Epic historical series based on 'best book of all time' is streaming for free

Period drama fans are in luck as all six episodes of the BBC's adaptation of a novel considered the "best book of all time" are now available to watch free.

The 2016 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace has just been added to BBC iPlayer. The story centres around three young aristocrats whose lives play out against the backdrop of Napoleon Bonaparte's conflict with Russia in the nineteenth century.

Lily James, James Norton and Paul Dano star as the series' three central leads Natasha Rostova, Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierrre Bezukhov. They are joined in the cast by Gillian Anderson, Tom Burke and Jessie Buckley.

The BBC series' synopsis reads: "In a new adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's timeless novel, three young people experience life, love and loss against the epic backdrop of Russia's wars with Napoleon."

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The adaptation is made up of five hour-long episodes and a finale spanning just over 80 minutes which first aired on BBC One nearly a decade ago. The mini series has earned rave reviews over the years since it was first shown on TV.

One viewer penned: "An outstanding series! The cast are brilliant. A special shout-out to Jessie Buckley (who was tragically underused).

"Paul Dano (dithering perfectly), Norton, Scacchi, the beautiful, Tuppence Middleton (so cringeworthy and slimy), the magnificent Jim Broadbent and the ever so-gorgeous, Lily James, bring this magnificent story to life! I could easily watch this wonderful tragedy all over again!"

"I'd suggest anybody to watch this series if they are interested in War and Peace the novel," one book lover added, as a third confessed to watching it "several times."

They added: "It's amazing. I have never read this book as yet. The costumes, scenery, and stunning sets are beautiful, plus I think the acting was also very good.

"The music is also something which I have found enchanting, period dramas are something I do love and most enjoy watching."

The series' source material, Tolstoy's novel War and Peace, spans more than a thousand pages. His earliest draft storylines date back to 1856 and the first part of it was published in The Russian Herald nearly 10 years later in 1865.

It was first published as a complete novel in 1868 and is considered one of the greatest novels ever written.

War and Peace is now streaming on BBC iPlayer