In Russia’s struggle with Napoleon, Tolstoy saw a tragedy that involved all mankind.

War and Peacebroadly focuses on Napoleons invasion of Russia in 1812 and follows three of the most well-known characters in literature: Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count who is fighting for his inheritance and yearning for spiritual fulfillment; Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight in the war against Napoleon; and Natasha Rostov, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman who intrigues both men.

As Napoleons army invades, Tolstoy brilliantly follows characters from diverse backgroundspeasants and nobility, civilians and soldiersas they struggle with the problems unique to their era, their history, and their culture. And as the novel progresses, these characters transcend their specificity, becoming some of the most movingand humanfigures in world literature.