Devin Katayama

Now it's time to talk face to face. Metchnikov had minds. Now he needed hearts. At Tolstoy's estate, Metchnikoff notes its simplicity. The furniture functional but old, any airs of luxury done away with. Tolstoy, 80, with a white flowing beard and white shirt, bounces down the stairs full of energy.

The two spend the day together, debating science versus religion, debating as they ride in a carriage, debating after listening to Piano Works by Chopin, debating over tea,

The two spend the day together, debating science versus religion, debating as they ride in a carriage, debating after listening to Piano Works by Chopin, debating over tea,

The two spend the day together, debating science versus religion, debating as they ride in a carriage, debating after listening to Piano Works by Chopin, debating over tea,

For Metchnikov, science and reasoning always key. For Tolstoy, morals above all.

For Metchnikov, science and reasoning always key. For Tolstoy, morals above all.

For Metchnikov, science and reasoning always key. For Tolstoy, morals above all.

Tolstoy and Menshnikov's dispute of science versus religion fit into this larger European debate at the time over how to view and improve life.

Tolstoy and Menshnikov's dispute of science versus religion fit into this larger European debate at the time over how to view and improve life.

Tolstoy and Menshnikov's dispute of science versus religion fit into this larger European debate at the time over how to view and improve life.

For Tolstoy, the answer was no. So morality, love, and faith in the here and now was the most important. But Metchnikov, an optimist, saw things differently. In headlines, the New York Times had crowned him the apostle of optimism. But of course, he continued to age.

For Tolstoy, the answer was no. So morality, love, and faith in the here and now was the most important. But Metchnikov, an optimist, saw things differently. In headlines, the New York Times had crowned him the apostle of optimism. But of course, he continued to age.

For Tolstoy, the answer was no. So morality, love, and faith in the here and now was the most important. But Metchnikov, an optimist, saw things differently. In headlines, the New York Times had crowned him the apostle of optimism. But of course, he continued to age.

Metchnikoff's outwardly positive, science will save us all outlook was getting harder to maintain. In 1914, as his research continued, the headlines made a dark world impossible to ignore.

Metchnikoff's outwardly positive, science will save us all outlook was getting harder to maintain. In 1914, as his research continued, the headlines made a dark world impossible to ignore.

Metchnikoff's outwardly positive, science will save us all outlook was getting harder to maintain. In 1914, as his research continued, the headlines made a dark world impossible to ignore.

Over 100 people at the Pasteur Institute get recruited to the war effort.

Over 100 people at the Pasteur Institute get recruited to the war effort.

Over 100 people at the Pasteur Institute get recruited to the war effort.

War, she wrote, became a dark, sinister background to his daily life. And even though he had tried to convince Tolstoy that science had the answers to everything, that now looked empty in the face of a world war. He'd always thought his purpose in life was to help people reach their death instinct, to live longer and live healthier until they felt ready to go.