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Over the past century, French had become the language of the Russian aristocracy, part of efforts to “westernize” Russian culture. By writing the novel’s opening exchange (criticizing France!) in French, Tolstoy mocks the aristocratic obsession with that culture.

Over the past century, French had become the language of the Russian aristocracy, part of efforts to “westernize” Russian culture. By writing the novel’s opening exchange (criticizing France!) in French, Tolstoy mocks the aristocratic obsession with that culture.

Over the past century, French had become the language of the Russian aristocracy, part of efforts to “westernize” Russian culture. By writing the novel’s opening exchange (criticizing France!) in French, Tolstoy mocks the aristocratic obsession with that culture.