War and Peace is a novel by Leo Tolstoy published from 1865 to 1869. It follows several Russian aristocratic families, the Rostovs, the Bolkonskys and the Bezukhovs, through the Napoleonic Wars, from 1805 to 1820. A vast historical fresco and a reflection on history itself, it is often called one of the greatest novels ever written.
The characters
Pierre Bezukhov, an awkward and idealistic heir, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, an ambitious and disillusioned officer, and Natasha Rostova, a lively young woman, are at the heart of the novel.
Around them hundreds of characters, real and invented, move through salons, battlefields and country estates.
The war
The novel describes the battles of Austerlitz and Borodino, the burning of Moscow and the retreat of Napoleon's Grande Armée in 1812.
Napoleon and the Russian general Kutuzov appear as characters, seen in a striking and unexpected light.
A philosophy of history
Tolstoy often breaks off the story to discuss the role of great men. For him, history is made by the sum of countless actions of ordinary people.
The second epilogue is a full essay on freedom and necessity in history, without any story at all.
Anecdotes
French in the original
In the Russian original, many conversations among aristocrats are written in French, the language of the salons of the time. The novel opens with a conversation in French.
Copied by his wife
Tolstoy's wife, Sofia, is said to have copied the huge manuscript by hand several times as her husband revised it.
Frequently asked questions
When was War and Peace published?
From 1865 to 1869.
Which battles does it describe?
Austerlitz and Borodino, among others.
Who are the main characters?
Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova.