The sixties of the 20th century were the time when Tolstoy worked on the novel “War and Peace” (1864-1869). These years were a period of great public excitement and intense confrontation that unfolded around the peasant issue. The reform of 1861 on the abolition of serfdom did not essentially resolve the issue of the peasant and his relationship with the master.
The large number of uprisings with which the peasantry responded to the reform clearly showed the discontent and indignation caused by the reform among the peasant masses. The problem of the “man” was still at the center of public life. Journalism and fiction they raised the problems of the peasantry and the future of Russia with particular acuteness and trepidation.
Novels and stories are becoming saturated with journalism, and the genre of topical essays is becoming popular. Increased interest in history: critical issues eras are considered in the light of the historical past; Public lectures on history are becoming commonplace. Tolstoy planned to collide two eras: the era of the first revolutionary movement in Russia - the era of the Decembrists, and the sixties - the era of revolutionary democrats.
In the summer of 1863, Tolstoy began writing a story about the Decembrist who returned from Siberia in 1856. But he soon abandoned what he had started and moved on to 1825, the era of his hero’s “delusions and misfortunes.” Thus, moving away from 1856 to 1805, Tolstoy intends to “guide not one, but many... heroes and heroines through the historical events of 1805, 1807,1812, 1825 and 1856.” Tolstoy did not realize this grandiose plan. Having first focused on the events of 1805-1814, Tolstoy intensively collects and studies the materials he needs.
At the same time, he pays special attention to the memories and letters of people of that time, which would give him the opportunity to show the social atmosphere of the era and the home life of his heroes. At this stage of the writer’s work, the “world” was the focus of his attention, and historical events were supposed to serve only as stages and a background for the unfolding of the life of noble families. Two years later, Tolstoy comes to the intention of expanding the boundaries of the life he depicts. He came up with the idea of a historical novel. Historical figures and social life now came to the fore in the novel.
Their depiction required great knowledge of the era and an understanding of the causes of the major historical events of the early 19th century. To acquire this knowledge, the writer studies Russian and foreign works about the War of 1812. Having decided at first to show only landowner Russia, the nobility, Tolstoy in the final edition of the novel painted an extensive picture of the life and mentality of landowner, as well as peasant Russia.
In 1862, Tolstoy began to create a work that was vast in size and at the same time greatest in artistic merit - the novel War and Peace. He worked on it in the most favorable external conditions, living almost forever in Yasnaya Polyana, in a calm and cheerful mood, supported by a happy family life. Only under such conditions was it possible to create such a colossal work, with a huge mass of large and small figures, outlined with the same vitality. Tolstoy worked on his work slowly, redoing and rewriting several times. Starting your work,
Tolstoy thoroughly became acquainted with the era that he wanted to depict: he re-read a lot of historical and other scientific works concerning the era, notes and memoirs of his contemporaries, etc. He also borrowed something from family memories: he depicted, for example, his mother in the person of the princess Marya Bolkonskaya, the character of Nikolai Rostov gave the features of his father, and in Prince Andrei he gave a portrait of one of his cousins. In addition, Tolstoy also used various private, unpublished documents: letters, diaries, notes entrusted to him for the study of the era.
Based on this varied material, he created his enormous picture of Russian life in one of the most important points her stories. This picture amazes with its breadth of size and richness of content. If Belinsky once called “Eugene Onegin” “an encyclopedia of Russian life,” then with even greater right this name fits Tolstoy’s work.
The novel "War and Peace" L.N. Tolstoy devoted seven years of intense and persistent work. September 5, 1863 A.E. Bers, father of Sofia Andreevna, wife of L.N. Tolstoy, sent from Moscow to Yasnaya Polyana a letter with the following remark: “Yesterday we talked a lot about 1812 on the occasion of your intention to write a novel relating to this era.” It is this letter that researchers consider “the first accurate evidence” dating the beginning of L.N.’s work. Tolstoy's "War and Peace". In October of the same year, Tolstoy wrote to his relative: “I have never felt my mental and even all my moral powers so free and so capable of work. And I have this job. This work is a novel from the time of 1810 and 20s, which has been occupying me completely since the fall... I am now a writer with all the strength of my soul, and I write and think about it as I have never written or thought about it before.”
The manuscripts of “War and Peace” testify to how one of the world’s largest works was created: over 5,200 finely written sheets have been preserved in the writer’s archive. From them you can trace the entire history of the creation of the novel.
Initially, Tolstoy conceived a novel about a Decembrist who returned after 30 years of Siberian exile. The novel began in 1856, shortly before the abolition of serfdom. But then the writer revised his plan and moved on to 1825 - the era of the Decembrist uprising. But soon the writer abandoned this beginning and decided to show the youth of his hero, which coincided with the formidable and glorious times Patriotic War 1812. But Tolstoy did not stop there either, and since the war of 1812 was inextricably linked with 1805, he began his entire work from that time. Having moved the beginning of the action of his novel half a century into the depths of history, Tolstoy decided to take not one, but many heroes through the most important events for Russia.
Tolstoy called his plan to capture the half-century history of the country in artistic form “Three Times.” The first time is the beginning of the century, its first decade and a half, the time of youth of the first Decembrists who went through the Patriotic War of 1812. The second time is the 20s with their main event - the uprising of December 14, 1825. The third time - the 50s, an unfortunate end for the Russian army Crimean War, the sudden death of Nicholas I, the amnesty of the Decembrists, their return from exile and the time of waiting for changes in the life of Russia.
However, in the process of working on the work, the writer narrowed the scope of his initial plan and focused on the first period, touching only on the beginning of the second period in the epilogue of the novel. But even in this form, the concept of the work remained global in scope and required the writer to exert all his strength. At the beginning of his work, Tolstoy realized that the usual framework of the novel and historical story would not be able to accommodate all the richness of the content he had planned, and began to persistently search for a new one. art form, he wanted to create literary work completely unusual type. And he succeeded. “War and Peace”, according to L.N. Tolstoy is not a novel, not a poem, not a historical chronicle, this is an epic novel, new genre prose, which after Tolstoy became widespread in Russian and world literature.
During the first year of work, Tolstoy worked hard on the beginning of the novel. According to the author himself, many times he started and gave up writing his book, losing and gaining hope of expressing in it everything that he wanted to express. Fifteen versions of the beginning of the novel have been preserved in the writer’s archive. The concept of the work was based on Tolstoy’s deep interest in history, philosophical and socio-political issues. The work was created in an atmosphere of boiling passions around the main issue of that era - the role of the people in the history of the country, about their destinies. While working on the novel, Tolstoy sought to find the answer to these questions.
In order to truthfully describe the events of the Patriotic War of 1812, the writer studied great amount materials: books, historical documents, memoirs, letters. “When I write history,” Tolstoy pointed out in the article “A few words about the book “War and Peace,” “I like to be faithful to reality down to the smallest detail.” While working on the work, he collected a whole library of books about the events of 1812. In the books of Russian and foreign historians, he found neither a truthful description of events nor a fair assessment of historical figures. Some of them uncontrollably praised Alexander I, considering him the conqueror of Napoleon, others exalted Napoleon, considering him invincible.
Having rejected all the works of historians who depicted the war of 1812 as a war of two emperors, Tolstoy set himself the goal of truthfully covering the events great era and showed the war of liberation waged by the Russian people against foreign invaders. From the books of Russian and foreign historians, Tolstoy borrowed only genuine historical documents: orders, instructions, dispositions, battle plans, letters, etc. He introduced letters from Alexander I and Napoleon into the text of the novel, which Russian and french emperors exchanged before the start of the war of 1812; the disposition of the Battle of Austerlitz, developed by General Weyrother, as well as the disposition of the Battle of Borodino, compiled by Napoleon. The chapters of the work also include letters from Kutuzov, which serve as confirmation of the characteristics given to the field marshal by the author.
