War And Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Feb 2009 · Penguin UK

About this eBook

'A book that you don't just read, you live' Simon Schama

Tolstoy's magnificent epic novel of love, conflict, fate and human life in all its imperfection and grandeur

War and Peace begins at a glittering society party in St Petersburg in 1805, where conversations are dominated by the prospect of war. Terror swiftly engulfs the country as Napoleon's army marches on Russia, and the lives of three young people are changed forever. The stories of quixotic Pierre, cynical Andrey and impetuous Natasha interweave with a huge cast, from aristocrats and peasants to soldiers and Napoleon himself.

Translated with an Introduction and Notes by Anthony Briggs with an Afterword by Orlando Figes

Ratings and reviews

Definitely hard to get through, but if you are someone who loves characters and getting to know them, this is the book for you

excellent read. good lay out

Best book in the world

About the author

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was born in Tula province and was educated privately and at Kazan University. In 1851 he went to the Caucasus, joined an artillery regiment & began his literary career. After marrying in 1862, he began writing War and Peace, which was finished in 1869. His second great work, Anna Karenina, was finished in 1876. Professor Tony Briggs is former Professor of Russian at the University of Birmingham, and is the author of six books on Russian literature.


Professor Tony Briggs is former Professor of Russian at the University of Birmingham, has translated widely from the Russian, especially Pushkin, and is the author of several critical books on Russian literature. Orlando Figes is Professor of History at Birkbeck and the author of A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution, 1891-1924, which was awarded the Wolfson Prize for History and, most recently, Natasha's Dance: A Cultural History of Russia.