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War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Start date: April 1, 2024

Finish date: June 30, 2024

Discussion: Old School Classics, Pre-1915

Why we're reading this: Long Read Classic 2nd Quarter 2024

Long Read Classic Group Read, 1st & 2nd quarter, 2014
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Long Read Classic Group Read, 1st & 2nd quarter, 2014

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What Members Thought

Nov 26, 2020 Jeff Koeppen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 2020-read, russia, audio, translated, war, historical-fiction, x-author-tolstoy

I went with the War and Peace combo platter: I listened to the Amazon Classic version translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude and read the version translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. I much preferred the Pevear/Volokhonsky version. There were times while listening on Audible when I was taken aback by a word or phrase used as it seemed too modern. Maybe it was just me, as I know little of that period in history, but it felt out of place. I had the same reaction to some of the word I went with the War and Peace combo platter: I listened to the Amazon Classic version translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude and read the version translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. I much preferred the Pevear/Volokhonsky version. There were times while listening on Audible when I was taken aback by a word or phrase used as it seemed too modern. Maybe it was just me, as I know little of that period in history, but it felt out of place. I had the same reaction to some of the words and phrasing in the Emily Wilson translation of The Odyssey.

War and Peace was every bit as epic as advertised, and as I expected it to be. I was worried going in that I would drown in this tome trying to keep track of the MANY characters so I printed out a character guide from the interwebs and it did help me early on, but gradually I was able to sort things out and the excellent narration by Edoardo Ballerini really helped also as he gave each of the main characters a distinct voice. Still, sometimes it did take a bit to recall a character's background as they could fall in to the novel’s background for several hundred pages before becoming part of the plot again.

The best parts of the novel in my opinion were the stories focused on the drama surrounding five Russian aristocratic families during the Russian war with the French during the early 19th century. There were so many memorable characters and it was interesting to read how their lives changed over the 15 years the book covers, especially during the war. I didn't know going in that the Russian aristocracy spoke French and were well versed in French culture, so it was surprising how much French was spoken by Russians throughout the novel.

As expected, there was plenty of war strategy discussion and period history in the novel which provided background and helped explain the motivations of the characters. I found this all rather interesting, and it brought the time period to life for me. What I didn't like was the historical fiction aspect of the novel, particularly involving Napoleon. Historical fiction is fine in small doses but I'm not keen on listening to speeches from Napoleon which were invented by an author. In a related note, in the Appendix, Tolstoy does address the divergence of his descriptions of historical events to accounts of historians. In the paper book, there are also 42 pages of notes and a 24 page Historical Index. Impressive. The amount of work that went in to this novel is mind boggling!

The only other complaint I have is the anti-climactic nature of the second Epilogue. In retrospect, the novel wrapped up nicely in the first Epilogue but at the time I was excited to see that I had 36 pages to go and was looking forward to more "story".

Overall, I really enjoyed War and Peace. I found most of it to be fantastic and hard to put down / turn off. What a remarkable, complex novel this is, and I'm so glad I took the time to experience it. I listened to a good share of this on long nightly walks with one of my dogs and during my working-at-home, never-go-anywhere life I really looked forward to bundling up and hitting the road with him every day. 4.5 stars. ...more

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Dec 22, 2017 Andrea rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-sorted

June 24, 2017:

"Было морозно и ясно. Над грязными, полутемными улицами, над черными крышами стояло темное звездное небо. Пьер, только глядя на небо, не чувствовал оскорбительной низости всего земного в сравнении с высотою, на которой находилась его душа. При въезде на Арбатскую площадь огромное пространство звездного темного неба открылось глазам Пьера. Почти в середине этого неба над Пречистенским бульваром, окруженная, обсыпанная со всех сторон звездами, но отличаясь от всех близостью к земле, June 24, 2017:

"Было морозно и ясно. Над грязными, полутемными улицами, над черными крышами стояло темное звездное небо. Пьер, только глядя на небо, не чувствовал оскорбительной низости всего земного в сравнении с высотою, на которой находилась его душа. При въезде на Арбатскую площадь огромное пространство звездного темного неба открылось глазам Пьера. Почти в середине этого неба над Пречистенским бульваром, окруженная, обсыпанная со всех сторон звездами, но отличаясь от всех близостью к земле, белым светом и длинным, поднятым кверху хвостом, стояла огромная яркая комета 1812-го года, та самая комета, которая предвещала, как говорили, всякие ужасы и конец света. Но в Пьере светлая звезда эта с длинным лучистым хвостом не возбуждала никакого страшного чувства. Напротив, Пьер радостно, мокрыми от слез глазами смотрел на эту светлую звезду, которая как будто, с невыразимой быстротой пролетев неизмеримые пространства по параболической линии, вдруг, как вонзившаяся стрела в землю, влепилась тут в одно избранное ею место на черном небе и остановилась, энергично подняв кверху хвост, светясь и играя своим белым светом между бесчисленными другими мерцающими звездами. Пьеру казалось, что эта звезда вполне отвечала тому, что было в его расцветшей к новой жизни, размягченной и ободренной душе."

What an incredible passage to conclude the first two volumes of the greatest novel ever written! So many interpretations can be formulated from the contrasting feelings of dread by the general public and Pierre's sudden inspiration upon seeing the comet of 1812. What is to happen next? We know that superstitious feeling of doom is to be proven correct soon, when Napoleon invades Russia once again in near future. But what is to come for Pierre?

Natasha, Natasha.... I really disliked her character at first because of her endless childishness, but it is her naïveté and tendency to follow her every changing mood with reckless abandon that gets her in a lot of trouble. Now I just feel very sorry for her, and I'm anxious to see how her destiny unfolds. Part V of Volume 2 is an incredible piece of melodrama done right. I'm so in love with Tolstoy's writing.

September 4, 2017:

I finally finished War and Peace!! That's an incredible feeling of accomplishment. Volumes 3 and 4 definitely contained many more war segments, compared to the previous two. Sometimes it was trying to get through them, but once in a while a brilliant scene would emerge and capture my attention once more (ie. Pierre as a French captive). I loved how Tolstoy brought one of the most famous Russian generals, Kutuzov, to life through his field strategy and defiant nature.

I'm a bit disappointed about Natasha's marriage in the end. (view spoiler) Contrary to popular opinion, I disliked Pierre very much. He was awkward and, frankly speaking, stupid, easily manipulated by all around him, and unable to think for himself. It was much more interesting to see the love triangle between Princess Maria, Nikolai, and Sonya unfold.

The epilogue was the most painful part, of course. Tolstoy just endlessly rambled on about his philosophical ideas, and it felt like it would never end.

However, all the human drama, so wonderfully and realistically captured in this book, made it absolutely worthwhile to persevere through the slow bits. 4.5 stars overall. ...more

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Oct 14, 2021 Debra rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

a novel for the ages

Now I know why some consider it to be the greatest novel ever. Why did it take me so long to read it? Everything about is is wonderful. Great and memorable characters woven into the story of Napolean’s invasion of Russia. Everything about it is yummy. One of those very rare books I could read over and over and over again.

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Jun 24, 2014 Rachel rated it really liked it · review of another edition

word of advice: skip the epilogues. my brain was going numb by epilogue 2. if i had anticipated the content i would have been ok but as it was I just wanted it to end. I am glad I finally broke down and read it. I now have more of an interest in Napoleon. However, apparently editors were in short supply at the time of publication b/c Tolstoy repeats things several times. That definitely got a bit old. The characters came together for me around the middle of the book, however (so many of them use ...more

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