The Battle of Austerlitz (detail) by François Pascal, 1805
Many consider Leo Tolstoy’s epic 19th-century War and Peace, the story of the Napoleonic Wars in Russia, to be the greatest novel ever written. Joseph Luzzi, a professor of literature at Bard College, leads participants through an in-depth consideration of the themes, historical issues, literary elements, and cultural conditions that give Tolstoy’s work its legendary aura. He pays close attention to how questions about religion, the representation of warfare, Tolstoy’s theories on history, and his brilliant understanding of human emotion—especially love—make this novel as relevant today as when it first appeared.
10–11 a.m. Leo Tolstoy: Life and Times of a Literary Legend
Luzzi considers the major aspects of the aristocratic Tolstoy’s life, including his military service, noting how they relate to War and Peace. He also discusses other works by Tolstoy that illuminate the novel, with a focus on Anna Karenina.
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. From Society to the Battlefield: War and Peace, Volumes 1–2
Luzzi focuses on the development of the novel’s main characters, including Pierre, Prince Andrei, and Princess Marya. He explores how Tolstoy establishes a delicate narrative balance between his depiction of society life and, in contrast, the often deadly world of human conflict.
12:15–12:45 p.m. Break
12:45–1:45 p.m. Existential Dilemmas and National Yearnings: War and Peace, Volume 3
Luzzi examines how characters like Pierre and Prince Andrei pursue the question of life’s meaning as they deal with Russia’s political struggles against Napoleon’s invading army. He also discusses Tolstoy’s theories on history in relation to the novel.
2–3 p.m. Concluding Thoughts: War and Peace, Volume 4–Epilogue
This look at the last sections of War and Peace considers such key concerns as Tolstoy’s representation of death and notion of heroism and the role of religion in the narrative. Luzzi also explores the novel’s legacy.
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