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War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Start date: January 1, 2016

Finish date: March 31, 2016

Discussion: Group Reads

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What Members Thought

May 05, 2015 Jason rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

To review this book one needs to address a philosophy, an overarching treatises on history, society and what force/forces lead mankind to do everything that it does. In essence to review this book one has to address the big picture questions and arguments, then break them down to it's most individualistic components, for that is the heart of what this book provides. To do a proper review of this book one needs to take the wisdom garnered from these pages and convey it concisely and then also art To review this book one needs to address a philosophy, an overarching treatises on history, society and what force/forces lead mankind to do everything that it does. In essence to review this book one has to address the big picture questions and arguments, then break them down to it's most individualistic components, for that is the heart of what this book provides. To do a proper review of this book one needs to take the wisdom garnered from these pages and convey it concisely and then also articulate how it was given to the reader. I do not think I am someone that can do a proper review of this often considered magnum opus of Tolstoy's, but what follows will be my humblest attempt to express my views and feelings from having read it none the less.

A view of the large scale actions of the Napoleonic Wars in Russia by way of individuals. We the reader are alternately given access to individuals' lives that have no special influences over the war with the French, but largely wish to do what is right for themselves and those they care about. In the course of living their lives at this time and in this place however we see how their often choice-less actions and passions ripple and force others into choice-less actions and passionate upheavals. This is a closely shown life drama with a backdrop that has impact on a global scale. We follow as many of the characters are coming into adulthood, finding love, experiencing loss, and dealing with their own turbulent thoughts and feelings during war. We become intimate with the likes of Pierre, the Bolkonskys, and the Rostovs. I would say all of the characters are flawed and often despicable, but by this line we could simply say that Tolstoy has simply made them very human.

Largely what I have written about so far with the individuals which is wonderfully tragic and personal is probably only half of the book, the other half covers more strictly the wars. The lens is zoomed out a bit and the reader is being treated to a less personal, more formal discussion of battles, strategies, and politics. Tolstoy seems to be determined to give the reader a fairly accurate timeline of events in within the Russian borders during the wars, and also seems to want to convince us of the complete senselessness of it all. We are privy, via our vast cast of characters, to a first hand view of the great confusion of war and the lack of predictability even from the highest powers. We see the bombastic pride of men at war and we tag along for the inevitable outcomes that are largely disillusioning either way. These sections often cover the battle plans and the men that bicker over them and in the end fulfill none of them. These sections often made me wonder how much more I could take of Russian figures only slightly more leaderly than Catch-22's Major Major Major Major. We are being made aware that battles are won by the men on the ground and that there is little sense to it. In fact we are made aware that even victory is subjective and time keeps marching onward towards the next conflict. What we are really made aware of is that most men playing at war, even in early 19th century Russia, will take credit for whatever good outcome comes along no matter how little their actions played into it.

The war sections, while laborious and perhaps repetitive if feeling, are essential to the overarching philosophy that touches throughout and is elaborated at the end of the book. It is also impossible to read the individuals lives with all the impact of the wars and understand the emotions and changes within the characters without being exposed to the drudgeries of the wars alongside them.

In short the book is a classic and encompasses an entire world within it's pages. It has the minutest elements within the largest schemes.

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