War and Peace

Lore & Background

The novel chronicles the French invasion of Russia and its aftermath, using five interlocking narratives following the Bezukhov, Bolkonsky, Rostov, Kuragin, and Drubetskoy families. Key historical events include the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, the occupation of Moscow, and the Battle of Berezina. Tolstoy interspersed essays on war, power, and historiography, defying conventional fiction. He was critical of standard military history and used his own Crimean War experience for vivid detail. The use of French dialogue diminishes as the book progresses, possibly symbolizing Russia's cultural emancipation from France.

Reader's Guide

War and Peace is considered Tolstoy's finest literary achievement alongside Anna Karenina, and it remains an internationally praised classic. Its narrative structure employs a god's-eye point of view and cinematic techniques like panning and close-ups, influencing the modern novel. The work's blend of fiction and philosophical essays challenged European literary norms, with Tolstoy himself hesitating to classify it as a novel, poem, or historical chronicle. The standard Russian text comprises four volumes, fifteen books, and an epilogue; some abridged versions remove the essays or relegate them to appendices. Its enduring significance lies in its exploration of individual agency within vast historical forces, making it a cornerstone of world literature.

Did You Know?

• Tolstoy acknowledged Schopenhauer as a main inspiration, writing that what he said in War and Peace is also said by Schopenhauer in The World as Will and Representation.