In which century is War and Peace set?

War and Peace is set in the 19th century. Its main story follows Russian aristocratic families and soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars, especially from 1805 through the aftermath of Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia.

The novel opens against the background of European conflict involving Napoleon Bonaparte and the Russian Empire under Emperor Alexander I. Important events include the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, the Treaties of Tilsit, Napoleon’s campaign in Russia, the Battle of Borodino, and the occupation and burning of Moscow. The narrative later reaches into the years after the war, extending to about 1820.

The 19th century ran from 1801 to 1900, so every event in the novel falls within that century. Readers sometimes confuse the setting with the 18th century because the older generation remembers the era of Catherine the Great, who died in 1796. Others associate the book with the 20th century because many famous film and television adaptations were made then.