At a glittering society party in St Petersburg in 1805, conversations are dominated by the prospect of war. In this book, the author entwines grand themes - conflict and love, birth and death, free will and faith - with unforgettable scenes of nineteenth-century Russia, to create a magnificent epic of human life in its imperfection and grandeur.
Rosemary Edmonds Books






The Death of Ivan Ilyich
- 96 pages
- 4 hours of reading
A middle-aged judge who had never thought about his own mortality, must readjust his thinking when he learns he has a terminal illness
"Anna Karenina" is perhaps the greatest novel of all time. It tells the story of Anna, married to the dull, cold Karenin in 19th century St. Petersburg, Russia. She falls in love with a handsome young soldier, Vronsky. At first Anna is happy, but the story ends in despair, and death. -- from p. 4 of cover.
Recognized for its cultural significance, this work contributes to the foundational knowledge of civilization. It has garnered attention from scholars for its important themes and insights, reflecting key aspects of historical and societal development.
Collins Classics - 1: War and Peace
- 712 pages
- 25 hours of reading
Collins Classics - 2: War and Peace
- 730 pages
- 26 hours of reading
War and Peace broadly focuses on Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 and follows three of the most well-known characters in Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count who is fighting for his inheritance and yearning for spiritual fulfillment; Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight in the war against Napoleon; and Natasha Rostov, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman who intrigues both men.As Napoleon’s army invades, Tolstoy brilliantly follows characters from diverse backgrounds—peasants and nobility, civilians and soldiers—as they struggle with the problems unique to their era, their history, and their culture. And as the novel progresses, these characters transcend their specificity, becoming some of the most moving—and human—figures in world literature.