series
authors
data
Product: Book
ISBN-10: 0-451-53054-3
ISBN-13: 9780451530547
Publisher: Signet Classics
Country:
Year: June 5, 2007
Size: 10.67 x 17.27 x 5.59cm
Number of pages: 1456
Weight: 612gr
Binding: Paperback
ISBN-10: 0-451-53054-3
ISBN-13: 9780451530547
Publisher: Signet Classics
Country:
Year: June 5, 2007
Size: 10.67 x 17.27 x 5.59cm
Number of pages: 1456
Weight: 612gr
Binding: Paperback
editions
0.) War and Peace
Leo Tolstoy, John Bayley (introduction), Ann Dunnigan (translator)
Signet Classics; 1968
Mass Market Paperback
Leo Tolstoy, John Bayley (introduction), Ann Dunnigan (translator)
Signet Classics; 1968
Paperback
Leo Tolstoy, John Bayley (introduction), Ann Dunnigan (translator)
Topeka Bindery; 1999
School & Library Binding
order
catalog
description
Product Description
Set in the years leading up to and culminating in Napoleon's disastrous Russian invasion, this novel focuses upon an entire society torn by conflict and change. Here is humanity in all its innocence and corruption, its wisdom and folly.
Set in the years leading up to and culminating in Napoleon's disastrous Russian invasion, this novel focuses upon an entire society torn by conflict and change. Here is humanity in all its innocence and corruption, its wisdom and folly.
reviews
What other authors leave in their heads 
Tolstoy goes far beyond just hitting the peaks of the story but also, writes at length on the hills, valleys, and everything in between (the material that other authors leave out). It is exhaustively detailed, down to the most mundane description of a character. Being that the high-points are few and far, I did have to trudge through this mammoth work. But what an opportunity to perfect, enhance and, give character to our own writings, through these wonderful, brilliant prose. The story is played out in the present tense but sporadically, Tolstoy intervenes in short chapters with a second person history lesson on how the historians got things wrong (we discover history revisionists are nothing new) and a delving into the workings of the human mind. The epilogue is almost completely devoted to these assessments and can be read virtually on its own merit. This edition (translated by Garnett) is complete with helpful footnotes and endnotes. Always with a spiritual force, Tolstoy captures well the cultural interactions and the Russian aristocrat families as they are caught between their fanciful lives and the looming French invasion, lead by the delusional Napolean. There was a feeling of contentment at the beginning, but that would soon be dispelled as Russia would be forced to wage unconditional war to push the French out. And it would be spirit that ultimately wins the war for Russia. Finally the story brings us to the aftermath and what befell the families. Tolstoy reminds us, the varied perceptions of the war can only give us a partial understanding of the truth: We must dig deeper to understand. This straight-forward thinker finds a way to search through the clutter to critique the cause, and the why, and with it, generate a unique hindsight. For Tolstoy I believe it was more important to find the goodness and cheerfulness amongst the chaos, as if the war didn't exist----life moves on. Most enthralling of all is his examination of the contradiction, or is it conundrum, that arises between mans' free will and law through reasoning, that »if the will of every man were free, that is, if every man could act as he chose, the whole of history would be a tissue of disconnected accidents«, though »once admit that human life can be guided by reason, and all possibility of life is annihilated«. May the LORD bless you Scott
Tolstoy goes far beyond just hitting the peaks of the story but also, writes at length on the hills, valleys, and everything in between (the material that other authors leave out). It is exhaustively detailed, down to the most mundane description of a character. Being that the high-points are few and far, I did have to trudge through this mammoth work. But what an opportunity to perfect, enhance and, give character to our own writings, through these wonderful, brilliant prose. The story is played out in the present tense but sporadically, Tolstoy intervenes in short chapters with a second person history lesson on how the historians got things wrong (we discover history revisionists are nothing new) and a delving into the workings of the human mind. The epilogue is almost completely devoted to these assessments and can be read virtually on its own merit. This edition (translated by Garnett) is complete with helpful footnotes and endnotes. Always with a spiritual force, Tolstoy captures well the cultural interactions and the Russian aristocrat families as they are caught between their fanciful lives and the looming French invasion, lead by the delusional Napolean. There was a feeling of contentment at the beginning, but that would soon be dispelled as Russia would be forced to wage unconditional war to push the French out. And it would be spirit that ultimately wins the war for Russia. Finally the story brings us to the aftermath and what befell the families. Tolstoy reminds us, the varied perceptions of the war can only give us a partial understanding of the truth: We must dig deeper to understand. This straight-forward thinker finds a way to search through the clutter to critique the cause, and the why, and with it, generate a unique hindsight. For Tolstoy I believe it was more important to find the goodness and cheerfulness amongst the chaos, as if the war didn't exist----life moves on. Most enthralling of all is his examination of the contradiction, or is it conundrum, that arises between mans' free will and law through reasoning, that »if the will of every man were free, that is, if every man could act as he chose, the whole of history would be a tissue of disconnected accidents«, though »once admit that human life can be guided by reason, and all possibility of life is annihilated«. May the LORD bless you Scott