When creating the novel, Tolstoy used the memoirs of his contemporaries and participants in the Patriotic War of 1812. Thus, from “Notes about 1812 by Sergei Glinka, the first warrior of the Moscow militia,” the writer borrowed materials for scenes depicting Moscow during the war; in “The Works of Denis Vasilyevich Davydov” Tolstoy found materials that served as the basis for the partisan scenes of “War and Peace”; in the “Notes of Alexei Petrovich Ermolov” the writer found a lot of important information about the actions of Russian troops during their foreign campaigns of 1805-1806. Tolstoy also discovered a lot of valuable information in the notes of V.A. Perovsky about his time in captivity by the French, and in S. Zhikharev’s diary “Notes of a Contemporary from 1805 to 1819,” on the basis of which the novel describes Moscow life at that time.
While working on the work, Tolstoy also used materials from newspapers and magazines from the era of the Patriotic War of 1812. He spent a lot of time in the manuscript department of the Rumyantsev Museum and in the archives of the palace department, where he carefully studied unpublished documents (orders and instructions, dispatches and reports, Masonic manuscripts and letters from historical figures). Here he became acquainted with the letters of the maid of honor of the imperial palace M.A. Volkova to V.A. Lanskaya, letters from General F.P. Uvarov and other persons. In letters not intended for publication, the writer found precious details depicting the life and characters of his contemporaries in 1812.
Tolstoy stayed in Borodino for two days. Having traveled around the battlefield, he wrote to his wife: “I am very pleased, very pleased with my trip... If only God grants health and peace, and I will write a Battle of Borodino that has never happened before.” Between the manuscripts of War and Peace there is a piece of paper with notes made by Tolstoy while he was on the Borodino field. “The distance is visible for 25 versts,” he wrote down, sketching the horizon line and noting where the villages of Borodino, Gorki, Psarevo, Semenovskoye, Tatarinovo are located. On this sheet he noted the movement of the sun during the battle. While working on the work, Tolstoy developed these brief notes into unique pictures of the Borodino battle, full of movement, colors and sounds.
Throughout the seven years of intense work that writing “War and Peace” required, Tolstoy’s elation and creative fire never left him, and that is why the work has not lost its significance to this day. More than a century has passed since the first part of the novel appeared in print, and War and Peace is invariably read by people of all ages - from young men to old people. During the years of work on the epic novel, Tolstoy stated that “the artist’s goal is not to undeniably resolve the issue, but to make one love life in its countless, never-exhaustible manifestations.” Then he admitted: “If they told me that what I write would be read by today’s children in twenty years and would cry and laugh over it and love life, I would devote my whole life and all my strength to it.” Many such works were created by Tolstoy. “War and Peace,” dedicated to one of the bloodiest wars of the 19th century, but affirming the idea of the triumph of life over death, occupies an honorable place among them.
Returning with his family to Russia. Involuntarily, I moved from the present to 1825... But even in 1825, my hero was already a mature, family man. To understand him, I needed to be transported to his youth, and his youth coincided with... the era of 1812... If the reason for our triumph was not accidental, but lay in the essence of the character of the Russian people and troops, then this character should have been expressed even more clearly in the era failures and defeats..." So Tolstoy gradually came to the need to begin the story in 1805.
The main theme is the historical fate of the Russian people in the Patriotic War of 1812. The novel features more than 550 characters, both fictional and historical. Tolstoy portrays his best heroes in all their spiritual complexity, in a continuous search for truth, in the pursuit of self-improvement. These are Prince Andrei, Pierre, Natasha, and Princess Marya. Negative heroes deprived of development, dynamics, movements of the soul: Helen, Anatole.
The writer's philosophical views are of utmost importance in the novel. Journalistic chapters introduce and explain artistic description events. Tolstoy's fatalism is associated with his understanding of the spontaneity of history as “the unconscious, general, swarm life of humanity.” the main idea The novel, in the words of Tolstoy himself, is “folk thought.” The people, in Tolstoy's understanding, are the main driving force of history, the bearer of the best human qualities. The main characters go on their way to the people (Pierre on the Borodino field; “our prince” - the soldiers called Bolkonsky). Tolstoy's ideal is embodied in the image of Platon Karataev. The female ideal is in the image of Natasha Rostova. Kutuzov and Napoleon are the moral poles of the novel: “There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.” “What does it take to be happy? Quiet family life... with the opportunity to do good to people” (L.N. Tolstoy).
Tolstoy returned to work on the story several times. At the beginning of 1861, he read chapters from the novel “The Decembrists,” written in November 1860 - early 1861, to Turgenev and reported work on the novel to Alexander Herzen. However, the work was postponed several times, until in 1863-1869. The novel War and Peace was not written. For some time, Tolstoy perceived the epic novel as part of a narrative that was supposed to end with the return of Pierre and Natasha from Siberian exile in 1856 (this is what is discussed in the 3 surviving chapters of the novel “The Decembrists”). Attempts to work on this plan were made by Tolstoy for the last time in the late 1870s, after the end of Anna Karenina.
The novel "War and Peace" was a great success. An excerpt from the novel entitled “1805” appeared in Russky Vestnik in 1865. In 1868, three of its parts were published, which were soon followed by the remaining two (four volumes in total).
Recognized by critics around the world as the greatest epic work of the new European literature, “War and Peace” amazes from a purely technical point of view with the size of its fictional canvas. Only in painting can one find some parallel in the huge paintings of Paolo Veronese in the Venetian Doge's Palace, where hundreds of faces are also painted with amazing clarity and individual expression. In Tolstoy's novel all classes of society are represented, from emperors and kings to the last soldier, all ages, all temperaments and throughout the entire reign of Alexander I. What further enhances its dignity as an epic is the psychology of the Russian people it gives. With amazing insight, Tolstoy depicted the moods of the crowd, both the highest and the most base and brutal (for example, in the famous scene of the murder of Vereshchagin).
Everywhere Tolstoy tries to capture the spontaneous, unconscious beginning human life. The whole philosophy of the novel boils down to the fact that success and failure in historical life depends not on the will and talents of individual people, but on the extent to which they reflect in their activities the spontaneous background of historical events. Hence his loving relationship to Kutuzov, who was strong, first of all, not in strategic knowledge and not in heroism, but in the fact that he understood that purely Russian, not spectacular and not bright, but the only true way in which it was possible to cope with Napoleon. Hence Tolstoy’s dislike for Napoleon, who so highly valued his personal talents; hence, finally, the elevation to the degree of the greatest sage of the humblest soldier Platon Karataev for the fact that he recognizes himself exclusively as a part of the whole, without the slightest claim to individual significance. Tolstoy's philosophical or, rather, historiosophical thought mostly permeates his great novel - and this is what makes it great - not in the form of reasoning, but in brilliantly captured details and whole pictures, the true meaning of which is not difficult for any thoughtful reader to understand.
In the first edition of War and Peace there was a long series of purely theoretical pages that interfered with the integrity of the artistic impression; in later editions these discussions were highlighted and formed a special part. However, in “War and Peace” Tolstoy the thinker was far from being reflected in all of his aspects and not in his most characteristic aspects. There is nothing here that passes red thread through all of Tolstoy’s works, both those written before “War and Peace” and those later, there is no deeply pessimistic mood.
IN later works For Tolstoy, the transformation of the elegant, gracefully flirtatious, charming Natasha into a blurry, sloppily dressed landowner, completely absorbed in caring for the house and children, would have made a sad impression; but in the era of his enjoyment of family happiness, Tolstoy elevated all this to the pearl of creation.
Tolstoy later became skeptical of his novels. In January 1871, Tolstoy sent a letter to Fet: “How happy I am... that I will never write verbose rubbish like “War” again.”
On December 6, 1908, Tolstoy wrote in his diary: “People love me for those trifles - “War and Peace”, etc., which seem very important to them.”
In the summer of 1909, one of the visitors to Yasnaya Polyana expressed his delight and gratitude for the creation of War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Tolstoy replied: “It’s the same as if someone came to Edison and said: “I respect you very much because you dance the mazurka well.” I attribute meaning to completely different books.”
