Primary sourceBook1869
War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy · 1869
The original Russian text of Tolstoy's monumental novel of Napoleonic-era Russia, written in his own words.
The original Russian text of Tolstoy's own novel, in his own language.
About this source
What it is
This is the original Russian text of War and Peace, written by Leo Tolstoy and created between 1863 and 1869, with publication in 1868-1869. It is preserved on Wikisource in its original language.
Why it matters
This novel is one of the most famous works of world literature, telling the story of Russian society during the Napoleonic Wars. Reading Tolstoy's own words, in the language he wrote them in, lets students see his style and voice directly rather than through translation.
Look closer
- Why might an author mix French and Russian in the same scene, as the opening does?
- What does the opening conversation reveal about the society Tolstoy is describing?
- How might reading a translation change the experience of this text?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Leo Tolstoy on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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