Magnificent Achievement 
»Well, Prince, so Genoa and Lucca are now just family estates of the Buonapartes. But I warn you, if you don't tell me that this means war, if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist--I really believe he is Antichrist--I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend, no longer my 'faithful slave,' as you call yourself! But how do you do? I see I have frightened you--sit down and tell me all the news.« - Anna Pavlovna in War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy It was 1805 and the novel opens up at a reception given by Anna. With these words she greeted Prince Vasili Kuragin who we learn in the novel is a personage of stature and importance among the St. Petersburg elite. Anna is referring to Napoleon as the antichrist, she feels that he is routing Europe; and that the king of Russia, Alexander I, must save them all against this terrible and dreadful man. And so begins one of the most famous masterpieces of all time. WAR AND PEACE has a simple plot which encompasses the valiant attempts by the Russian people to hold off a military invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte and the French. Some of the segments of the novel deal with war strategy which could have benefited leaders if they simply perhaps had read Tolstoy. As the story begins we find that the Russians have formed an unlikely alliance with the Austrians. Because of this alliance, we find the small and inadequate Russian army having to march from Moscow to Austria. That in of itself is daunting. This alliance falters at best and as a consequence the Russian army loses almost all of its army resulting oddly enough in several years of peace. The Russian aristocracy does not have to make any sacrifices at first and their lives continue just as before. Thus the meaning of the title, WAR AND PEACE. However, after 1810, another five years later, we find Napoleon becoming more successful in Europe and worries arise that he will plan next to invade the Russian homeland. In June of 1812, he does precisely that which the Russian people and the army feared most: he crossed the frontiers into Russia and the real war began. As Tolstoy described, »an event took place that was contrary to all human reason and human nature.« We meet the Bolkonski's (the elder Prince, the younger Prince Andrei, his sister Princess Marya, Andrei's pregnant wife Lize), the Rostov's (the Count and Countess, Vera, Nicholai, Natasha, Sonya and Petya), the Bezukhov's (the dying Count, his illegitimate son Pierre and various relations to the dying man), the Kuragin's (Prince Vasili and his wife, the beautiful Helene, Anatole, and Hippolyte), Denisov, Dolohov, Boris, Kutuzov (the general) and about 600 characters in the book. The primary ones are the ones that I have named. Prince Andrei and Count Pierre Bezukhov (very important Tolstoy characters) are opposites in every way; yet are friends and their friendship, separate lives and families play a critical role in Tolstoy's novel. The Bolkonski's and the Rostov's lives weave and bind together as one goes further into the novel and these threads of their lives become a strong and durable fabric which will support these families as they progress through their respective years together. Though each of us, as do these characters, exercises free will; the decisions that we make (even years before certain life's events) depict the relationships that all of our decisions have upon each other and the impact they have on our future happiness or prosperity. Tolstoy even takes a detour at the end of the novel and digresses »much more than he should« about this and that … and how power is bestowed and basically how we reap what we sow (a familiar Tolstoy theme not always related to agriculture). The novel is quite long, and that is the reason I found that I picked up this book in the past and then put it down (not completely grasping the naming structures and not having time I felt to give it my full attention). However, after having finally taken the time to read this great manuscript, it really is a simple story about life, love (true or not), loyalty, friendship, responsibility (real accountability or feigned) and leadership. It is also once again a story of families and their love for each other and how they are able to show their love for one another or how the love is still present; but remains emotionally hidden or ineffectual. And it is a story of how one must understand the true meaning of life and must be content in one's own skin; before love can truly blossom and be realized. Truthfully, the plot does revolve around the aspects of war and peace as it relates to Napoleon invading Russia; but it also shows a country growing and changing as the characters do in the novel. Each one of the families goes through its own reflective period of war and peace in their own lives as well. The story line is superb … if you like historical fiction; and the characterizations and their development are unparalleled. Some Helpful Suggestions: 1. Take the time to read and/or listen to an unabridged version of this masterpiece (like the one done by Neville Jason). Just start out slowly and read a few chapters every day if you are limited in