'The Death of Ivan Ilyich'

This novella by the great Leo Tolstoy brings up some very interesting points.

For one, Ivan Ilyich's death is entirely more interesting than his death.

Two, it's interesting that Christian folks embrace "The Death ..." because of the conversion near the end, just before our hero expires. Why is it interesting? Because I can't imagine Christians ever reading anything remotely interesting and good. Oh, and that I don't find it odd that knocking on death's door that a person (even an athiest) doesn't hedge his bets on an afterlife ... no matter how insincere the conversion is.

Three, how different does this story end if it's set in 1982 or 2002 or 2008? Chances are, Ilyich died of something dumb. Had he lived in the modern age where prevention and detection are so advanced, Ilyich probably lives for another 40 years. Of course, he would've been so miserable. He's probably better off.