The Tolstoy Library

Leo Tolstoy

In these unabridged readings, Tolstoy's stories are returned to the living voice, as they were first imagined: spoken slowly, as one might speak by firelight. They tell of human hearts in search of truth - of suffering that softens us, love that redeems us, and the unseen bonds that join one life to another. Listen patiently. Let the words pass through you. What is true will remain, and what is false will fall away.

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English

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S8 · E221
Yesterday · 18 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 31
In which a curious count inadvertently finds himself amid a fierce battlefield, observing the soldiers and artillery with an innocent yet attentive gaze, gradually becoming part of their spirited, if perilous, camaraderie. His initial detachment gives...
- Transcript
S8 · E219
Yesterday · 7 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 29
In which the great commander, restless and resolute despite illness, contemplates the grave task that lies ahead with a blend of humour and a philosopher’s reflection on fate and the human condition. As the night yields to dawn, the quiet anticipation...
- Transcript
S8 · E220
Yesterday · 7 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 30
In which Pierre awakens to the dawn of battle and, inspired by the solemnity and beauty of the unfolding scene, resolves to join the fray despite his novice experience. The mist, smoke, and the vivid interplay of light and sound paint a majestic...
- Transcript
S8 · E218
Thursday · 7 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 28
In which the nature of historical events and human agency is pondered through the lens of the Battle of Borodinó, questioning the common belief that Napoleon’s personal condition dictated the course of history. It is observed, with a gentle yet...
- Transcript
S8 · E217
Thursday · 8 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 27
In which the designer of strategy considers the battlefield with measured silence, issuing commands as if from a place beyond the immediate fray, while the complexities of war’s unfolding refuse to yield to the neatness of his plans. The general's...
- Transcript
S8 · E216
Thursday · 10 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 26
In which the great Emperor, poised on the eve of battle, receives tidings and tokens of affection from afar, his thoughts mingling imperial grandeur with tender paternal reflections upon the portrait of his young son. The stir of anticipation and...
- Transcript
S8 · E214
Wednesday · 7 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 24
In which Prince Andrew contemplates the imminence of battle and the stark reality of death, viewing his former ideals and sorrows through a clear and chilling light that strips life of its illusions. Amidst the quiet encampment, he encounters Pierre,...
- Transcript
S8 · E213
Wednesday · 4 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 23
In which Pierre accompanies Bennigsen across the battlefield of Borodinó, observing the positions and preparations of the troops with a mixture of curiosity and bewilderment, struggling to grasp the full import of the military stratagems at play. Amid...
- Transcript
S8 · E215
Wednesday · 19 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 25
In which a gathering of soldiers and noble friends share candid reflections on the nature of war, honour, and the stirring sense of duty that binds the Russian army on the eve of battle. Prince Andrew’s fervent discourse unveils the gritty realities...
- Transcript
S8 · E210
Tuesday · 9 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 20
In which Pierre departs Mozháysk amidst the ceaseless motion of war—wounded soldiers are carried past with silent endurance, while above them the bells ring with a contrasting cheerfulness, and peasants labour earnestly on fortifications under the...
- Transcript
S8 · E212
Tuesday · 9 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 22
In which Pierre, amidst the bustling camp and under the watchful presence of the venerable Kutúzov, seeks to understand the disposition of the troops and the stakes at hand with a mixture of curiosity and solemnity peculiar to such moments of...
- Transcript
S8 · E211
Tuesday · 11 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 21
In which Pierre ascends a knoll to survey a vast and indistinct battlefield where the mingled presences of villages, troops, and campfires defy clear distinction, and an officer patiently explains the positions and fortifications in that quiet tension...
- Transcript
S8 · E209
Monday · 12 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 19
In which the perplexing decisions of generals lead to a great and costly battle fought not upon a chosen and fortified ground, but rather upon a hastily assumed and vulnerable position; and the historian’s cherished tales of strategic genius give way...
- Transcript
S8 · E208
Monday · 12 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 18
In which Pierre contemplates the looming arrival of the French in Moscow through conflicting broadsheets and the unease of deserted city streets, while wrestling with indecision about his role in the unfolding conflict. Drawn to the stirring...
- Transcript
S8 · E207
Monday · 11 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 17
In which the city of Moscow carries on with a curious mixture of frivolity and patriotic obligation under the shadow of approaching danger, as society converses lightly over broadsheets, fashions itself with spoken pledges to speak only Russian, and...
- Transcript
S8 · E206
Sunday · 9 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 16
In which the venerable Kutúzov, with a mixture of gentle firmness and weary humour, confers with Prince Andrew, revealing a mind inclined to patience and a profound trust in the natural course of events. Through their intimate exchange, the steadiness...
- Transcript
S8 · E204
Sunday · 12 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 14
In which a fiery young nobleman confronts a restless peasant crowd with a volatile mixture of fury and authority, striving to maintain order amidst simmering tensions on his estate. Meanwhile, a tender encounter between the nobleman and a gentle...
- Transcript
S8 · E205
Sunday · 15 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 15
In which Prince Andrew arrives at the headquarters of the new commander in chief, Kutúzov, and encounters the energetic and straightforward Lieutenant Colonel Denísov, who passionately proposes a daring military plan. Amidst the bustle of officers and...
- Transcript
S8 · E202
August 22 · 5 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 12
In which Princess Mary spends a solemn night in quiet reflection by her window, her thoughts drawn inward to the tender and sorrowful memories of her father’s final days and unspoken words between them. The stillness of the night and the moonlit...
- Transcript
S8 · E203
August 22 · 9 min
War and Peace Volume 3 Book 10 Chapter 13
In which a spirited ride to a village caught between two armies leads to an unexpected encounter with distressed peasants and a young princess beleaguered by their obstinacy. Rostóv, moved by her gentleness and plight, offers his protection with a...
- Transcript

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