Hadji Murad

Tolstoy's Novella Blends Fiction And Historical Fact To Portray A Legendary Avar Chieftain Who Switched Sides In The Nineteenth-century Russo-caucasian War. Inspired By The Author's Military Service, Hadji Murád Offers Riveting Views Of Warfare And Treason, Murder And Vengeance, And Behind-the-scenes Political Plotting. An Uncharacteristically Brief Story By The Creator Of War And Peace, It Voices Tolstoy's Pacifist Beliefs. This Novella Also Provides A Compelling Depiction Of The Caucasus, A Mountainous Territory Between The Black Sea And The Caspian, Prized For Its Strategic Location And Natural Resources. Located At The Crossroads Of Three Empires -- Turkey, Persia, And Russia -- The Region Has Long Struggled With Incursions By Its Neighbors And Remains A Troubled Corner Of The World To This Day. Tolstoy's Realistic Pictures Of Life In A War Zone Raise Enduringly Relevant Issues Of Life And Death.