Classic
War and Peace
by Leo Tolstoy
Summary
Tolstoy follows the intertwined fortunes of the Rostov, Bolkonsky, and Bezukhov families through Napoleon's invasion of Russia, moving between glittering Petersburg salons and the chaos of the battlefields at Austerlitz and Borodino. The searching Pierre Bezukhov, the proud Prince Andrei, and the vital Natasha Rostova each pursue meaning through love, war, and loss. Tolstoy interleaves their stories with essays on history itself, arguing that vast events turn on countless small human choices rather than great men.
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Historical Context & Significance
Tolstoy published the complete work in 1869 after years of research and revision, and even he hesitated to call it a novel. It is routinely ranked among the greatest works of fiction ever written.