War, the Hero and the Will - Hardy, Tolstoy and the Napoleonic Wars (Paperback)

Thomas Hardys The Dynasts and Leo Tolstoys War and Peace are both works which defy attempts to assign them to a particular genre but might seem to have little else in common apart from being set in the same period of history. This study argues that there are important similarities between these two works and examines the close correspondence between Hardys and Tolstoys thinking on themes relating to war, ideas of the heroic and the concept of free will. Although coming from very different backgrounds, both writers were influenced by their experiences of war, Tolstoy directly, by involvement in the wars in the Caucasus and the Crimea, and Hardy indirectly, by the events of the Anglo-Boer Wars. Their reaction to these experiences found expression in their descriptions of the wars fought against Napoleon at the beginning of the century. Hegel saw Napoleon as the great world-historical man of his time, and this work considers the ways in which Hardy and Tolstoy undermine this view, portraying Napoleons physical and mental decline and questioning the role he played in determining the outcomes of military actions. Both writers were deeply interested in the question of free will and determinism and their writings reveal their attempts to understand the nature of the force which lies behind mens actions. Their differing views on the nature of consciousness are considered in the light of modern research on the development of the conscious brain.

General

Imprint:	Sussex Academic Press
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	May 2017
Authors:	Jane L. Bownas
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	224
ISBN-13:	978-1-84519-904-3
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Literature: history & criticism > Literary studies > 19th century Books > Language & Literature > Literature: history & criticism > Novels, other prose & writers > General Books > Humanities > History > European history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > War & defence operations > Battles & campaigns Books > History > European history > 1750 to 1900 Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history
LSN:	1-84519-904-9
Barcode:	9781845199043

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