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THE AUTHOR: Count Leo Nikolaevitch Tolstoy (born 1828, died 1910) was of noble birth and heir to large estates. His intense sincerity of character and thought gradually led him to abandon the normal life of a boyar (Russian minor nobility). Before this metamorphosis, however, he received a formal education at the University of Kazan, entered the army, and served in the Caucasus with an artillery unit. Here he secured the background for some of his short stories, notably "The Cossacks" and "The Raid."

He retired from the army for a few years but asked for active duty when the Crimean War broke out. He commanded a battery at Sebastopol, an experience that served as a basis for his novel, Sebastopol. He once more retired from military life, this time for good, and devoted himself to study and writing. He emancipated his serfs in accordance with the Emancipation Act of 1861, but continued to operate his country estate at Yasnaya Polyana with hired workers.

About 1876 he seems to have undergone a spiritual experience which led him to renounce the Russian Orthodox religion and to arrive at intellectual conclusions which involve nonresistance to evil; abolition of governments, nationality, churches, and religious dogmas; and elimination of other social institutions. But his creed also involved belief in God and love of men. He made more or less successful attempts to renounce his own titles and property and "Tolstoyism" eventually became an organized sect. His chief importance arose from his amazing intellectual power, which entered into his books, whether they were novels, plays, discussions, or exhortations. He became so powerful that the Imperial Russian Government did not dare to interfere with him, although it could and did censor his writings. His influence spread far beyond

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Russia and made him something like a prophet in the minds of Westerners.

His chief novels are War and Peace (1866), Anna Karenina (1875-77), The Death of Ivan Ilyich (1884), The Kreutzer Sonata (1890), and Resurrection (1899).

Of his other books, What is Art (1898) is considered a profound analysis of the nature of art. Confession (1882) is an autobiographical description of the great spiritual crisis of his life. What Then Must We Do? (1886) is a study of economic conditions in Tsarist Russia. The Power of Darkness (1886) is perhaps the greatest of his plays; other plays include The Fruits of Enlightenment (1891) and The Living Corpse (1911). War and Peace, Resurrection, and Anna Karenina have been made into motion pictures by American producers.

Leo Tolstoy remains one of the 10 most popular authors in Soviet Russia. According to John Gunther's Inside Russia Today there are two Tolstoy museums in Moscow, which are very popular. A placard in one museum stated that War and Peace had sold more than 3,400,000 copies under the Soviet regime and Anna Karenina had sold more than 2,000,000. His philosophical works are not published, however-which may not be too surprising in view of the fact that Tolstoy's views are not in accord with the Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist-Khrushchevist party line, whatever it happens to be at any given moment.

THE NOVEL: How does one begin to describe or synthesize a novel of such gigantic scope as War and Peace? The first hazard is to attempt to select a good translation from the original Russian. Next comes the difficulty of editing and abridging the 1,400 or more pages-one of the longest novels ever written. As Fadiman says in his introduction to Manuel Komroff's abridgement (Bantam 1 1497/7), "writing about War and Peace is a selfdefeating activity." I agree with Fadiman that it is not a "historical novel" but the battle pieces are excellent and justify our inclusion of War and Peace in our military novel selection.

How does the student who is not a specialist in the Napoleonic Era find his way past the very first sentence: "Eh bien, mon prince, so Genoa and Lucca are now no more than private estates of the Bonaparte family"-without being lost? So we had to develop the rather long historical background of the events of the French Revolution, the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the general political situation in Europe during the era which bears

Napoleon's name. Tolstoy was not a historian. Rosemary Edmonds, one of the better translators, points out some typical inaccuracies of dating: "In 1805 Natasha appears as a child of thirteen; in 1809 she is sixteen. Her sister is seventeen in 1805 and twenty-four in 1809. Nickolai Rostov joined the army in September 1805 and returned in February 1806-after an absence, that is, of 5 months. In the memorable description of his homecoming, however, we are told that he had been away 'a year and a half.' "

But Tolstoy is dealing with humanity-people moving in the strange delirium of war and war's chaos. With so many characters coming to life under his talented pen, he can be forgiven a few misplaced dates. He knows his characters inside out—even to the way they walk. Small domestic incidents are related with as much care as the account of the Battle of Borodino.

Let's use the greatly abridged Bantam Edition (while recognizing its deficiencies) as the peg upon which to hang our synthesis of the novel.

Except for the historical figures (Napoleon, Tsar Alexander I, Kutuzov, Rostopchin, etc.), the members of the noble Bolkonsky, Rostov, and Kuragin families and Prince Pierre Bezuhov are the important persons in the story. The novel is divided into 15 "books," or parts, and an epilogue; the time involved is roughly the years from 1805 to 1820, but the important action ends with Napoleon's retreat from Russia in the winter of 1812-1813.

