The Picture Story of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace

By Bernard Geis

WAR AND PEACE is more than "the world's greatest novel." It is an emotional experience that remains with you the rest of your life.

Here, in a new kind of book, is a fascinating presentation of Tolstoy's masterpiece. Drawing from both the novel and the motion picture, it provides a vivid, fast-paced story that is not only exciting in itself but cannot fail to increase you enjoyment of both the novel and the film.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9780883914533

Book preview

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Scene 1 — Overture to War

BELGIUM, Germany, Italy and Austria have already been engulfed by the flowing tide of Napoleon’s legions. Soon that tide will roll toward Russia. But now, on a beautiful sunlit day in Moscow, the threat of war seems little more than a good excuse for a splendid parade before cheering crowds.

Standing in his carriage next to his young wife, Lise, Prince Andrey Bolkonsky watches the parading troops thoughtfully. His very good friend Pierre Bezukhov is on his way to visit the Rostov family. Standing alongside the carriage, Pierre is both amused and concerned.

At this moment in Paris, says Pierre, they’re probably parading too. But the French, at least, have something to march for—liberty, equality, fraternity. But these poor conscripts—they aren’t free, they aren’t equal, and they’re certainly not brothers. Yet still they march off to war. Some day I must find out why.

The streets of Moscow were fine for parades; the sun was shining—and Napoleon was a thousand miles away

Their carriage stopped by the crowd, Andrey and his wife watch the parade with Pierre

Nicholas and Sonya steal a farewell kiss

At first the parade delights Natasha

Then, with Pierre, she becomes thoughtful

AT THE ROSTOVS, following the custom of departing warriors through many wars and many centuries, Lt. Nicholas Rostov kisses his childhood sweetheart, Sonya, good-bye. Recently, Countess Rostov has been upset at the idea of a romance between her son and his attractive but penniless cousin, who has lived with the Rostovs since childhood.

Natasha, dark-eyed daughter of the Rostov family, a young creature of singular charm and vitality, thoroughly enjoys the spectacle of the parade. Isn’t it lovely! she bubbles. If I were a man, I’d be down there now, riding a terrible black horse, wearing a sword. Oh, it isn’t fair! Only men are permitted to have any fun.

But as Natasha stares down at the marchers, her expression suddenly changes and tears come into her eyes. She whirls away from her window and joins Pierre at his.

What’s the matter, Natasha? he asks.

All those handsome young men, she exclaims in a choked voice, marching away to fight—and to be killed!

TURNING FROM THE PARADE, Pierre and the Rostovs divert their attention to Nicholas, resplendent in his new uniform as a lieutenant of hussars. Natasha rushes over to him and embraces him ecstatically.

"You look so dazzling in your uniform, she cries, and you’re going so far away! Austria. It’s miles! I’ve looked it up on the map. That brute Napoleon!" Then she stands back to admire Nicholas.

Doesn’t he look glorious? she exclaims. "Wasn’t it thoughtful of Mama and Daddy to have such handsome children? She takes a locket from her neck and hangs it on her brother’s tunic. Lieutenant Count Nicholas Rostov, I decorate you with the Order of Absolutely Everything, First Class." And she kisses him on both cheeks and hugs him wildly.

The Rostovs admire their young hussar in his dazzling new uniform

Natasha decorates her brother

Natasha explains how she would order the world if she were all-powerful

NATASHA now turns to Pierre. It ‘s so easy for you men! she protests. All you have to do is decide to do something, and then you can do it — become a soldier, be a judge, get appointed ambassador—

And if you were a man, Pierre asks playfully, what would you decide to do?

"I’d decide to become enormously powerful. I’d become the Czar’s most trusted minister, and he wouldn’t dare make a move without consulting me. I’d have hundreds of new laws passed."

What laws, my dear? breaks in Count Rostov, amused. Natasha pretends to think hard. First, I’d make a law forbidding anyone to win from Papa at cards.

Everyone laughs, the count a bit shamefacedly (for he loses too often and too much).

Then— she walks importantly around the room, pretending to be contemplating deep affairs of state. I’d make it treason for anyone to be unhappy. If anyone is grumpy, off he goes to Siberia!

Natasha appoints Pierre to sit at her right hand and help judge the

Reviews for The Picture Story of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace

[clif_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have finished the first half of War & Peace. I plan listen to some other books before proceeding with the second half. I belong to a book group that is reading it for the summer. Two meetings still remain of the three planned, so I still plenty of time to finish. I plan to wait until I'm finished with the second half before trying to write a review. I'm wondering how to write a review of a book that has been already thoroughly reviewed by scholars for many years. What more can I say that hasn't been said before.

[stubbyfingers_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The author repeats himself often throughout this novel, but then, if you were writing a 1500 page novel, you probably would too.There were three separate components interwoven throughout this book. The first is the story of the people of Russia. The loves and lives of the Rostovs and their acquaintances. I really enjoyed this part, especially when I got into the swing of things the way they were in early 19th century Russia. The second part was a description of the Napoleon's invasion of Russia and descriptions of the battles. While I didn't particularly enjoy this part (I groaned inwardly every time Napoleon was mentioned), it was interesting at times too, and the rest of the story couldn't have moved along without some description of what was happening in the war.The third part was the part that really made me cringe. This was when Mr. Tolstoy got up on his soapbox and explained at length and repetitively why historians are all wrong and have done a really poor job of figuring out causes and effects throughout history. He started with a few paragraphs of this here and there, but as the novel progressed, his soapbox moments became more frequent and prolonged until the last hundred pages of the book which are almost exclusively devoted to this. It definitely made me glad to finally get to the end of this novel!I'm glad I made my way through this book mostly because now I can finally say "Yes, I've read War & Peace." If being able to say that isn't on the list of the things that will make you happy, I'd recommend skipping this--I'm sure you can find better ways to spend your time.

[tommi180744 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

With over 500 characters each given time and place to make a mark within a rolling, panoramic story of truly Historical proportions, where shall I begin? Easy: An unsurpassed MASTERPIECE of its epic genre and Tolstoy one of the genuine immortal great Authors. Everytime I consider the Russian literally penned this immense tome and kept niches for every personality, scene, word and gesture in the mind as he did so just astounds me all over again at his brilliance.