However, it is unlikely that Tolstoy really denied the importance of his previous creations. To a question from the Japanese writer and philosopher Tokutomi Rock (English) Russian in 1906, which of his works he loves most, the author answered: "Novel "War and Peace"". Thoughts based in the novel are also heard in Tolstoy’s later religious and philosophical works.
There were also different versions of the title of the novel: “1805” (an excerpt from the novel was published under this title), “All’s well that ends well” and “Three Times”. Tolstoy wrote the novel over the course of 6 years, from 1863 to 1869. According to historical information, he rewrote it by hand 8 times, and the writer rewrote individual episodes more than 26 times. Researcher E.E. Zaidenshnur counts 15 options for the beginning of the novel. There are 569 characters in the work.
The manuscript collection of the novel amounts to 5202 sheets.
Tolstoy's sources
Leo Tolstoy used the following when writing: scientific works : academic history wars of Academician A. I. Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, history of M. I. Bogdanovich, “The Life of Count Speransky” by M. Korf, “Biography of Mikhail Semenovich Vorontsov” by M. P. Shcherbinin, about Freemasonry - Karl Hubert Lobreich von Plumenek, about Vereshchagin - Ivan Zhukov; from French historians - Thiers, A. Dumas Sr., Georges Chambray, Maximelin Foy, Pierre Lanfré. As well as a number of testimonies from contemporaries of the Patriotic War: Alexey Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Sergei Glinka, Fedor Glinka, Denis Davydov, Stepan Zhikharev, Alexey Ermolov, Ivan Liprandi, Fedor Korbeletsky, Krasnokutsky, Alexander Vich, Vasily Perovsky, Ilya Radozhitsky, Ivan Skobelev , Mikhail Speransky, Alexander Shishkov; letters from A. Volkova to Lanskaya. From French memoirists - Bosset, Jean Rapp, Philippe de Segur, Auguste Marmont, “Memorial of Saint Helena” by Las Cases.
From fiction, Tolstoy was tangentially influenced by the Russian novels by R. Zotov “Leonid or Features from the Life of Napoleon I”, M. Zagoskin - “Roslavlev”. Also, British novels - William Thackeray's "Vanity Fair" and Mary Elizabeth Braddon's "Aurora Floyd" - according to the memoirs of T. A. Kuzminskaya, the writer directly indicated that the character main character the latter reminds me of Natasha.
Central characters
- Graph Pierre (Peter Kirillovich) Bezukhov.
- Graph Nikolai Ilyich Rostov (Nicolas)- eldest son of Ilya Rostov.
- Natasha Rostova (Natalie)- the Rostovs’ youngest daughter, married to Countess Bezukhova, Pierre’s second wife.
- Sonya (Sofya Alexandrovna, Sophie)- niece of Count Rostov, brought up in the count's family.
- Bolkonskaya Elizaveta (Liza, Lise)(nee Meinen), wife of Prince Andrei
- Prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky- an old prince, according to the plot - a prominent figure in Catherine's era. The prototype is L. N. Tolstoy’s maternal grandfather, a representative of the ancient Volkonsky family.
- Prince Andrey Nikolaevich Bolkonsky(French André) - son of the old prince.
- Princess Maria Nikolaevna(French Marie) - daughter of the old prince, sister of Prince Andrei, married Countess Rostova (wife of Nikolai Ilyich Rostov). The prototype can be called Maria Nikolaevna Volkonskaya (married Tolstoy), mother of L. N. Tolstoy
- Prince Vasily Sergeevich Kuragin- a friend of Anna Pavlovna Sherer, spoke about children: “My children are a burden to my existence.” Kurakin, Alexey Borisovich - a probable prototype.
- Elena Vasilievna Kuragina (Ellen)- daughter of Vasily Kuragin. The first, unfaithful wife of Pierre Bezukhov.
- Anatol Kuragin- the youngest son of Prince Vasily, a reveler and a libertine, tried to seduce Natasha Rostova and take her away, a “restless fool” in the words of Prince Vasily.
- Dolokhova Marya Ivanovna, mother of Fyodor Dolokhov.
- Dolokhov Fedor Ivanovich, her son, officer of the Semenovsky regiment I, 1, VI. at the beginning of the novel, he was an infantry officer of the Semenovsky Guards Regiment - a leader of revelries, later one of the leaders of the partisan movement. Its prototypes were the partisan Ivan Dorokhov, the duelist Fyodor Tolstoy the American and the partisan Alexander Figner.
- Platon Karataev is a soldier of the Absheron regiment who met Pierre Bezukhov in captivity.
- Captain Tushin- captain of the artillery corps, who distinguished himself during the Battle of Shengraben. Its prototype was artillery staff captain Ya. I. Sudakov.
- Vasily Dmitrievich Denisov- friend of Nikolai Rostov. Denisov’s prototype was Denis Davydov.
- Maria Dmitrievna Akhrosimova- a friend of the Rostov family. The prototype of Akhrosimova was the widow of Major General Ofrosimov Nastasya Dmitrievna. A. S. Griboyedov almost portraiturely portrayed her in his comedy “Woe from Wit.”
There are 559 characters in the novel. About 200 of them are historical figures.
Plot
The novel has an abundance of chapters and parts, most of which have plot completeness. Short chapters and many parts allow Tolstoy to move the narrative in time and space and thus fit hundreds of episodes into one novel.
Volume I
The actions of Volume I describe the events of the war in alliance with Austria against Napoleon in -1807.
1 part
The action begins with a reception at the close Empress Anna Pavlovna Scherer, where we see the entire high society of St. Petersburg. This technique is a kind of exposition: here we are introduced to many of the most important characters in the novel. On the other hand, the technique is a means of characterizing “high society,” comparable to “Famusov’s society” (A. S. Griboyedov “Woe from Wit”), immoral and deceitful. All those who come are looking for benefit for themselves in the useful contacts that they can make with Scherer. So, Prince Vasily is concerned about the fate of his children, for whom he is trying to arrange a profitable marriage, and Drubetskaya comes in order to persuade Prince Vasily to intercede for her son. An indicative feature is the ritual of greeting an unknown and unnecessary aunt (French: ma tante). None of the guests know who she is and don’t want to talk to her, but break the unwritten laws secular society They can not. Against the colorful background of Anna Scherer’s guests, two characters stand out: Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov. They are opposed to high society, just as Chatsky is opposed to “ Famusov society" Most of the conversations at this ball are devoted to politics and the coming war with Napoleon, who is called the "Corsican monster." Moreover, most of the dialogues between guests are conducted in French.
Despite his promises to Bolkonsky not to go to Kuragin, Pierre goes there immediately after Andrei’s departure. Anatol Kuragin is the son of Prince Vasily Kuragin, who causes him a lot of inconvenience by constantly leading a riotous life and spending his father’s money. After his return from abroad, Pierre constantly spends his time in the company of Kuragin along with Dolokhov and other officers. This life is completely unsuitable for Bezukhov, who has an exalted soul, a kind heart and the ability to become a truly influential person and benefit society. The next “adventures” of Anatole, Pierre and Dolokhov end with the fact that they got hold of a live bear somewhere, scared young actresses with it, and when the police came to appease them, they “caught a policeman, tied him with his back to the bear and let the bear into the Moika; the bear is swimming, and the policeman is on it.” As a result, Pierre was sent to Moscow, Dolokhov was demoted to soldiery, and the matter with Anatole was somehow hushed up by his father.
From St. Petersburg the action moves to Moscow on the name day of Countess Rostova and her daughter Natasha. Here we meet the entire Rostov family: Countess Natalya Rostova, her husband Count Ilya Rostov, their children: Vera, Nikolai, Natasha and Petya, as well as the Countess’s niece Sonya. The situation in the Rostov family is contrasted with Scherer’s reception: everything here is simpler, sincere, kinder. Here two love lines begin: Sonya and Nikolai Rostov, Natasha and Boris Drubetskoy.