A. Books I-II-III deal with the year 1805. Book I introduces the chief characters, describes life in Petersburg and Moscow, and leads up to the Russian declaration of war on Napoleon, newly crowned Emperor of France. Book II describes the Russian campaign under Kutuzov, culminating in the battle of Schöngraben and Napoleon's defeat of Austria (October-November 1805). Tolstoy describes the war experiences of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, Prince Boris Dubretskoy, and Count Nickolai Rostov and introduces the historical characters of General Kutuzov and Bagration. Book III tells how Pierre, the illegitimate son of Prince Bezuhov, inherits his father's estates and titles. Prince Vassily Kuragin unsuccessfully attempts to arrange a marriage between his son, Anatole, with Princess Mary Bolkonsky, Andrei's sister. The scene shifts to Austria. The Austrian and Russian emperors review their troops. The Battle of Austerlitz (November 20, 1805) results in a French victory. Prince Andrei leads a gallant charge and is missing in action.

B. Book IV (1806) describes life in Petersburg and involves the following characters and incidents of major importance to the novel:

1. Pierre suspects a scoundrel named Dolohov of having an affair with his wife. They duel and Dolohov is wounded and exiled. Pierre and his wife separate, after he settles a large estate on her. Pierre becomes more of a recluse than ever.

2. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's wife dies in childbirth on the eve of his return "from the dead"; the son is christened Nickolai Andreivich.

3. Dolohov is rejected by Sonya, ward of the Rostov family who is in love with the eldest son, Nickolai. In revenge, Dolohov fleeces Nickolai at cards, winning 43,000 roubles from him and hastening the financial downfall of the Rostov family. Natasha, the youngest Rostov daughter, rejects Captain Denisov, Nickolai's commander in the Pavlogradsky Hussars. War with France is resumed in November 1806.

C. Book V (1806–07) mentions but does not describe the important battles of Eylau and Friedland, both Russian defeats. The frustrated Pierre joins the Freemasons and resolves to live according to their precepts (here Tolstoy enunciates some of his own philosophy). Nickolai Rostov tries to befriend Denisov, wounded and under court-martial charges for misappropriation of food (he stole rations from the infantry for his own starving men). Here is a fine description of wounded men in field hospitals. Tolstoy describes the meeting of the two emperors, Alexander and Napoleon at Tilsit (where they divided Europe into spheres of influence).

D. Book VI (1808–10). Napoleon and Alexander meet at Erfurt. Pro-French sentiment rises in Russian court circles. Prince Andrei spends his time in the country, freeing his serfs, studying, running his estates-until August 1809, when he is invited by Privy Councillor Speransky (a great reformer) to work on the revision of the Russian Civil Code of Law.

Pierre and his wife reconcile, but he continues to study Freemasonry, while she becomes a social leader in Petersburg. Natasha Rostov attends her first formal ball on New Year's Eve, 1809, and is noticed by Prince Andrei, who falls in love with her. They are betrothed but the wedding is postponed for a year at the request of Prince Andrei's father. Andrei goes abroad. Princess Mary Bolkonsky, his sister, becomes involved with the "God's Folk" sect.

E. Books VII and VIII (1810-11) are laid mainly in Moscow. Nickolai Rostov decides to marry his cousin Sonya despite his mother's objections. Princess Mary raises Andrei's son. The Rostovs prepare for Natasha's wedding to Andrei, but meanwhile the scoundrelly Anatole Kuragin sweeps her off her feet and she agrees to elope with him. Sonya foils the plan but Andrei hears of it and breaks the engagement. Anatole flees to Petersburg.

F. Books IX through XIV (1812) are perhaps the heart of the novel. Russia declares war on Napoleon when he invades Russian territory in the summer of 1812. The Tsar has no plan of action. His three separate armies have no commander in chief and they are forced to retreat from the French. Prince Andrei joins Kutuzov's staff on the Turkish front, in pursuit of Anatole, whom he has vowed to kill whenever they meet. Andrei transfers to Barclay de Tolly's army in the west. Here he finds confusion and chaos at army headquarters with several groups intriguing for power. One group urges the Tsar to leave the army (on the pretext of arousing public support) so as to allow a unified command to be set up.

Young Nickolai Rostov is decorated for gallantry at the Battle of Ostroma on July 13. Prince Andrei receives command of a light cavalry regiment. The Tsar goes to Moscow to appeal to the populace (July 17) and is cheered by all. The nobility rally to him. Pierre Bezuhov recruits a regiment.

The retreat continues and Russia adopts a scorched earth policy after the evacuation of Smolensk. The Russians are playing for time by sacrificing space. Kutuzov is made commander in chief despite the Tsar's dislike, and the appointment is hailed by the people. Old Prince Bolkonsky dies at his family estate and the serfs refuse to desert Princess Mary in her hour of need.

Tolstoy describes the bloody Battle of Borodino, mainly through the eyes of Prince Andrei and Pierre. Although it is a drawn battle, Kutuzov continues to retreat to Moscow. The Rostovs and other families desert the city. Prince Andrei is found badly wounded in a caravan of evacuating wagons and is nursed by the Rostov family. Governor Rostopchin burns the city. Pierre determines to kill Napoleon, despite his hatred of violence and reluctant admiration for the tyrant. During his wanderings through the city he rescues a child from a burning house, then is arrested as an incendiary by the French. His wife, Helen, commits suicide (conveniently leaving Pierre free to marry).