Alexei Konstantinovich Tolstoy was born in 1817 in St. Petersburg into a noble family. Soon after his birth, his parents divorced, and his mother moved with him to Ukraine, where Alexei spent his childhood in the Chernigov province.

Alexei received an excellent home education. His uncle, A. A. Petrovsky, a well-known writer and supporter of the Decembrists, had a significant influence on the formation of the boy's character and worldview. The uncle became the prototype for Pierre in the novel "War and Peace" and wrote fairy tales for his nephew, including "The Black Hen." Under his influence, Alexei became passionate about literature.

Being an aristocrat by birth, Alexei, at the age of 10, found himself among those invited to play with the future Emperor Alexander II. This event strengthened their friendship. In adulthood, Tolstoy used his position for good deeds, such as helping to free Taras Shevchenko and defending Chernyshev.

In 1834, Tolstoy began his studies at the Moscow Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in 1835, he successfully passed exams at the university. From 1837 to 1840, he participated in a diplomatic mission in Germany, leading an active social life full of jokes and pranks, which he got away with thanks to the patronage of Alexander II.

During these years, Tolstoy was actively engaged in literature. In 1841, under the pseudonym Krasnorogsky, he published the fantastic tale "The Vampire." In 1854, his poems appeared in "Sovremennik" under the pseudonym Kozma Prutkov, created by him and his brothers as a caricature of a bureaucrat.

Tolstoy's personal life was complicated. In 1850, he fell in love with a colonel's wife, but their relationship was hindered by her husband, who did not consent to a divorce, and Tolstoy's mother, who opposed the marriage. They officially married only in 1863.

From 1860 to 1870, Tolstoy spent much time abroad, actively publishing in the magazines "Russian Herald," "Sovremennik," and "Herald of Europe." In 1861, his poem "Don Juan" was published. He also worked on a historical trilogy and translations of works by Heine, Goethe, and Byron. In 1867, a collection of his poems was published, becoming the last publication during his lifetime.

In his last years, Tolstoy lived in seclusion at the estate of Krasny Rog, suffering from asthma and headaches. His financial situation worsened, exacerbating his illnesses. To alleviate his suffering, he took morphine, an overdose of which led to his death.