Hailed as one of the greatest novels of all time and a classic of world literature, War and Peace unfolds in the early nineteenth century during the turbulent years of the Napoleonic invasion of Russia. Tolstoy's epic ranges from stirring depictions of historical events to intimate portraits of family life, moving between public spectacles and prívate lives to offer a tale of both panoramic scope and closely observed detail.
From the breathless excitement of 16-year-old Natasha Rostov's first ball, to Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's epiphany on the battlefield at Austerlitz, the novel abounds in memorable incidents, particularly those involving Pierre Bezukhov. A seeker after moral and spiritual truths, Pierre and his search for life's deeper meaning stand at the heart of this monumental book. A tale of strivers in a world fraught with conflict, social and political change, and spiritual confusion, Tolstoy's magnificent work continues to entertain, enlighten, and inspire readers around the world.
Louisa May Alcott, author of the childhood classic Little Women, has enchanted generations of readers with her unforgettable coming-of-age stories. In An Old-Fashioned Girl, she brings alive the tale of Polly Milton, a young girl who leaves her simple country life to stay at the home of her wealthy city cousins. Polly doesn't wear fancy clothes. She doesn't attend the theater. And she doesn't talk or act the way the other giras in town do. But even an old-fashioned giri can be tempted by the excitement and intrigues of city life. In a timeless story about being true to yourself, can Polly uphold her principies while still finding happiness in a big, new world?