John Gilbert in the 1935 film Corbis Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Actresses who have played Anna Karenina French actress Sophie Marceau stars as Anna Karenina in the 1997 film, the first American version filmed entirely in Russia Corbis Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Vivien Leigh and Kieron Moore star in a 1948 adaptation of Anna Karenina Corbis Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Helen McCrory and Kevin McKid star in the 2001 Channel 4 mini-series Anna Karenina Channel 4 Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Nicola Pagett stars in the ten-episode BBC series of Anna Karenina in 1977 BBC Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Actresses who have played Anna Karenina Jacqueline Bisset played Anna Karenina in the 1985 US TV movie Rex