The Tolstoy Library

In which a discontented throng of labourers and townsfolk convene around a public disturbance, their voices rising in discord and tumult, stirred by skirmishes and grievances against those who govern ...

8 Sep 10min

In which the desolation of Moscow is poignantly likened to a queenless hive, its once vibrant life now replaced by decay and emptiness, observed with a mournful clarity that reveals the hollow semblan...

7 Sep 6min

In which the once lively city lies deserted and the Rostóv household stands quietly abandoned save for the tender, watchful presence of Mávra Kuzmínichna, whose care and concern reveal the small intim...

7 Sep 6min

In which the reader is drawn into the chaotic ebb and flow of Russian troops as they navigate the congested thoroughfares and bridges of Moscow, where soldiers, overcome by temptation and lassitude, d...

7 Sep 6min

In which the Rostóv family prepares for a somber departure from Moscow, quietly sharing worried news and embracing the gentle rituals of farewell amid the bustle of a city marked by war. As carriages ...

6 Sep 11min

In which the Russian army quietly retreats beyond Moscow, leaving the city surrendered yet strangely vibrant beneath a clear autumn sky, while Napoleon surveys the scene from a vantage point filled wi...

6 Sep 11min

In which Prince Pierre, overwhelmed by confusion and despair upon his return to Moscow, seeks refuge and purpose in the quiet, dusty sanctuary of his late benefactor Bazdéev’s house, pondering over hi...

6 Sep 8min

In which the Rostóv household, stirred by anxiety and urgency, bustles with the intricate and heartfelt endeavour of packing precious possessions amid a rising tide of disorder, where Natásha’s spirit...

5 Sep 7min