A great novel by a great Russian writer who became a world-recognized classic of literature. The first volume introduces the high society of 19th-century Russia. We see relationships between parents and children in the Rostovs’ family, the matchmaking among the Bolkonskys, intrigues among the Bezukhovs, evenings at the salon of the lady-in-waiting A. P. Sherer, balls in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The historical events of 1805 and 1812, along with detailed portraits of Kutuzov and Napoleon.
As the war of 1812 begins to flare, Pierre Bezukhov’s duel with the reckless Dolokhov, Masonic gatherings, and the first ball of Natasha Rostova—interwoven plot lines preserve the intrigue of the narrative.
The crossing of the French troops over the Neman and the surrender of Smolensk, the Battle of Borodino, and the burning of Moscow are shown in the book in minute detail. Against the hypocritical punishment for using the French language, the heroic deed of Pierre Bezukhov stands out—saving a girl from a burning house…
The final volume opens its heroes from a new angle, and familiar plot lines take an unexpected turn. The moral changes in Natasha Rostova after the death of Prince Andrei, the love of Nikolai Rostov and the princess Marya Bolkonskaya, and Pierre Bezukhov’s meeting with Plato Karataev while in French captivity… Seemingly separate events form an unbroken chain, complementing and clarifying the philosophical idea of the brilliant writer-humanist.