time. It is one of those novels that can be reread and not only do you enjoy the story line each time; you also come away from it learning a lot about life itself and you can profit from this reflection while embarking on your own personal path. Some of the events may ring true with your own life or with your own family. Even though the country and/or time period may be different; life, heart felt emotion remain quite the same. 2. Secure a translation that you like and/or a reader you can stay with. Go to your local bookstore and/or sample a chapter on line to see if you like the language used; do you like a more traditional translation much like Tolstoy's own language or would you prefer more modern jargon and interpretations. I prefer the traditional; but that is not always what works for everyone. If you want to listen to the book, make sure to listen to samples of the reader's voice to make sure that their voice is palatable to your tastes. Everyone's taste in sound is different. 3. Join a book club or an on line discussion group to keep you going and/or read or listen to the book with a friend or family member. These discussions will add to the enjoyment of reading this masterpiece. It really is meant (I feel) to be shared. 4. Get used to the Russian naming conventions and their use of nicknames. Write them down as you come across them and then you will know which characters to associate with which nicknames the next time. Nicknames are common with us today as well. If a girl's name is Jennifer, some may call her Jennifer, Jen, Jenny or if her middle name is Patricia (JP for short) and different members of the family could call her different pet names. This Russian novel is no different than real life. 5. I gave the following assistance when I reviewed Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and the characters and names in War and Peace follow the same rules regarding patronymics and names with three parts. Here is a reprint of the suggestion: "Sometimes the names of the characters themselves can be confusing: so a hint to the reader might be to think of each Russian character's name as having THREE PARTS: the FIRST part is the first name (examples here are for Levin and Kitty) like Konstantin or Ekaterina, the SECOND part is a patronymic which is the father's first name accompanied by a suffix which means son of or daughter of like Dmitrich (son of Dmitri) or Alexandrovna (daughter of Alexander) and then the THIRD part which is the surname like Levin or Shcherbatskaya. Thus the explanations of the three part names for Ekaterina Alexandrovna Shcherbatskaya (nicknamed Kitty) and for Konstantin Dmitrich Levin (Levin). War and Peace is not a novel to be missed; very much like Anna Karenina (both by Leo Tolstoy). With both, but especially with War and Peace, you must envision that you will finish the book and keep at it. It really is not hard; you will get to know the characters in the book as if they were family members or best friends with all of their strengths and their frailties – the spectrum that makes these characters real in their humanness. Note: I like the Constance Garnett translation (it was my preference); of course, it is a matter of personal taste and comfort and that is why I suggested one read a chapter to see if they are accepting of the language and of the translator. A very important choice and decision. FYI: Ms. Garnett passed away in 1946 and had traveled to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yasnaya Polyana during her lifetime and actually met Leo Tolstoy. She remains very close to the syntax and the vocabulary of the original. Her translations of all of the Russian authors at the time were highly acclaimed. You may prefer the traditional or there is a newer translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky which may resolve issues for those who want a more purist translation done by exceptional Russian linguists/translators whose work will be coming out this November. Rating: 5 stars – A+ (Very highly recommended) Bentley/October 2007
»Well, Prince, so Genoa and Lucca are now just family estates of the Buonapartes. But I warn you, if you don't tell me that this means war, if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist--I really believe he is Antichrist--I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend, no longer my 'faithful slave,' as you call yourself! But how do you do? I see I have frightened you--sit down and tell me all the news.« - Anna Pavlovna in War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy It was 1805 and the novel opens up at a reception given by Anna. With these words she greeted Prince Vasili Kuragin who we learn in the novel is a personage of stature and importance among the St. Petersburg elite. Anna is referring to Napoleon as the antichrist, she feels that he is routing Europe; and that the king of Russia, Alexander I, must save them all against this terrible and dreadful man. And so begins one of the most famous masterpieces of all time. WAR AND PEACE has a simple plot which encompasses the valiant attempts by the Russian people to hold off a military invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte and the French. Some of the segments of the novel deal with war strategy which could have benefited leaders if they simply perhaps had read Tolstoy. As the story begins we find that the Russians have formed an unlikely alliance with the Austrians. Because of this alliance, we find the small and inadequate Russian army having to march from Moscow to Austria. That in of itself is daunting. This alliance falters at best and as a consequence the Russian army loses almost all of its army resulting oddly enough in several years of peace. The Russian aristocracy does not have to make any sacrifices at first and their lives continue just as before. Thus the meaning of the title, WAR AND PEACE. However, after 1810, another five years later, we find Napoleon becoming more successful in Europe and worries arise that he will plan next to invade the Russian homeland. In June of 1812, he does precisely that which the Russian people and the army feared most: he crossed the frontiers into Russia and the real war began. As Tolstoy described, »an event took place that was contrary to all human reason and human nature.