Sonya and Nikolai are trying to hide their relationship from everyone, since their love cannot lead to anything good, because Sonya is Nikolai’s second cousin. But Nikolai goes to war, and Sonya cannot hold back her tears. She sincerely worries about him. Natasha Rostova sees the conversation between her second cousin and at the same time best friend with her brother, as well as their kiss. She also wants to love someone, so she asks for a frank conversation with Boris and kisses him. The holiday continues. It is also attended by Pierre Bezukhov, who here meets the very young Natasha Rostova. Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova arrives - a very influential and respected woman. Almost everyone present fears her for the courage and harshness of her judgments and statements. The holiday is in full swing. Count Rostov dances his favorite dance - “Danila Kupora” with Akhrosimova.
At this time, in Moscow, the old Count Bezukhov, the owner of a huge fortune and Pierre’s father, lies dying. Prince Vasily, being a relative of Bezukhov, begins to fight for the inheritance. In addition to him, the Mamontov princesses also lay claim to the inheritance, who, together with Prince Vasily Kuragin, are the count’s closest relatives. Princess Drubetskaya, Boris’s mother, also intervenes in the struggle. The matter is complicated by the fact that in his will the count writes to the emperor with a request to legitimize Pierre (Pierre is the illegitimate son of the count and without this procedure cannot receive an inheritance) and bequeaths everything to him. Prince Vasily's plan is to destroy the will and divide the entire inheritance between his family and the princesses. Drubetskaya's goal is to receive at least a small part of the inheritance in order to have money to outfit her son as he goes to war. As a result, a struggle unfolds for the “mosaic briefcase” in which the will is kept. Pierre, coming to his dying father, again feels like a stranger. He doesn't feel comfortable here. He feels both sad about his father's death and uneasy about a lot of attention chained to him.
The next morning, Napoleon, on the day of the anniversary of his coronation, in a happy mood, having examined the sites of the upcoming battle and waiting for the sun to finally emerge from the fog, gives the order to the marshals to begin business. Kutuzov, on the other hand, is in an exhausted and irritable mood that morning. He notices the confusion in the allied troops and waits for all the columns to gather. At this time, he hears shouts and cheers from his army behind him. He walked a couple of meters away and squinted to see who it was. It seemed to him that it was a whole squadron, in front of which were galloping two riders on a black and red anglicized horse. He realized that it was Emperor Alexander and Franz with his retinue. Alexander, who galloped up to Kutuzov, sharply asked the question: “Why aren’t you starting, Mikhail Larionovich?” After a short dialogue and disagreement from Kutuzov, it was decided to begin the operation.
Having driven about half a mile, Kutuzov stopped at an abandoned house, at the fork of two roads that went down the mountain. The fog lifted, and the French were visible two miles away. One Adjutant noticed a whole squadron of enemies below on the mountain. The enemy appears much closer than previously thought, and, hearing close shooting, Kutuzov’s retinue rushes to run back, where the troops had just passed by the emperors. Bolkonsky decides that the long-awaited moment has come, and the matter has come to him. Jumping off his horse, he rushes to the banner that had fallen from the ensign’s hands and, picking it up, runs forward shouting “Hurray!”, in the hope that the frustrated battalion will run after him. And, indeed, one after another the soldiers overtake him. Prince Andrei is wounded and, exhausted, falls on his back, where only the endless sky opens before him, and everything that was before becomes empty, insignificant and without any meaning. Bonaparte, after a victorious battle, circles the battlefield, giving the last orders and examining the remaining dead and wounded. Among the others, Napoleon sees Bolkonsky lying on his back and orders him to be taken to the dressing station.
The first volume of the novel ends with Prince Andrei, among other hopelessly wounded, surrendering to the care of the residents.
Volume II
The second volume can truly be called the only “peaceful” one in the entire novel. It depicts the lives of the characters between 1806 and 1812. Most of it is devoted to the personal relationships of the characters, the theme of love and the search for the meaning of life.
1 part
The second volume begins with Nikolai Rostov’s arrival home, where he is joyfully greeted by the entire Rostov family. His new military friend Denisov comes with him. Soon a celebration was organized in the English Club in honor of the hero of the military campaign, Prince Bagration, which was attended by the entire elite. Throughout the evening, toasts were heard glorifying Bagration, as well as the emperor. No one wanted to remember the recent defeat.
Pierre Bezukhov, who has changed a lot after his marriage, is also present at the celebration. In fact, he feels deeply unhappy, he began to understand the real face of Helen, who is in many ways similar to her brother, and he is also beginning to be tormented by suspicions about his wife’s betrayal with the young officer Dolokhov. By coincidence, Pierre and Dolokhov find themselves sitting opposite each other at the table. Dolokhov’s defiantly impudent behavior irritates Pierre, but Dolokhov’s toast “to your health” is the last straw beautiful women and their lovers." All this was the reason that Pierre Bezukhov challenges Dolokhov to a duel. Nikolai Rostov becomes Dolokhov's second, and Nesvitsky becomes Bezukhov's second. The next day at 9 o'clock in the morning Pierre and his second arrive in Sokolniki and meet Dolokhov, Rostov and Denisov there. Bezukhov's second is trying to persuade the parties to reconcile, but the opponents are determined. Before the duel, it becomes clear that Bezukhov is unable to even hold a pistol properly, while Dolokhov is an excellent duelist. The opponents disperse and, on command, begin to move closer. Bezukhov shoots first, and the bullet hits Dolokhov in the stomach. Bezukhov and the audience want to interrupt the duel due to a wound, but Dolokhov prefers to continue and takes careful aim, but bleeds and shoots wide. Rostov and Denisov take away the wounded man. In response to Nikolai’s questions about Dolokhov’s well-being, he begs Rostov to go to his adored mother and prepare her. Having gone to carry out the assignment, Rostov learns that Dolokhov lives with his mother and sister in Moscow, and, despite his almost barbaric behavior in society, is a gentle son and brother.
Pierre's worry about his wife's relationship with Dolokhov continues. He reflects on the past duel and increasingly asks himself the question: “Who is right, who is wrong?” When Pierre finally sees Helen “face to face,” she begins to swear and laugh contemptuously at her husband, taking advantage of his naivety. Pierre says that it’s better for them to break up, and in response he hears a sarcastic agreement, “... if you give me a fortune.” Then for the first time the breed of his father is reflected in Pierre’s character: he feels the passion and charm of rage. Grabbing a marble board from the table, he swings at Helen, shouting “I’ll kill you!” She, frightened, runs out of the room. A week later, Pierre gives his wife power of attorney for most of his fortune and goes to St. Petersburg.
After receiving news in Bald Mountains about the death of Prince Andrei at the Battle of Austerlitz, the old prince receives a letter from Kutuzov, which states that it is actually unknown whether Andrei really died, because he was not named among the fallen officers found on the battlefield. From the very beginning, Liza, Andrei’s wife, is not told anything by her relatives, so as not to hurt her. On the night of the birth, the cured Prince Andrei unexpectedly arrives. Lisa cannot bear childbirth and dies. On her dead face Andrei reads a reproachful expression: “What have you done to me?”, which subsequently does not leave him for a very long time. The newborn son is given the name Nikolai.
During Dolokhov's recovery, Rostov became especially friendly with him. And he becomes a frequent guest in the Rostov family’s house. Dolokhov falls in love with Sonya and proposes to her, but she refuses him because she is still in love with Nikolai. Before leaving for the army, Fedor arranges a farewell party for his friends, where he not quite honestly beats Rostov for 43 thousand rubles, thus taking revenge on him for Sonya’s refusal.
