Andrew Kaufman, an internationally renowned Leo Tolstoy expert, will give a keynote speech at the American Conversations Series on the book “War and Peace” in an effort to make it more approachable to readers.

Kaufman is a professor at the University of Virginia as well the author of the novel “Give War and Peace a Chance.” His Tolstoy expertise has been showcased on Oprah.com as well as by journalist Katie Couric.

The event, which is presented by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, will take place at 7 p.m. on March 12 in the Loosemore Auditorium at Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus. Attendance is free to the general public.

For more information, go to hauensteincenter.org.