Leo Tolstoy’s novella “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” has become a bestseller in Brazil. The book topped the list of the best-selling titles on the country’s largest local marketplace, according to Metrópoles, a TV BRICS partner.
The success of the work, first published in 1886, has been attributed by Brazilian media to a recommendation from Gustavo Scarpa, a midfielder for Atlético Mineiro. The footballer’s review of Tolstoy’s book appeared on his social media accounts around two weeks ago and quickly went viral: the video gained more than 578,000 views, while print runs of several editions of the novella sold out.
In his review, Scarpa tells the story of a judge who, faced with death, begins to question the meaning of life.
Following this, one Atlético supporter created a book club called “Galeitura” – a combination of the words “Galo” and “leitura” (reading). In less than 24 hours, the group had already attracted more than 400 members. Today, it has around 500 participants, while the project’s social media account has surpassed 26,000 followers.
The first book selected by the club was Tolstoy’s work. Reading began on 16 September 2026 and follows a three-week schedule with weekly discussions. The goal is to read one book per month, inspired by Scarpa’s recommendations.
The footballer, who previously admitted that until 2018 he reread only the Bible, developed a passion for reading under the influence of one of his teammates. He later read works by Fyodor Dostoevsky.