War and Peace is a vast epic centred on Napoleons war with Russia. While it expresses Tolstoys view that history is an inexorable process which man cannot influence, he peoples his great novel with a cast of over five hundred characters. Three of these, the artless and delightful Natasha Rostov, the world-weary Prince Andrew Bolkonsky and the idealistic Pierre Bezukhov illustrate Tolstoys philosophy in this novel of unquestioned mastery.

"1812. Arriving back in England after his successes in the Adriatic, Captain Sir Thomas Kydd is showered with honours. Despite Kydd's protests that he's happy with his present command, he's given a bigger ship - HMS Thunderer, a 74-gun ship of the line. But she's old, and is part of a standing fleet. Kydd's chances of further fame and distinction are slim indeed. Winning over his new command is fraught with challenges. A hostile crew, abysmal levels...