Upon reading the first volume, 313 pages, of this novel, the reader will get a clear idea of how Tolstoy wants us to consider war: it is not the romantic thing of old adventure novels. And nor is it littered with heroes: the great hero of the time – Napoleon – is revealed by Tolstoy by the end of this volume to be just another petty and arrogant man. Napoleon is quoted as saying that “The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies.” Tolstoy reveals how none of his characters control the chaos, and that ultimately, we are all subject to it. And war, for Tolstoy, is a tragic mistake for all involved, especially our heroes who have all come to what looks like a ‘sticky end’. We’ll be reading some of the next volume over the Christmas break, leaving wart behind for the delightful home scenes on Moscow.

Wellington Reading Group