« We meet the Bolkonski's (the elder Prince, the younger Prince Andrei, his sister Princess Marya, Andrei's pregnant wife Lize), the Rostov's (the Count and Countess, Vera, Nicholai, Natasha, Sonya and Petya), the Bezukhov's (the dying Count, his illegitimate son Pierre and various relations to the dying man), the Kuragin's (Prince Vasili and his wife, the beautiful Helene, Anatole, and Hippolyte), Denisov, Dolohov, Boris, Kutuzov (the general) and about 600 characters in the book. The primary ones are the ones that I have named. Prince Andrei and Count Pierre Bezukhov (very important Tolstoy characters) are opposites in every way; yet are friends and their friendship, separate lives and families play a critical role in Tolstoy's novel. The Bolkonski's and the Rostov's lives weave and bind together as one goes further into the novel and these threads of their lives become a strong and durable fabric which will support these families as they progress through their respective years together. Though each of us, as do these characters, exercises free will; the decisions that we make (even years before certain life's events) depict the relationships that all of our decisions have upon each other and the impact they have on our future happiness or prosperity. Tolstoy even takes a detour at the end of the novel and digresses »much more than he should« about this and that … and how power is bestowed and basically how we reap what we sow (a familiar Tolstoy theme not always related to agriculture). The novel is quite long, and that is the reason I found that I picked up this book in the past and then put it down (not completely grasping the naming structures and not having time I felt to give it my full attention). However, after having finally taken the time to read this great manuscript, it really is a simple story about life, love (true or not), loyalty, friendship, responsibility (real accountability or feigned) and leadership. It is also once again a story of families and their love for each other and how they are able to show their love for one another or how the love is still present; but remains emotionally hidden or ineffectual. And it is a story of how one must understand the true meaning of life and must be content in one's own skin; before love can truly blossom and be realized. Truthfully, the plot does revolve around the aspects of war and peace as it relates to Napoleon invading Russia; but it also shows a country growing and changing as the characters do in the novel. Each one of the families goes through its own reflective period of war and peace in their own lives as well. The story line is superb … if you like historical fiction; and the characterizations and their development are unparalleled. Some Helpful Suggestions: 1. Take the time to read and/or listen to an unabridged version of this masterpiece (like the one done by Neville Jason). Just start out slowly and read a few chapters every day if you are limited in time. It is one of those novels that can be reread and not only do you enjoy the story line each time; you also come away from it learning a lot about life itself and you can profit from this reflection while embarking on your own personal path. Some of the events may ring true with your own life or with your own family. Even though the country and/or time period may be different; life, heart felt emotion remain quite the same. 2. Secure a translation that you like and/or a reader you can stay with. Go to your local bookstore and/or sample a chapter on line to see if you like the language used; do you like a more traditional translation much like Tolstoy's own language or would you prefer more modern jargon and interpretations. I prefer the traditional; but that is not always what works for everyone. If you want to listen to the book, make sure to listen to samples of the reader's voice to make sure that their voice is palatable to your tastes. Everyone's taste in sound is different. 3. Join a book club or an on line discussion group to keep you going and/or read or listen to the book with a friend or family member. These discussions will add to the enjoyment of reading this masterpiece. It really is meant (I feel) to be shared. 