Vasily Denisov spends more time in the company of Natasha Rostova. Soon he proposes to her. Natasha doesn't know what to do. She runs to her mother, but she, having thanked Denisov for the honor, does not give consent, because she considers her daughter to be too young. Vasily apologizes to the countess, saying goodbye that he “adores” her daughter and their entire family, and the next day he leaves Moscow. Rostov himself, after his friend’s departure, stayed at home for another two weeks, waiting for money from the old count to pay all 43 thousand and receive a receipt from Dolokhov.
part 2
After his explanation with his wife, Pierre goes to St. Petersburg. In Torzhok at the station, while waiting for horses, he meets a Freemason who wants to help him. They start talking about God, but Pierre is an unbeliever. He talks about how much he hates his life. The Mason convinces him otherwise and persuades Pierre to join their ranks. Pierre, after much thought, is initiated into the Freemasons and after that he feels that he has changed. Prince Vasily comes to Pierre. They talk about Helen, the prince asks him to return to her. Pierre refuses and asks the prince to leave. Pierre leaves a lot of money for alms to the Masons. Pierre believed in uniting people, but later became completely disillusioned with it. At the end of 1806, a new war with Napoleon began. Scherer receives Boris. He took advantageous position on duty. He doesn't want to remember the Rostovs. Helen shows interest in him and invites him to her place. Boris becomes a close person for the Bezukhov family. Princess Marya replaces Nikolka's mother. The child suddenly falls ill. Marya and Andrey argue about how to treat him. Bolkonsky writes them a letter about his supposed victory. The child is recovering. Pierre became involved in charity work. He agreed with the manager everywhere and began to take care of business. He began to live his old life. In the spring of 1807 Pierre went to St. Petersburg. He stopped by his estate - everything is fine there, everything is the same, but there is chaos all around. Pierre visits Prince Andrei, they begin to talk about the meaning of life and Freemasonry. Andrei says that he began to experience an internal revival. Rostov is tied to the regiment. The war resumes.
Part 3
Prince Bolkonsky, eager to take revenge on Anatole for his action, leaves to join the army with him. And although Anatole soon returned to Russia, Andrei remained at headquarters and only after some time returned to his homeland in order to see his father. The trip to Bald Mountains to visit my father ends strong quarrel and Andrei's subsequent departure to the Western army. While in the Western army, Andrei was invited to the tsar for a military council, at which each general, proving his oneness correct solution regarding military operations, he entered into a tense dispute with the others, in which nothing was agreed upon except the need to send the king to the capital so that his presence would not interfere with the military campaign.
Meanwhile, Nikolai Rostov receives the rank of captain and, together with his squadron, as well as with the entire army, retreats. During the retreat, the squadron was forced to fight, where Nikolai showed particular courage, for which he was awarded the St. George Cross and received special encouragement from the army leadership. His sister Natasha, while in Moscow at that time, was very ill, and this illness, which almost killed her, is a mental illness: she worries very much and reproaches herself for betraying Andrei out of frivolity. On the advice of her aunt, she begins to go to church early in the morning and pray for atonement for her sins. At the same time, Pierre visits Natasha, which kindles in his heart a sincere love for Natasha, who also experiences certain feelings for him. The Rostov family receives a letter from Nikolai, where he writes about his award and the progress of the hostilities.
Nikolai's younger brother Petya, already 15 years old, has long been envious of his brother's successes, is going to enroll in military service, informing his parents that if he is not allowed in, he will leave on his own. With a similar intention, Petya goes to the Kremlin in order to get an audience with Emperor Alexander and personally convey to him his request for a desire to serve his fatherland. Although, however, he was never able to achieve a personal meeting with Alexander.
Representatives of wealthy families and various merchants gather in Moscow to discuss the current situation with Bonaparte and allocate funds to help fight him. Count Bezukhov is also present there. He, sincerely wanting to help, donates a thousand souls and their salaries to create a militia, the purpose of which was the entire meeting.
Part 2
At the beginning of the second part, various arguments are given about the reasons for Napoleon's defeat in the Russian campaign. The main idea was that the various kinds of events that accompanied this campaign were just a random coincidence of circumstances, where neither Napoleon nor Kutuzov, having no tactical plan for the war, left all events to their own devices. Everything happens as if by accident.
Old Prince Bolkonsky receives a letter from his son, Prince Andrei, in which he asks for his father's forgiveness and reports that it is unsafe to remain in the Bald Mountains since the Russian army is retreating, and advises him with Princess Marya and little Nikolenka to go inland. Having received this news, from the Bald Mountains to the nearest county town The servant of the old prince, Yakov Alpatych, was sent to Smolensk in order to find out the situation. In Smolensk, Alpatych meets Prince Andrei, who gives him a second letter to his sister with a similar content to the first. Meanwhile, in the salons of Helen and Anna Pavlovna in Moscow, the same sentiments remain and, as before, in the first of them glory and honor are exalted to Napoleon’s actions, while in the other there are patriotic sentiments. Kutuzov at that time was appointed commander-in-chief of the entire Russian army, which was necessary after the unification of its corps and conflicts between the commanders of individual divisions.
Returning to the story of the old prince, one cannot help but notice that he, neglecting his son’s letter, chose to stay on his estate, despite the advancing French, but he suffered a blow, after which he, together with his daughter, Princess Marya, set off towards Moscow . On the estate of Prince Andrei (Bogucharovo), the old prince was no longer destined to survive the second blow. After the death of the master, his servants and daughter - Princess Marya - became hostages of their own situation, finding themselves among the rebellious men of the estate who did not want to let them go to Moscow. Fortunately, Nikolai Rostov’s squadron was passing nearby, and in order to replenish the supplies of hay for the horses, Nikolai, accompanied by his servant and deputy, visited Bogucharovo, where Nikolai bravely defended the princess’s intentions and escorted her to the nearest road to Moscow. Afterwards, both Princess Marya and Nikolai recalled this incident with loving trepidation, and Nikolai even had the intention of marrying her later.
Prince Andrei, at Kutuzov’s headquarters, meets Lieutenant Colonel Denisov, who eagerly tells him about his plan for a partisan war. After asking permission personally from Kutuzov, Andrei is sent to the active army as a regiment commander. At the same time, Pierre also goes to the site of the future battle, meeting first Boris Drubetsky at the headquarters, and then Prince Andrei himself, not far from the position of his troops. During the conversation, the prince talks a lot about the gravity of war, that it succeeds not from the wisdom of the commander, but from the desire of the soldiers to stand to the last.
The final preparations for the battle are underway - Napoleon indicates the disposition and gives orders that, for one reason or another, will never be carried out.
Pierre, like everyone else, was raised in the morning by the cannonade heard on the left flank and, wanting to take a personal part in the battle, ends up at the Raevsky redoubt, where he indifferently spends his time and lucky coincidence circumstances leaves him about ten minutes before his surrender to the French. Andrei's regiment stood in reserve during the battle. An artillery grenade falls not far from Andrei, but out of pride he does not fall to the ground like his colleague and receives a severe wound in the stomach. The prince is taken to the hospital tent and placed on the operating table, where Andrei meets his long-time offender, Anatoly Kuragin. A shrapnel hit Kuragin in the leg, and the doctor was just busy cutting it off. Prince Andrei, remembering the words of Princess Marya and being himself on the verge of death, mentally forgave Kuragin.
The battle was over. Napoleon, having not achieved victory and having lost a fifth of his army (the Russians lost half of their army), was forced to give up his ambitions to continue to advance, since the Russians were fighting for life and death. For their part, the Russians also did not take any action, remaining on the lines they occupied (in Kutuzov’s plan an offensive was planned for the next day) and blocking the path to Moscow.
Part 3
Similar to the previous parts, the first and second chapters present the author’s philosophical reflections on the reasons for the creation of history and the actions of the Russian and French troops during the Patriotic War of 1812. At Kutuzov’s headquarters there are heated debates on the topic: should we defend Moscow or retreat? General Bennigsen advocates for the protection of the capital and, if this enterprise fails, he is ready to blame Kutuzov for everything. One way or another, the commander-in-chief, realizing that there is no longer any strength left to defend Moscow, decides to surrender it without a fight. But given that the decision was made only the other day, all of Moscow was already intuitively preparing for the arrival of the French army and the surrender of the capital. Rich landowners and merchants left the city, trying to take with them as much property as possible on carts, although this is the only thing the price of which did not fall, but increased in Moscow due to latest news. The poor burned and destroyed all their property so that the enemy would not get it. Moscow was engulfed in a stampede, which did not please the Governor-General, Prince Rastopchin, whose orders were supposed to convince the people not to leave Moscow.
