War and Peace (1865-1869) is Tolstoy's greatest novel, and his most expansive one. He wrote it during the happiest period of his life. He was living continuously at Iasnaia Poliana with his wife and growing family, hunting in the fall and summer, improving his farm and entertaining frequent guests, most either relatives or close friends.  It is no accident that his novel ends during a peaceful phase in the lives of the characters, on the country estate of Nikolai and Mary Rostov, who are based to some extent on Tolstoy's parents.