"War and Peace" is a monumental novel written by Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published between 1865 and 1869. The book is set in the period of the Napoleonic Wars and offers a panoramic view of Russian society at that time. It follows the lives of five aristocratic families through the historical events of the early 19th century, including Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812. The novel explores themes of fate, free will, history, and the complexities of family and human relationships.
