Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. War and Peace takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. Prior to reading the novel, how familiar were you with this period, or with Russian history in general? How much historical knowledge do you think is necessary to fully appreciate Tolstoy’s work?

2. The novel has a large cast of characters, and the plot describes their complex and often intertwined interpersonal lives. Would you have preferred a more tightly focused narrative structure? Which characters or plots were most interesting to you?

3. Have you read other 19th-century Russian novels, either by Tolstoy or other authors—e.g., Anna Karenina or works by Dostoevsky such as Crime and Punishment? How does War and Peace compare? What themes or stylistic elements seem to characterize Russian literature from this period?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Pierre’s social status and desirability change significantly after he inherits great wealth upon his father’s death. Has there ever been an event in your life that seemed to change how people perceived you? Was this change surprising to you?