Countess Bezukhova, upon returning from Vilna to St. Petersburg, with the direct intention of drawing up new batch for herself in the world, she decides that it is necessary to settle the final formalities with Pierre, who, by the way, also felt burdened in his marriage to her. She writes a letter to Pierre in Moscow, where she asks for a divorce. This letter was delivered to the addressee on the day of the battle on the Borodino field. After the battle, Pierre himself wanders for a long time among the mutilated and exhausted soldiers. There he quickly fell asleep. The next day, upon returning to Moscow, Pierre was summoned by Prince Rostopchin, who, with his previous rhetoric, appeals for staying in Moscow, where Pierre learns that most of his fellow Masons have already been arrested, and they are suspected of distributing French proclamations. Upon returning to his home, Pierre receives news of Helene's request to give the go-ahead for the divorce and of the death of Prince Andrei. Pierre, trying to rid himself of these abominations of life, leaves the house through the back entrance and never appears at home again.
In the Rostov house, everything goes on as usual - the collection of things is sluggish, because the count is accustomed to putting everything off until later. Petya stops with them on his way, and as a military man, he retreats further beyond Moscow with the rest of the army. Meanwhile, Natasha, accidentally meeting a convoy with wounded on the street, invites them to stay at their house. One of these wounded turns out to be her ex-fiancé, Andrei (the message to Pierre was erroneous). Natasha insists on removing the property from the carts and loading them with the wounded. Already moving through the streets, the Rostov family with convoys of the wounded notices Pierre, who, in the clothes of a commoner, was thoughtfully walking down the street, accompanied by some old man. Natasha, already knowing by that moment that Prince Andrei was traveling in the wagon train, began to take care of him herself at every stop and rest stop, without leaving a single step from him. On the seventh day, Andrei felt better, but the doctor continued to assure those around him that if the prince did not die now, he would die later in even greater pain. Natasha asks Andrei for forgiveness for her frivolity and betrayal. By that time, Andrei had already forgiven her and assured her of his love.
By that time, Napoleon had already come close to Moscow and, looking around it, rejoices that this city submitted and fell at his feet. He mentally imagines how he will implant the idea of true civilization and make the boyars fondly remember their conqueror. However, upon entering the city, he is very upset by the news that the capital has been abandoned by most of the inhabitants.
Depopulated Moscow plunged into unrest and theft (including from government officials). A crowd of dissatisfied people gathered in front of the city government. Mayor Rastopchin decided to distract her by handing over Vereshchagin, sentenced to hard labor, who was detained with Napoleonic proclamations and branded as a traitor and the main culprit in the abandonment of Moscow. By order of Rastopchin, the dragoon hit Vereshchagin with a broadsword, and the crowd joined in the massacre. Moscow at that time had already begun to fill with smoke and tongues of fire, like any abandoned wooden city, it had to burn.
Pierre comes to the conclusion that his entire existence was necessary only to kill Bonaparte. At the same time, he unwittingly saves the French officer Rambal from an old madman (the brother of his friend the Freemason), for which he was awarded the title of friend of the Frenchman and had a long conversation with him. The next morning, having slept, Pierre went to the western entrance to the city with the goal of killing Napoleon with a dagger, although he could not do this, since he was 5 hours late for his arrival! Frustrated, Pierre, wandering through the streets of the already lifeless city, came across the family of a minor official, whose daughter was supposedly locked in a burning house. Pierre, being not indifferent, went in search of the girl and after her successful rescue, he gave the girl to a woman who knew her parents (the official’s family had already left the place where Pierre met them in a desperate situation).
Inspired by his action and seeing French marauders on the street who were robbing a young Armenian woman and an elderly old man, he pounced on them and began to strangle one of them with frantic force, but was soon captured by a cavalry patrol and taken prisoner as a suspect in arson in Moscow.
Volume IV
Part 1
On August 26, the very day of the Battle of Borodino, Anna Pavlovna had an evening dedicated to reading the letter from the Right Reverend. The news of the day was the illness of Countess Bezukhova. There was talk in society that the Countess was very ill; the doctor said that it was a chest illness. The next day after the evening, an envelope was received from Kutuzov. Kutuzov wrote that the Russians did not retreat and the French lost much more than we did. By the evening of the next day, some terrible news happened. One of them was the news about the death of Countess Bezukhova. On the third day after Kutuzov’s report, news of the surrender of Moscow to the French spread. Ten days after leaving Moscow, the sovereign received the Frenchman Michaud (Russian at heart) sent to him. Michaud conveyed to him the news that Moscow had been abandoned and turned into a conflagration.
A few days before the Battle of Borodino, Nikolai Rostov was sent to Voronezh to buy horses. Provincial life in 1812 was the same as always. The society gathered at the governor's. No one in this society could compete with the Cavalier-Hussar of St. George. He had never danced in Moscow, and even there it would have been indecent for him, but here he felt the need to surprise. The whole evening Nikolai was busy with a blue-eyed blonde, the wife of one of the provincial officials. Soon he was informed about the desire of one important lady, Anna Ignatievna Malvintseva, to meet the savior of her niece. Nikolai, when talking with Anna Ignatievna and mentioning Princess Marya, often blushes and experiences a feeling that is incomprehensible to him. The governor's wife confirms that Princess Marya is a profitable match for Nicholas and starts talking about matchmaking. Nikolai ponders her words, remembers Sonya. Nikolai tells the governor’s wife his heartfelt desires, says that he really likes Princess Bolkonskaya and that his mother has told him about her more than once, since she will be a profitable partner for paying off the Rostovs’ debts, but there is Sonya, with whom he is bound by promises. Rostov arrives at Anna Ignatievna’s house and meets Bolkonskaya there. When she looked at Nikolai, her face changed. Rostov saw this in her - her desire for good, humility, love, self-sacrifice. The conversation was the simplest and most insignificant between them. They meet shortly after the Battle of Borodino, in a church. The princess received news of her brother's injury. A conversation takes place between Nikolai and the princess, after which Nikolai realizes that the princess has settled deeper in his heart than he foresaw. Dreams about Sonya were fun, but dreams about Princess Marya were scary. Nikolai receives a letter from his mother and Sonya. In the first, the mother talks about the fatal wound of Andrei Bolkonsky and that Natasha and Sonya are caring for him. In the second, Sonya says that she refuses the promise and says that Nikolai is free. Nikolai informs the princess about Andrei’s condition and escorts her to Yaroslavl, and a few days later he himself leaves for the regiment. Sonya's letter to Nikolai was written from Trinity. Sonya hoped for the recovery of Andrei Bolkonsky and had the hope that if the prince survived, he would marry Natasha. Then Nikolai will not be able to marry Princess Marya.
Meanwhile, Pierre is captured. All the Russians who were with him were of the lowest rank. Pierre and 13 others were taken to the Crimean Ford. Until September 8, before the second interrogation, there were the most difficult days in Pierre’s life. Pierre was interrogated by Davout and was sentenced to death. The criminals were placed, Pierre stood sixth. The execution failed, Pierre was separated from the other defendants and left in the church. There Pierre meets Platon Karataev (about fifty years old, a pleasant and melodious voice, the peculiarity of his speech is spontaneity, he never thought about what he was talking about). He knew how to do everything, was always busy, sang songs. Often said the opposite of what he said before. He loved to talk and spoke well. For Pierre, Platon Karataev was the personification of simplicity and truth. Plato knew nothing by heart except his prayer.
Soon Princess Marya arrived in Yaroslavl. She is greeted by the sad news that two days ago Andrey became worse. Natasha and the princess get closer and spend last days near the dying Prince Andrei.
Part 2
Part 3
Petya Rostov, on behalf of the general, ends up in Denisov’s partisan detachment. Denisov's detachment, together with Dolokhov's detachment, organize an attack on the French detachment. In the battle, Petya Rostov dies, the French detachment is defeated, and Pierre Bezukhov is released among the Russian prisoners.
