The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

In The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), the legendary Russian author and moral thinker Leo Tolstoy delivers a powerful indictment of modern warfare and the moral bankruptcy of imperial ambition. Written during the early 20th-century conflict between the Russian and Japanese empires, Tolstoy confronts the justifications of war—patriotism, religion, honor—and exposes them as delusions masking the senseless slaughter of innocent lives. He condemns political leaders, intellectuals, and clergy alike for their roles in perpetuating violence, calling on individuals to awaken their conscience and reject participation in war under any pretext.

Far more than a commentary on a specific war, Tolstoy’s reflection is a universal and timeless plea for peace, conscience, and nonviolence. Drawing on Christian and philosophical ethics, he reminds readers that no cause—national or ideological—can outweigh the sanctity of a single human life. This edition, carefully translated and edited by Dr. Jorge Fymark Vidovic López and Fundación Ediciones Clío, offers English-speaking readers access to one of Tolstoy’s most impassioned political writings.

As relevant today as it was over a century ago, The Russo-Japanese War remains a crucial text for understanding Tolstoy's philosophy and the enduring struggle between conscience and violence in human affairs.

Dr. Jorge Fyrmark Vidovic López
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8148-4403

Director Editorial
https://www.edicionesclio.com/