This book by Leo Tolstoy is only the first of six, compiled in three hefty volumes. It is set in Russia, during Napoleon Bonaparte’s disastrous invasion in 1812. Tolstoy begins with a well-curated cocktail party to introduce his important characters.
Their country is at war with France, but to perfectly capture the essences of their personalities, the aristocrats quickly get over the topic of war and gossip about money, sex and death. Then, the book begins to progress with a deeper and deeper meaning. To me, book one felt like the start of a giant puzzle with its pieces slowly coming together. It was one huge web of questions, love and war. The book is mainly about society struggling through war, from the viewpoint of aristocrats. It is fitting, because Tolstoy himself grew up in an aristocratic family. I found his analysis of Russian society very interesting, because I can compare it with today’s society, and notice the influences on other European countries. Tolstoy has written this book in vivid detail, and it is also very historically accurate. The book presents many intriguing philosophical and scientific questions. As I read, I understood what Tolstoy was wondering- for example; how did these historic events come about? And how did they influence people of that time period? Overall, I loved Book One. I think it’s best suited for older age groups, but I would even recommend it to anyone above the age of twelve with a strong interest in reading. The profound language and thought-provoking storyline has made it one of the best books I’ve ever read. A work of pure genius.
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