Part 4
Natasha and Maria are having a hard time with the death of Andrei Bolkonsky, on top of everything comes the news of the death of Petya Rostov, Countess Rostova falls into despair, from a fresh and cheerful fifty-year-old woman she turns into an old woman. Natasha constantly looks after her mother, which helps her find the meaning of life after the death of her lover, but at the same time she herself weakens both physically and mentally. A series of losses brings Natasha and Marya closer together, and eventually, at the insistence of Natasha’s father, they return to Moscow together.
Epilogue
Part 1
Seven years have passed since 1812. Tolstoy talks about the activities of Alexander I. He says that the goal was achieved even after last war 1815 Alexander is at the pinnacle of possible human power. Pierre Bezukhov marries Natasha Rostova in 1813, and thereby brings her out of depression, which was caused, in addition to the death of her brother and Andrei Bolkonsky, also by the death of her father.
After the death of his father, Nikolai Rostov becomes aware that the inheritance he received consists entirely of debts ten times greater than the most negative expectations. Relatives and friends asked Nikolai to renounce the inheritance. But he accepts the inheritance with all the debts; it was impossible to go to the army, because the mother was already holding on to her son. Nikolai's situation became worse and worse. At the beginning of winter, Princess Marya arrived in Moscow. The first meeting between the princess and Nicholas was dry. Therefore, she did not dare to visit the Rostovs again. Nikolai came to the princess only in the middle of winter. Both were silent, occasionally glancing at each other. The princess did not understand why Nikolai was doing this to her. She asks him: “Why, Count, why?” The princess begins to cry and leaves the room. Nikolai stops her... Nikolai marries Princess Marya Bolkonskaya in the fall of 1814, at the age of three he fully repays all debts to creditors by borrowing 30 thousand from Pierre Bezukhov and moving to Bald Mountains, where he became a good gentleman and owner; in the future, he tries to use all his strength to buy back his personal estate, which was sold immediately after his father’s death. In 1820, Natasha Rostova already had three daughters and one son. There was no longer that fire of revival in her face; only a strong, beautiful, fertile female was visible. Rostova did not like society and did not appear there. On December 5, 1820, everyone gathered at the Rostovs, including the Denisovs. Everyone was expecting Pierre's arrival. After his arrival, the author describes life in one and a second family, the life of completely different worlds, conversations between husband and wife, communication with children and the dreams of the characters.
During our school years, each of us was fascinated by the story of the fate and love of the main characters of the brilliant creation of Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy called “War and Peace.” Natasha Rostova and Andrei Bolkonsky, Pierre Bezukhov - we have known these names since childhood, because through these characters the author conveyed to us the problems of the nineteenth century and how people struggled with them. Let's trace the history of the creation of "War and Peace" together.
Tolstoy managed to create a work that became popular all over the world, which he created for many years by working hard. Many global events taking place in our country at the beginning of the nineteenth century prompted the writer to express his thoughts in this format. The uprisings of peasants and Decembrists, the abolition of serfdom, the victory in the Patriotic War with Napoleon, all this made it clear and understand how powerful and strong the unification of the entire people can be.
In each individual hero, in the depiction of the entire Russian people and in their character as a whole, which are indicated in the novel, we can catch the well-founded, thoughtful view of the writer and his conclusions that he made by studying the history of his homeland, visiting the places of battles described in his work. Tragic fates, sharp love lines, the experiences of the characters were able to convey the whole atmosphere that took place during that difficult period of time.
The main idea, the main plot line of the novel “War and Peace” briefly.
The work took a long time to be created; it is known that Tolstoy rewrote the first volume of his novel many times, the plot changed, and the main idea also changed. What did the author come to anyway?
"People's Thought". This favorite phrase of the author can characterize the work. He came to this idea based on studying history. What helped us defeat Napoleon in a terrible war? It is the unification of all people into a single whole, such a strong wall that is difficult for the enemy to break. But delving into all the events of that time, you can find a lot of interesting things in the fate and character of everyone who went through that war.
Reference. Initially, the idea was to tell about the fate of one brave Decembrist, but during the writing several more storylines were added. The Rostov family, Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov are the main characters, watching whom we delve into the beginning of the 19th century and can feel at least a small part of what they experienced. Using their example, we see that despite military operations and what is happening around us, we must always have faith, love and simply live. In addition to the personal lives of the heroes, there is story line historical events.
The period of work on the novel.
The writer thought about writing a novel long before its publication. Back in 1856, he began work and only in 1861 he decided to read the first chapter to Turgenev. There were many different test titles, different plots. At first it was planned to describe completely different events, but soon Lev Nikolaevich abandoned his manuscripts and later began a completely different narrative, which was later recognized as brilliant and has survived to this day.
For six years Tolstoy worked on his legendary work. This lasted from 1863 to December 1869.
What sources were used to write the novel?
The author studied a huge amount of material, documents and chronicles that dated back to 1812. He was able to collect a large library of books describing the biography of both Alexander the First and Napoleon. But all these sources only confused him and confused his thoughts. In view of this, Tolstoy began to develop his own opinion and attitude towards everyone historical figures and events. He decided to trust his inner voice and start collecting on his own historical facts, which found their place in the novel.
For his work, he began to use the notes of his contemporaries, collected information in newspaper and magazine articles, and read letters from generals. I personally visited the place where the tragic events took place and lived for a couple of days in Borodino. The trip inspired me to continue my work and gave me a special mood and elation.
Tolstoy's thoughts and experiences during the period of writing
The epic novel is imbued with the thoughts, experiences, feelings and thoughts of the author. Through text, he was able to convey everything that was inside him, his entire worldview on the events of those years. Philosophical thoughts in the historical chapters form an integral part of the worldview that took shape in him in a difficult way and brought long-awaited peace and happiness.
The underlying idea is that historical moments people's lives are governed by inexorable laws. Even the desire and will of individual outstanding personalities is not enough; they cannot influence the development of history. A person who sets goals for himself and goes to achieve them, directing all his strength, thinks that he is free in his actions. Not only is he not free, but he also does not always achieve the results he hopes to see. The historical process consists precisely of what it does a large number of people, regardless of their personal goals and aspirations.
Tolstoy knew that in all grandiose historical events, the people's unification was the decisive part. This awareness of the role of the masses in history forms the basis of the story of the historical past that War and Peace gives us. Understanding this made it easier for the author artistic creation the image of that same national unity, depicting its participation in the war. Describing the war, the writer draws attention to the properties of the Russian people - they do not bend before the most terrible invasion of the enemy, about their will and patriotism, they are ready to die, but will never surrender to the one who attacks them. Tolstoy also shows us more detailed image Kutuzov as a historical figure of that era. It was his image that helped Lev Nikolaevich very deeply and clearly reveal the character that the people had during the Patriotic War of 1812. It shows us the army's trust in its commander and makes him a truly popular historical figure. This deep and very true thought guided the author when he created the image of Kutuzov in “War and Peace.”
In the digressions and chapters where Tolstoy expressed his philosophical thoughts he often repeated that he thought that historical events happen only because they have to happen, and if we try to understand and explain these phenomena, then they immediately become even more incomprehensible.
The role of one person in the whole history is negligible. No matter how brilliant and outstanding a person is, he will still not be able to control the movement of history at will. History is created by all of humanity, by all the masses, and not by one person who put himself above others and took upon himself the right to control the course of events.
From all this it follows that Tolstoy did not deny the role of man in history and did not reduce it to zero. Anyone who participates in events, is gifted with intelligence and is able to delve into events, grasp the meaning of what is happening, who is close to the people, deserves the right to be called great and brilliant. There are very few of them, one of them is Kutuzov, but Napoleon is his complete opposite.
Conclusion
One of the greatest creations is rightfully called the epic novel “War and Peace.” This is Tolstoy’s most outstanding creation, which managed to occupy a special place in his work, as well as in the development artistic culture all people on earth. This book brought him fame all over the world and gave reason to recognize him as one of the most brilliant realist writers.