4. Get used to the Russian naming conventions and their use of nicknames. Write them down as you come across them and then you will know which characters to associate with which nicknames the next time. Nicknames are common with us today as well. If a girl's name is Jennifer, some may call her Jennifer, Jen, Jenny or if her middle name is Patricia (JP for short) and different members of the family could call her different pet names. This Russian novel is no different than real life. 5. I gave the following assistance when I reviewed Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and the characters and names in War and Peace follow the same rules regarding patronymics and names with three parts. Here is a reprint of the suggestion: "Sometimes the names of the characters themselves can be confusing: so a hint to the reader might be to think of each Russian character's name as having THREE PARTS: the FIRST part is the first name (examples here are for Levin and Kitty) like Konstantin or Ekaterina, the SECOND part is a patronymic which is the father's first name accompanied by a suffix which means son of or daughter of like Dmitrich (son of Dmitri) or Alexandrovna (daughter of Alexander) and then the THIRD part which is the surname like Levin or Shcherbatskaya. Thus the explanations of the three part names for Ekaterina Alexandrovna Shcherbatskaya (nicknamed Kitty) and for Konstantin Dmitrich Levin (Levin). War and Peace is not a novel to be missed; very much like Anna Karenina (both by Leo Tolstoy). With both, but especially with War and Peace, you must envision that you will finish the book and keep at it. It really is not hard; you will get to know the characters in the book as if they were family members or best friends with all of their strengths and their frailties – the spectrum that makes these characters real in their humanness. Note: I like the Constance Garnett translation (it was my preference); of course, it is a matter of personal taste and comfort and that is why I suggested one read a chapter to see if they are accepting of the language and of the translator. A very important choice and decision. FYI: Ms. Garnett passed away in 1946 and had traveled to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yasnaya Polyana during her lifetime and actually met Leo Tolstoy. She remains very close to the syntax and the vocabulary of the original. Her translations of all of the Russian authors at the time were highly acclaimed. You may prefer the traditional or there is a newer translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky which may resolve issues for those who want a more purist translation done by exceptional Russian linguists/translators whose work will be coming out this November. Rating: 5 stars – A+ (Very highly recommended) Bentley/October 2007
One of the greatest novels ever written
Leo Tolstoy's »War and Peace« (this version) is almost 1500 pages long. To try to review this in any detail would be futile. The book, simply, covers so much territory that it might be better to take a different approach. Following, then, is something like a set of random observations. For most intellectual males, the key character here is Pyotr/Pierre Bezukhov. Many (including me) see him as a person who is trying desperately to understand what values ought to guide one's life. He tries debauchery, philosophy, the simple perspective of Platon. In the end, Platon's grounded perspective plus his love for Natalie (Natasha) Rostova gives his life meaning. Who cannot feel the pathos/depth of Pierre's statement to Natasha (page 725): »If I were not myself, but were the handsomest, cleverest, best man in the world, and were free, I would be on my knees this minute asking for your hand and for your love.« Other events. There is a wonderfully graphic description of the devastating defeat of the combined Austrian-Russian forces at Austerlitz, the greatest victory of Napoleon. The details as described by Tolstoy are impressive. He clearly has his favorites, such as the Russian General Bagration (who was, in reality, superb at Austerlitz). His depiction of the old General Katuzov is also well drawn. Indeed, so, too, is the description of the great battle at Borodino, in which, while the Russians did not prevail, neither, in the long run, did the French. Pierre tried to do a great deed in Moscow, and failed (there was always a bit of the inept about him in the novel). His travails as a prisoner as the French withdrew in their death march back toward France are well told and poignant. Here, he meets with Platon and develops a more grounded view of values that could guide one's life (Platon, as some have observed, may be a name used to draw a link to Plato, although I am not so sure). In the end, his love for Natasha gave his life meaning. However, the sweep of this novel is so great that no short review can possibly encapsulate the contents. This is one of those long Russian novels that has to be read to be appreciated (and that includes other of Tolstoy's work as well as the novels of Dostoyevsky). All in all, despite its sometimes tedious details, its wandering narrative, its too numerous cast of characters , this novel addresses some of the major issues of humans trying to live their lives and make sense of the world around them. One of the genuinely great works of fiction. …
Leo Tolstoy's »War and Peace« (this version) is almost 1500 pages long. To try to review this in any detail would be futile. The book, simply, covers so much territory that it might be better to take a different approach. Following, then, is something like a set of random observations. For most intellectual males, the key character here is Pyotr/Pierre Bezukhov. Many (including me) see him as a person who is trying desperately to understand what values ought to guide one's life. He tries debauchery, philosophy, the simple perspective of Platon. In the end, Platon's grounded perspective plus his love for Natalie (Natasha) Rostova gives his life meaning. Who cannot feel the pathos/depth of Pierre's statement to Natasha (page 725): »If I were not myself, but were the handsomest, cleverest, best man in the world, and were free, I would be on my knees this minute asking for your hand and for your love.