War and Peace (Russian Война и мир, Voyna i mir) is a monumental epic by Leo Tolstoy, first published between 1865 and 1869 in Russki Vestnik. This remarkable novel intricately weaves the tapestry of Russian society during the Napoleonic Era, exploring the profound themes of war, peace, youth, age, and the complexities of marriage. Often hailed as one of Tolstoys masterpieces—alongside Anna Karenina—it stands as one of the greatest novels of all time. War and Peace redefined the boundaries of fiction with its multitude of characters and expansive narrative, challenging the conventions of its day. Tolstoy himself regarded Anna Karenina (1878) as his initial foray into European-style novels. (Summary by Wikipedia)