War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

A Guide to Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace

This guide was first published in 2024 as part of the slow read of War and Peace. This guide is being updated throughout 2025 during the current slow read. Read about that book group here.

#1 Book 1 Part 1 Chapters 1 – 7

W&P #1: An invitation to a soirée

#2 Book 1 Part 1 Chapters 8 – 14

W&P #2: Life at both ends

#3 Book 1 Part 1 Chapters 15 – 21

W&P #3: A heart needs a home

#4 Book 1 Part 1 Chapter 22 – Part 2 Chapter 3

W&P #4: Fear and love at Bald Hills

#5 Book 1 Part 2 Chapters 4 – 10

W&P #5: A beautiful world made ugly

#6 Book 1 Part 2 Chapters 11 – 17

W&P #6: Waiting for history to happen

#7 Book 1 Part 2 Chapter 18 – Part 3 Chapter 3

W&P #7: Daydreams and nightmares

#8 Book 1 Part 3 Chapters 4 – 10

W&P #8: Young blood

#9 Book 1 Part 3 Chapters 11 – 17

W&P #9: Infinite sky

#10 Book 1 Part 3 Chapter 18 – Book 2 Part 1 Chapter 4

W&P #10: Rostovaganza!

#11 Book 2 Part 1 Chapters 5 – 11

W&P #11: The hazards of love

#12 Book 2 Part 1 Chapter 12 – Part 2 Chapter 2

W&P #12: The house of love and ruin

#13 Book 2 Part 2 Chapters 3 – 9

W&P #13: Regenerate me

#14 Book 2 Part 2 Chapters 10 – 16

W&P #14: Two men in a boat

#15 Book 2 Part 2 Chapter 17 – Part 3 Chapter 2

W&P #15: A hundred days of War and Peace

#16 Book 2 Part 3 Chapters 3 – 9

W&P #16: A semblance of life

#17 Book 2 Part 3 Chapters 10 – 16

W&P #17: The colour of the soul

#18 Book 2 Part 3 Chapters 17 – 23

W&P #18: Lovers of light

#19 Book 2 Part 3 Chapter 24 – Part 4 Chapter 4

W&P #19: Never Never Land

#20 Book 2 Part 4 Chapters 5 – 11

The enchanted forest

#21 Book 2 Part 4 Chapter 12 – Part 5 Chapter 5

If life could write

#22 Book 2 Part 5 Chapters 6 – 12

Natasha's battlefield

#23 Book 2 Part 5 Chapters 13 – 19

A dramatic interlude

#24 Book 2, Part 5, Chapter 20 – Book 3, Part 1, Chapter 3

The Great Comet of 1812*

#25 Book 3, Part 1, Chapters 4 – 10

The Emperor's New Clothes

#26 Book 3, Part 1, Chapters 11 – 17

Growing Pains

#27 Book 3, Part 1, Chapter 18 – Part 2, Chapter 1

The Madding Crowd

#28 Book 3, Part 2, Chapters 2–8

Life's Retreat

#29 Book 3, Part 2, Chapters 9–15

Marya's World

#30 Book 3, Part 2, Chapters 16–22

Time and Patience

#31 Book 3, Part 2, Chapters 23–29

The Longest Night

#32 Book 3, Part 2, Chapters 30–36

Borodino

#33 Book 3, Part 2, Chapter 37–Part 3, Chapter 4

This Terrible Affair

#34 Book 3, Part 3, Chapters 5–11

Evasive Manoeuvres

#35 Book 3, Part 3, Chapters 12–18

The Value of Things

#36 Book 3, Part 3, Chapters 19–25

How Bees Die

#37 Book 3, Part 3, Chapters 26–32

The Unsettled Question

#38 Book 3, Part 3, Chapter 33 – Book 4, Part 1, Chapter 4

Phantoms and Reflections

#39 Book 4, Part 1, Chapters 5–11

Beyond Understanding

#40 Book 4, Part 1, Chapter 12 – Part 2, Chapter 2

Death's Door

#41 Book 4, Part 2, Chapters 3 – 9

Fighting with Ghosts

#42 Book 4, Part 2, Chapters 10 – 16

Happy Feet

#43 Book 4, Part 2, Chapter 17 – Part 3, Chapter 4

Negative Numbers

#44 Book 4, Part 3, Chapters 5 – 11

No More Heroes

#45 Book 4, Part 3, Chapters 12 – 18

The Drowned and the Saved

#46 Book 4, Part 3, Chapter 19 – Part 4, Chapter 6

Life After Death

#47 Book 4, Part 4, Chapters 7 – 13

We Are Stardust

#48 Book 4, Part 4, Chapters 14 – 20

Tell Your Story

#49 Epilogue, Part 1, Chapters 1 – 6

Sorrow and Joy

#50-52 Epilogue, Part 1, Chapter 7 – End

The Eve of St Nicholas