Tolstoy talks about how difficult it is for young people to tell the truth, especially when recounting their part in a battle. In fact, since Tolstoy himself served during the Crimean War and saw action, it’s no surprise he’s able to so vividly write about what battles are like yet his genius is in being able to temper the bravado and ‘beauty’ of war with all its doubts, hypocrisy, fear, lies, and indecision.