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Leo Tolstoy s epic novel featuring hundreds of characters, numerous plot threads, and a battle sequence that lasts more than 20 chapters is the literary equivalent of a marathon. Here are a few facts about the author, his struggles to bring
War and Peace to life, and the lasting impact the work has had in Russia and beyond.
1. Its original title was
The Year 1805.
The first installment of Tolstoy’s work The Year 1805 appeared in the journal
Russian Messenger in February 1865. Serializing a work of fiction was common for writers at the time, and a way for Tolstoy to support himself as he continued working on the novel. The stark title indicated the year in which his story and the rumblings of revolution begins, and it’s one Tolstoy always saw as a placeholder. Tolstoy considered other provisional titles followed as he continued working on the story, including, for a short time, All’s Well That Ends Well.