I have read some of Tolstoy’s longer tomes and I was curious to find out if a shorter work would be as satisfying. The answer for me was almost. I enjoyed learning about this character from Russian history and about a conflict that still influences the country in the present day. I felt the inner conflicts Murat faced trying to keep his family safe and choose sides. I enjoyed the straightforward writing style and I chose the translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky purposefully because they capture Russian works in English in a way that I find accessible and enjoyable. The characterizations were insightful and a highlight of the book as well. The depth of the longer works, especially compared to Anna Karenina, could not be achieved in this shorter novel, but I enjoyed it just the same.