The Kingdom of God and Peace Essays is one of Tolstoy's most acclaimed works, published at a time when the great writer's precepts were unacceptable to the Church, the State, the military and even the society to which he belonged. These essays are, in essence, messages of peace, denouncing war and protesting against the curtailing of free speech, press and religion at a time when liberty was ignored by world leaders. A great work of literature in their own right, they reveal Tolstoy's consummate skill as an artist, as well as his moral stature, courage and faith. The world has changed greatly since the first publication of these essays, but their meaning continues to be relevant in a world that is still caught in the midst of strife and conflict.