War and Peace (1869) is a novel by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy.
Serialized between 1865 and 1867, it was published in book form in 1869
and has since been recognized as a masterpiece of world literature.
Notable for its epic scale, War and Peace encompasses hundreds of
characters, diligently following its five central families across
fifteen years while featuring detailed imaginings of such historical
figures as Napoleon Bonaparte. In Books VI-X, he explores the emotions
of his wide cast of characters who, during a period of tenuous peace,
attempt to return to a sense of normalcy. Following Napoleon's defeat of
Russian and Austrian forces at the Battle of Austerlitz, the Rostov,
Bezukhov, and Bolkonsky families struggle to adapt to a changing world.
While Prince Andrei attempts to balance his political obligations with
his growing affection for Natasha Rostov, his friend Pierre finds
himself at a crossroads. Disillusioned with Freemasonry, obsessed with
discovering a way to live ethically, he grows increasingly volatile and
despondent. When Natasha is attacked by the vicious Anatole Kuragin,
Pierre finds himself in the position of comforting her, and they soon
form a strong attachment. After several years, however, Napoleon's army
begins advancing on Russia once more, bringing uncertainty and chaos to
its traumatized people. With its juxtaposition of political peace with
the private and public turmoil of his characters, Tolstoy's story brings
history to life while reminding us that the past is always closer than
we care to think. As ambitious as it is triumphant, Leo Tolstoy's
masterpiece is an epic novel of history and family, a story of faith and
the will to persevere in the face of unspeakable catastrophe. War and
Peace is a work that transcends both history and description, not just
for the scale of its narrative and setting, but for the scope of its
philosophical interests. Since its publication, it has been praised as
an essential work of literature by Ivan Turgenev, Gustave Flaubert,
Thomas Mann, and Ernest Hemingway, and has been adapted for film,
theater, and television countless times. With a beautifully designed
cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Leo
Tolstoy's War and Peace is a classic of Russian literature reimagined
for modern readers.
