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History and literature walk side by side like Siamese sisters. When studying literary schools and their most renowned authors, we need to know the historical context of the time in which these writers lived, or why they chose a certain period of the near or distant past to write their works.
As an example, we can mention the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy, author of the monumental work War and Peace (Voyna i mir (1865–1872), using a deep historical knowledge of the Napoleonic wars against the main monarchies of Europe, dissecting the origins and consequences of conflicts and, above all, exposing people and their vulnerabilities with an acute psychological perception.
War and Peace, chosen by Time magazine as the greatest novel of all time, narrates the lives of four aristocratic families, against the backdrop of the invasion of Russia by Napoleon Bonaparte. It began to be published in chapters in a periodical, but ended up becoming a truly massive work that took seven years to complete. The work has 580 characters, some based on real personalities and others fictional. Its sweeping storyline explores the value of family and shows how victory in life and war rests on nothing but chance and circumstance.
Far beyond Napoleon
Tolstoy himself questions what War and Peace is in a text that details the process of researching and creating his masterpiece. According to him, it is not a novel, much less an epic, even less a historical chronicle. The work contains three types of material:
1. A historical account of the Napoleonic wars:
2. Biographies of fictional characters;
3. A set of essays on the philosophy of history.
Following the journey of five Russian aristocratic families from 1805 to 1820, Tolstoy narrates the march of Napoleonic troops and their brutal impact on the lives of hundreds of characters.
The historical parts of the work recount the campaign of 1805 that led to Napoleon's victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, a period of peace, and the invasion of Russia in 1812. Contrary to accepted opinion, Tolstoy portrays Napoleon as an egomaniacal and ineffective buffoon, Tsar Alexander I as a phrase maker, obsessed with how historians will describe him; and Russian General Mikhail Kutuzov (previously despised) as an old patient who understands the limitations of human will and planning.
Many battle scenes
Notables are the battle scenes, which show combat as absolute chaos. The generals imagine that they can "anticipate all contingencies", but the battle is really the result of "a hundred million chances" decided impulsively by unforeseen circumstances. In war as in life, no system or model can come close to explaining the infinite complexity of human behavior.
Outstanding characters
Among the book's fictional characters, the reader's attention is first drawn to Prince Andrey Bolkonsky, a proud man who has come to despise all that is false, superficial, or merely conventional. Recognizing the artifice of high society, he joins the army to achieve glory, which he finds truly meaningful.
Gravely wounded at Austerlitz, he comes to see glory and Napoleon as no less mean than the salons of St. Petersburg. As the novel progresses, Prince Andrey repeatedly discovers the emptiness of the activities he had been engaged in until then. Tolstoy's depiction of his death in 1812 is considered one of the most effective scenes in Russian literature.
During the battle scenes, high society balls and veiled intrigues, besides Andrei Bolkónsky, the memorable figures of the brothers Nikolai and Natacha Rostóv and Pierre Bezúkhov, the illegitimate son of a count, whose spiritual quest serves as a species of common thread and makes him one of the most complex personalities of 19th century literature.
Steeped in historical context
The count Lev Tolstoy belonged to a family of Russian nobles. After being orphaned at the age of nine, he was raised by aunts and private tutors. He left university early without a degree, but he was a strong advocate of education. When he returned to his parents' estate in Yasnaya Poliana, he made unsuccessful attempts to educate the workers.
In 1851, he joined the army. During the Crimean War, he fought in Sevastopol. The blunt articles he wrote next made him known within the St. Petersburg Literary cycle and earned the Tsar's attention.
Writer and philosopher
During his lifetime, Tolstoy was recognized primarily as a philosopher and for the political writings that garnered a large following in Russia. He believed in a simple life of work in search of the necessary, without material goods. He wrote lengthy treatises on these anti-capitalist views, the path of non-violent protest (which was later adopted by Gandhi), and religious reform. In 1901, he was excommunicated from the Orthodox Church for trying to create a new, simpler version of Christianity, which served to make him more popular.
Tolstoy lived from 1828 to 1910. He spent the last years of his life consistent with his beliefs, throwing away titles and possessions, much to the chagrin of his wife and family. He died like a hermit.
We can say that he was within the historical period of his magnificent work. This historical context joins the literary context of his time, that is, Romanticism (1836 to 1810) and Realism/Naturalism (1881 to 1922) and are extremely useful to analyze the works of the Russian writer. An older Tolstoy may or may not have been influenced by Symbolism (1893–1920), but this requires a more elaborate analysis that does not fit here.
Finally, it should be noted that, in addition to history, philosophy also uses and is used by literature. They are, therefore, a trinity that, even though it is not very holy, is extremely relevant in the fascinating world of literature.
Used and suggested Links
֎ Zach Baer - What is History and Why Study It?
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