The novel "War and Peace" by L.N. Tolstoy devoted seven years of intense and persistent work. September 5, 1863 A.E. Bers, father of Sofia Andreevna, wife of L.N. Tolstoy, sent a letter from Moscow to Yasnaya Polyana with the following remark: “Yesterday we talked a lot about 1812 on the occasion of your intention to write a novel relating to this era.” It is this letter that researchers consider “the first accurate evidence” dating the beginning of L.N.’s work. Tolstoy's "War and Peace". In October of the same year, Tolstoy wrote to his relative: “I have never felt my mental and even all moral forces so free and so capable of work. And I have this work. This work is a novel from the time of the 1810s and 20s, which has occupied me completely since the fall... I am now a writer with all the strength of my soul, and I write and think about it as I have never written or thought about it before.” The manuscripts of “War and Peace” testify to how one of the world’s largest works was created: over 5,200 finely written sheets have been preserved in the writer’s archive. From them you can trace the entire history of the creation of the novel.
Initially, Tolstoy conceived a novel about a Decembrist who returned after 30 years of Siberian exile. The novel began in 1856, shortly before the abolition of serfdom. But then the writer revised his plan and moved on to 1825 - the era of the Decembrist uprising. But soon the writer abandoned this beginning and decided to show the youth of his hero, which coincided with the formidable and glorious times of the Patriotic War of 1812. But Tolstoy did not stop there either, and since the war of 1812 was inextricably linked with 1805, he began his entire work from that time. Having moved the beginning of the action of his novel half a century into the depths of history, Tolstoy decided to take not one, but many heroes through the most important events for Russia.
Tolstoy called his plan - to capture in artistic form the half-century history of the country - “Three Times”. The first time is the beginning of the century, its first decade and a half, the time of youth of the first Decembrists who went through the Patriotic War of 1812. The second time is the 20s with their main event - the uprising of December 14, 1825. The third time is the 50s, the unsuccessful end of the Crimean War for the Russian army, the sudden death of Nicholas I, the amnesty of the Decembrists, their return from exile and the time of waiting for changes in the life of Russia. At different stages of work, the author presented his work as a broad epic canvas. By creating his “semi-fictional” and “fictional” heroes, Tolstoy, as he himself said, was writing the history of the people, looking for ways to artistically comprehend the “character of the Russian people.”
However, in the process of working on the work, the writer narrowed the scope of his initial plan and focused on the first period, touching only on the beginning of the second period in the epilogue of the novel. But even in this form, the concept of the work remained global in scope and required the writer to exert all his strength. At the beginning of his work, Tolstoy realized that the usual framework of the novel and historical story would not be able to accommodate all the richness of the content he had planned, and began to persistently search for a new artistic form; he wanted to create a literary work of a completely unusual type. And he succeeded. "War and Peace", according to L.N. Tolstoy is not a novel, not a poem, not a historical chronicle, it is an epic novel, a new genre of prose, which after Tolstoy became widespread in Russian and world literature.
During the first year of work, Tolstoy worked hard on the beginning of the novel. The author still could not choose a title for the work: he abandoned the first option for the title of the novel - “Three Times”, since in this case the narrative was supposed to begin with the Patriotic War of 1812. Another option - "One thousand eight hundred and five" - also did not correspond to the author's intention. In 1866, a new title for the novel appeared: “All’s Well That Ends Well,” answering happy ending works. However, this option did not reflect the scale of the action in any way, and was also rejected by the author. According to Tolstoy himself, many times he started and gave up writing his book, losing and gaining hope of expressing in it everything that he wanted to express. Fifteen versions of the beginning of the novel have been preserved in the writer’s archive. The concept of the work was based on Tolstoy’s deep interest in history, philosophical and socio-political issues. The work was created in an atmosphere of boiling passions around the main issue of that era - the role of the people in the history of the country, about their destinies. While working on the novel, Tolstoy sought to find the answer to these questions. Contrary to the writer’s hopes for the speedy birth of his literary brainchild, the first chapters of the novel began to appear in print only in 1867. And for the next two years, work on it continued. They were not yet entitled “War and Peace”; moreover, they were subsequently subjected to cruel editing by the author.
In order to truthfully describe the events of the Patriotic War of 1812, the writer studied a huge amount of materials: books, historical documents, memoirs, letters. “When I write history,” Tolstoy pointed out in the article “A few words about the book “War and Peace,” “I like to be faithful to reality down to the smallest detail.” While working on the work, he collected a whole library of books about the events of 1812. In In the books of Russian and foreign historians, he found neither a truthful description of events nor a fair assessment of historical figures. Some of them uncontrollably praised Alexander I, considering him the winner of Napoleon, others exalted Napoleon, considering him invincible.
Having rejected all the works of historians who portrayed the war of 1812 as a war of two emperors, Tolstoy set himself the goal of truthfully covering the events of the great era and showed the liberation war waged by the Russian people against foreign invaders. From the books of Russian and foreign historians, Tolstoy borrowed only genuine historical documents: orders, instructions, dispositions, battle plans, letters, etc. He included in the text of the novel letters from Alexander I and Napoleon, which the Russian and French emperors exchanged before the start of the War of 1812 ; the disposition of the Battle of Austerlitz, as well as the disposition of the Battle of Borodino, compiled by Napoleon. The chapters of the work also include letters from Kutuzov, which serve as confirmation of the characteristics given to the field marshal by the author.
When creating the novel, Tolstoy used the memoirs of his contemporaries and participants in the Patriotic War of 1812. The writer borrowed materials for scenes depicting Moscow and included partisan scenes in the work. important information about the actions of Russian troops during their foreign campaigns. Tolstoy discovered a lot of valuable information about the Russians being captured by the French and a description of Moscow life at that time. While working on the work, Tolstoy also used materials from newspapers and magazines from the era of the Patriotic War of 1812. He spent a lot of time in the manuscript department of the Rumyantsev Museum and in the archives of the palace department, where he carefully studied unpublished documents (orders and instructions, dispatches and reports, Masonic manuscripts and letters from historical figures). In letters not intended for publication, the writer found precious details depicting the life and characters of his contemporaries in 1812. Decembrist artistic uprising
Tolstoy stayed in Borodino for two days. Having traveled around the battlefield, he wrote to his wife: “I am very pleased, very pleased with my trip... If only God grants health and peace, and I will write a Battle of Borodino that has never happened before.” Between the manuscripts of “War and Peace” there is a piece of paper with notes made by Tolstoy while he was on the Borodino field. “The distance is visible for 25 miles,” he wrote, sketching the horizon line and noting where the villages of Borodino, Gorki, Psarevo, Semenovskoye, Tatarinovo are located. On this sheet he noted the movement of the sun during the battle. While working on the work, Tolstoy developed these brief notes into unique pictures of the Borodino battle, full of movement, colors and sounds.
Finally, at the end of 1867, the final title of the work, “War and Peace,” appeared. In the manuscript, the word "peace" was written with the letter "i". “The Explanatory Dictionary of the Great Russian Language” by V. I. Dahl broadly explains the word “mir”: “The world is the universe; one of the lands of the universe; our land, the globe, the light; all people, the whole world, the human race; community, society of peasants; gathering". Without a doubt, Tolstoy had precisely this symbolic understanding of this word. Over the course of seven years of intense work, which the writing of “War and Peace” required, the writer was not left with elation and creative fire, and that is why the work has not lost its significance to this day. More than a century has passed since the first part of the novel appeared in print, and War and Peace is invariably read by people of all ages - from young men to old people. During the years of work on the epic novel, Tolstoy stated that “the artist’s goal is not to undeniably resolve the issue, but to make people love life in its countless, never-exhaustible manifestations.” Then he admitted: “If they told me that what I write would be read by today’s children in twenty years and would cry and laugh over it and love life, I would devote my whole life and all my strength to it.” Many such works were created by Tolstoy. “War and Peace,” dedicated to one of the bloodiest wars of the 19th century, but affirming the idea of the triumph of life over death, occupies an honorable place among them.