~ 1867 ~
War and Peace is a literary masterpiece by Russian author Leo Tolstoy. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the novel blends fiction, history, and philosophy. It follows the stories of five Russian aristocratic families and their experiences during the French invasion of Russia and the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society. Tolstoy’s use of narrative structure and visual detail set a new standard for the novel. He was critical of standard history, especially military history, and took great care in his research by working from primary source material and his own experiences in the Crimean War. War and Peace remains a celebrated classic of world literature.