War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a monumental novel set during the Napoleonic Wars, following the lives of Russian aristocrats as they navigate love, war, and personal growth. Central characters like Pierre Bezukhov, Andrei Bolkonsky, and Natasha Rostova experience the turbulence of war and the complexity of human relationships. Tolstoy blends fictional narrative with historical events, exploring themes of fate, power, and morality.

First published serially between 1865 and 1867, War and Peace was later compiled into a four-volume novel in 1869. It is considered a masterpiece of Russian literature and one of the greatest novels ever written, praised for its historical detail and philosophical depth. Tolstoy’s approach to history, emphasizing the role of ordinary individuals over grand leaders, was revolutionary at the time.