Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace is an epic novel following five aristocratic families through the Napoleonic Wars, blending intimate personal dramas with sweeping historical events. Through hundreds of characters and philosophical digressions, Tolstoy explores love, death, family, power, and the forces that shape history. The novel becomes both panoramic view of Russian society and profound meditation on free will, fate, and what gives life meaning.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Tolstoy understood that history isn't made by great men but by countless small decisions. War and Peace remains essential because it shows us that the biggest questions, about love and death and how to live, matter more than any battle or political intrigue.

DETAILS: • Author: Leo Tolstoy • Publisher: Penguin Classics • Format: Hardcover • Publication Date: March 14, 2017 • ISBN: 9780241265543 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days