« Other events. There is a wonderfully graphic description of the devastating defeat of the combined Austrian-Russian forces at Austerlitz, the greatest victory of Napoleon. The details as described by Tolstoy are impressive. He clearly has his favorites, such as the Russian General Bagration (who was, in reality, superb at Austerlitz). His depiction of the old General Katuzov is also well drawn. Indeed, so, too, is the description of the great battle at Borodino, in which, while the Russians did not prevail, neither, in the long run, did the French. Pierre tried to do a great deed in Moscow, and failed (there was always a bit of the inept about him in the novel). His travails as a prisoner as the French withdrew in their death march back toward France are well told and poignant. Here, he meets with Platon and develops a more grounded view of values that could guide one's life (Platon, as some have observed, may be a name used to draw a link to Plato, although I am not so sure). In the end, his love for Natasha gave his life meaning. However, the sweep of this novel is so great that no short review can possibly encapsulate the contents. This is one of those long Russian novels that has to be read to be appreciated (and that includes other of Tolstoy's work as well as the novels of Dostoyevsky). All in all, despite its sometimes tedious details, its wandering narrative, its too numerous cast of characters , this novel addresses some of the major issues of humans trying to live their lives and make sense of the world around them. One of the genuinely great works of fiction. …
Great Book!!
I am loving this book because it gives me something to keep my mind active during my down time!!
I am loving this book because it gives me something to keep my mind active during my down time!!
Worth it! 
Reviewing classics is always a touchy thing to do … but I'm so freakin proud of myself for reading this book that I had to document it some way. How did I do it? Simple, I read it online with little bits being sent to my email each day … that way I never knew how many millions of pages I had left, and believed that I was making progress. I have had this book mentioned to me, and quoted to me for years, but I have never met anyone who has actually read it. True the size is daunting … but then again … so is the material. To be honest I didn't have the first clue what this book was going to be about. It turns out that the reader follows several people, of nobility through the Napoleonic invasion of Russia. When I say several, I mean it … you'll want to keep a list, and leave lots of room because each person has several variations of their names that are used interchangeably. We follow about 12 main characters and a few other extraneous ones from before the invasion through the end of the conflict. Most of them are nobility and they go through all kinds of soap opera drama, generally self inflicted. Guy A is in love with Girl A but she's poor, so he marries Girl B who's really in love with her brother (Guy B I guess) who loves Guy A's sister (Girl C?), but she tries to run off with Guy C who was just screwing with her head, so now she's tainted and no one wants to marry Girl C. But Girl C is best of friends with Girl A so they hang out and throw little pity parties for themselves. Meanwhile Guy D is everyone's pal, who's married to Girl D who's really a bit of a hoe, so he wanders about joining clubs and thinking to himself. Then Guy D figures out that he's in love with Girl C, but she's still in love with Guy B. Then the war breaks out and all of the guys other than Guy D go to war, and the Girls whine and cry about it … oh, and they move around a lot … seems like they are always packing up and moving … not that they do any of the packing … that's what servants are for! So just when we think we are getting a handle on who is who, who they are in love with at the moment, and what the heck is going on … we have a cut scene to – history class … Tolstoy will rant and rave for a bit about war in general, Napoleon, or the idiocy of both Historians and the Russian Military leaders. Okay you think, I can deal with a bit of sarcastic Russian historical education, but just as soon as you get your mind in gear for that – BAM you are knee deep in fighting and trying to remember just who the German guy was and how he was related to all of the people you were reading about before the cut scene. This book ends up feeling like 3 books mixed into one – a satirical historical text, a family drama, and a wartime epic. Now each in its own is a very interesting tale, but when mashed up together, they can be rather jarring to the mind. I do have to agree with the others that the battle scenes are very well written, and I did enjoy Tolstoy's commentary on the Russian leadership during the war … and after a while I liked some of his characters. But don't get too attached to them … Tolstoy has no problem killing off the people you like, and when you get to the end, and are expecting a huge revelation, or some sort of major explosive dynamic finale … the curtain closes without even a spark. Still, this is a brilliant work … I'm glad I read it, and I wish I knew someone else who had because it would be interesting to discuss it with someone. It will never go down as one of my favorite novels, but it will go down as one of my lifelong accomplishments. Tolstoy's writing appears excellent (remember, we're reading a translation so we have to give them credit too) and he has a brilliant wit and handle on his subject matter. I don't agree with much of his philosophy but it is certainly an interesting topic to read on. If you can make it through 1300 pages of one book, I recommend at least giving this a try.
