The Tolstoy Library

In which an inspection of the stern and uncompromising Marshal Davout reveals the harsh mechanisms by which power is maintained and shown to those beneath it, even amidst the weariness of war. The arr...

12 Aug 6min

In which a late-night diplomatic mission unfolds beneath the fresh dawn of the Russian countryside, where the solemn hopes of peace confront the bluster and gaiety of an army poised for war. The envoy...

12 Aug 10min

In which the mighty Emperor Napoleon, amidst the pomp and grandeur of courts and legions, sets forth on his fateful campaign, crossing the Niemen with a blend of resolute command and the turbulent fer...

11 Aug 9min

In which the Emperor of Russia, ensconced in the city of Vílna, spends a leisurely month amidst balls and festivities whilst the ominous shadow of an impending war looms unprepared and unattended by t...

11 Aug 9min

In which the great and momentous descent of armies upon the Russian frontier is pondered with a sober and searching eye, revealing the tangled web of innumerable causes—each insufficient on its own bu...

11 Aug 11min

In which the sombre consequences of Natásha’s broken engagement ripple through the Rostóv household, casting a pall of illness and whispered anxieties, while Pierre endeavours to shield her from the h...

10 Aug 10min

In which Pierre undertakes a tender and compassionate visit to the Rostóvs, finding Natásha in a state of quiet anguish and offering her heartfelt solace amidst her sorrow. As they converse beneath th...

10 Aug 8min

In which Pierre, driven by a tumult of emotions, searches Moscow for Anatole Kurágin and confronts him in a passionate and troubled private meeting. The scene unfolds amidst a backdrop of society’s in...

10 Aug 7min