5084v - Reading War and Peace, Volumes III and IV and Epilogue
Virtual Course | Registration opens 9/8/2026 10:00 AM EDT
This course continues the examination of Leo Tolstoy’s classic Russian novel War and Peace and will focus on Volumes III and IV and the Epilogue. (Part 1 was offered in the spring 2026 term.) Each of five 90-minute class sessions will consider approximately 115 pages of the novel. These sections focus on 1812 and deal with the French invasion of Russia, France’s occupation of Moscow, the burning of Moscow and the retreat of the French army during the Russian winter. Many of the important characters from the book's first half reappear, along with some crucially important new characters. This course is for readers new to the novel as well as those who have read it and want to share their experience with classmates.
Recommended Reading: War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky.
John Pfordresher
John Pfordresher, emeritus professor of English at Georgetown University, taught undergraduate and graduate courses in literature and cultural studies for 50 years. He has published books on Tennyson, Matthew Arnold, Charlotte Bronte and Catholic Studies. His most recent book, The Secret History of Jane Eyre, explores how Charlotte Bronte wrote her masterpiece.