War and Peace is a novel by the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, which appeared in book form in 1869 after being serialized in The Russian Messenger in the mid-1860s. It is set in the period of the Napoleonic Wars and follows five aristocratic families through the years from 1805 to 1812 and after, including the French invasion of Russia and the burning of Moscow. Among its characters are Pierre Bezukhov, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova. Tolstoy mixes personal stories with long reflections on history, arguing that great events are shaped by countless individuals rather than by leaders such as Napoleon. Its scale and psychological depth have made it one of the most celebrated novels in world literature.
Before and after
- 1 October 1868Construction of St Pancras railway station
- from 23 October 1868 to 30 July 1912Meiji era
- 27 November 1868Battle of Washita River
- 9 December 1868Birth of Fritz Haber
- 1869Publication of War and Peace
- 1869Founding of Goldman Sachs
- 1869Publication of The Idiot
- 1869Construction of Neuschwanstein Castle
- 1869Founding of Boston University
More in Art, literature & culture
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- 1863Origins of Baháʼí Faith
- 17 November 1869Construction of Suez Canal
- 1886Statue of Liberty
- 31 March 1889Construction of Eiffel Tower
- 1894Radio
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.