Version of Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Translated by: Louise and Aylmer Maude) -Three Volumes in One
In book 1 we are
introduced to the aristocratic families of the novel: The Kuragins, Bezukhovs,
Rostovs and the Bolonskys. Tolstoy intricately ties in all the interfamilial
associations adding great depth to the many characters mentioned. Pierre
Bezukhov who was once the Count’s bastard becomes legitimate and inherits a
great deal of money to the dismay of the Kuragins, namely Prince Vasili. The
dispirited Vasili tells Pierre, “How often we sin, how much we
deceive, and all for what? I am near sixy, dear friend…I too….All will end in
death, all! Death is awful…”
The Rostovs are
another family which enjoys great wealth and social prestige and represent the
carefree life of the Russian aristocracy. We are lastly introduced to the
Bolonsky family in which Nicholas has a close relationship with his son Andrey
who shares his arrogance and detachment. This greatly contrasts to his
relationship with his daughter Marya who is deeply afraid of her father and seeks
comfort through religion. Andrey leaves for war despite his pregnant wife’s
great objection and theatrical outbursts.
Thus far, I can tell that Tolstoy is a master storyteller to have developed all these great families and characters so well. I find that although the time that this book has been written, human nature has not changed greatly as greed for power and wealth as well as conflict and war still plague modern day society.
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