Publisher's Synopsis
War and Peace is widely viewed as one of the world's greatest novels, but oddly, no reader's companion to the text has yet been written in English. This volume will fill that gap. For scholars, it will synthesize the critical heritage and present new perspectives on the novel. For the general reader, it will provide the sort of guidance that will enrich their reading experience and help them navigate the long and rewarding journey to the novel's end. The annotations provide thorough background on the historical contexts, notes on the character and plot development, discussion of the various English translations, and other explanatory notes that will clarify the fundamental ideas and aesthetic devices of the novel.
