War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy


War and peace main characters

What is War and Peace? It is not a novel … a poem or a historical chronicle. It is life. Leo Tolstoy

Setting/Time Period: Russia during the Napoleonic Wars (1805–1812 with an epilogue in 1820).

  • The story starts with a ball in St Petersburg as the country prepares to go to war with the French.
  • The full version is nearly 600,000 words (around 1300 pages).
  • The action takes place in multiple locations across Russia.
  • Covers major historical battles, including Borodin and Austerlitz.
  • There are over a hundred characters, including real historical figures like Napoleon.
  • But the story revolves around the three characters represented in the photo
Pierre Bezukhov (left) and Natasha Rostova (centre) are childhood friends.
Through Pierre, Natasha meets and falls in love with Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (right) - see Natasha’s Dance
English language level: Adapted for audio by Kieran McGovern. With free worksheets & learning activities. English language level: low intermediate level (A2-B1)