When did Leo Tolstoy begin writing War and Peace?
Leo Tolstoy began writing War and Peace in 1863, the very year he married and settled down at his country estate.
Common questions about War and Peace
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many complete manuscripts did Sophia Tolstaya copy by hand for War and Peace?
Sophia Tolstaya was forced to copy no fewer than seven separate complete manuscripts by hand before Leo Tolstoy deemed the work ready for publication.
Which battle shattered Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's romanticized vision of war in War and Peace?
The Battle of Austerlitz shattered Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's romanticized vision of war when he found the reality of the conflict far more chaotic and meaningless than he anticipated.
Who is the archetypal good Russian peasant that Pierre Bezukhov befriends in War and Peace?
Pierre Bezukhov finds meaning in life through his friendship with Platon Karataev, an archetypal good Russian peasant with a saintly demeanor who is an honest person of integrity.
In what year did the wedding of Pierre and Natasha take place in the epilogue of War and Peace?
The first part of the epilogue begins with the wedding of Pierre and Natasha in 1813, marking the start of their life of domestic happiness.
Which newspaper was the first to react to the publication of War and Peace?
The liberal newspaper Golos was one of the first to react to the publication of War and Peace, with its anonymous reviewer posing the question of what genre the work belonged to.