Reviewing classics is always a touchy thing to do … but I'm so freakin proud of myself for reading this book that I had to document it some way. How did I do it? Simple, I read it online with little bits being sent to my email each day … that way I never knew how many millions of pages I had left, and believed that I was making progress. I have had this book mentioned to me, and quoted to me for years, but I have never met anyone who has actually read it. True the size is daunting … but then again … so is the material. To be honest I didn't have the first clue what this book was going to be about. It turns out that the reader follows several people, of nobility through the Napoleonic invasion of Russia. When I say several, I mean it … you'll want to keep a list, and leave lots of room because each person has several variations of their names that are used interchangeably. We follow about 12 main characters and a few other extraneous ones from before the invasion through the end of the conflict. Most of them are nobility and they go through all kinds of soap opera drama, generally self inflicted. Guy A is in love with Girl A but she's poor, so he marries Girl B who's really in love with her brother (Guy B I guess) who loves Guy A's sister (Girl C?), but she tries to run off with Guy C who was just screwing with her head, so now she's tainted and no one wants to marry Girl C. But Girl C is best of friends with Girl A so they hang out and throw little pity parties for themselves. Meanwhile Guy D is everyone's pal, who's married to Girl D who's really a bit of a hoe, so he wanders about joining clubs and thinking to himself. Then Guy D figures out that he's in love with Girl C, but she's still in love with Guy B. Then the war breaks out and all of the guys other than Guy D go to war, and the Girls whine and cry about it … oh, and they move around a lot … seems like they are always packing up and moving … not that they do any of the packing … that's what servants are for! So just when we think we are getting a handle on who is who, who they are in love with at the moment, and what the heck is going on … we have a cut scene to – history class … Tolstoy will rant and rave for a bit about war in general, Napoleon, or the idiocy of both Historians and the Russian Military leaders. Okay you think, I can deal with a bit of sarcastic Russian historical education, but just as soon as you get your mind in gear for that – BAM you are knee deep in fighting and trying to remember just who the German guy was and how he was related to all of the people you were reading about before the cut scene. This book ends up feeling like 3 books mixed into one – a satirical historical text, a family drama, and a wartime epic. Now each in its own is a very interesting tale, but when mashed up together, they can be rather jarring to the mind. I do have to agree with the others that the battle scenes are very well written, and I did enjoy Tolstoy's commentary on the Russian leadership during the war … and after a while I liked some of his characters. But don't get too attached to them … Tolstoy has no problem killing off the people you like, and when you get to the end, and are expecting a huge revelation, or some sort of major explosive dynamic finale … the curtain closes without even a spark. Still, this is a brilliant work … I'm glad I read it, and I wish I knew someone else who had because it would be interesting to discuss it with someone. It will never go down as one of my favorite novels, but it will go down as one of my lifelong accomplishments. Tolstoy's writing appears excellent (remember, we're reading a translation so we have to give them credit too) and he has a brilliant wit and handle on his subject matter. I don't agree with much of his philosophy but it is certainly an interesting topic to read on. If you can make it through 1300 pages of one book, I recommend at least giving this a try.
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© 1994–2010 Sascha Hendel
last update: 3/19/2010
URL: http://www.book-info.com/isbn/0-451-53054-3.htm
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