War and PeaceNominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic Wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy’s genius is seen clearly in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle—all of them fully realized and equally memorable. Out of this complex narrative emerges a profound examination of the individual’s place in the historical process, one that makes it clear why Thomas Mann praised Tolstoy for his Homeric powers and placed War and Peace in the same category as the Iliad: “To read him . . . is to find one’ s way home . . . to everything within us that is fundamental and sane.” |
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adjutant Anatole answered army asked battle began Boris called cannon close coming command conversation count countess crowd dear Denisov Dolohov door Emperor enemy everything expression eyes face father feeling felt fire followed French gave give glanced hand happy head hear heard heart horse hussars knew Kutuzov laughed leave letter light listened looked mind Moscow moved Napoleon Natasha never Nikolay noticed officer once passed person Pierre position Prince Andrey Prince Vassily Princess Marya question received regiment repeated rode Rostov round Russian seemed seen sent shouted side sitting smile soldiers Sonya soon sound speak standing steps stood suddenly talk tell thing thought told took troops trying Tsar turned understand voice waiting walked whole young