"War and Peace" is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1869. The work is epic in scale and is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature. It is considered Tolstoy's finest literary achievement, along with his other major prose work Anna Karenina. This complete english version translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude was originally published in 1922. It includes all 15 books including the first and second epilogue. The Maudes are classical translators of Leo Tolstoy who worked directly with the author and gained his personal endorsement.