Is war and peace a long book

War and peace is a book that i put off reading for quite a long time. In bondarchuks adapting of war and peace and now januss reinvigoration of the film, they dont so much blow the dust off a. Aug 23, 2014 a reader recently got in touch to ask what advice id give for reading war and peace the first time. Im certainly not recommending every book about war ever written, or even every book ive read on the subject, but instead a collection of the most meaningful.

It is often said that when a reader loves a book she never wants it to end. Why should we read tolstoys war and peace and finish it. Though often compared to war and peace, the longsuppressed world war ii novel has more in common with war journalism, which grossman practiced as a soviet reporter on the front. Tolstoy was, of course, a russian author, so for us to be able to read his novel, it first had to be translated into english. War and peace begins in 1805 and follows five noble families as their fates intertwine during the napoleonic wars. Ive asked the most expert person i could think of, rosamund bartlett, to recommend which translation of. Stt y title w this book should bcrcturned on or before the date last marked below. Just as movie cameras give us an overview of a scene, pan in, and pan out, so tolstoy took readers from the big picture to the personal experiences of his characters and back again. A reader recently got in touch to ask what advice id give for reading war and peace the first time. In this collection of essays, gaddis raises some interesting and timely questions. How is it that we have known four decades without a world war, when relations. War and peace is that name that people throw out when mentioning classics and long books. Compiling a list of longest novels yields different results depending on whether pages, words or characters are counted. The bbc is screening a lavish adaptation of tolstoys epic novel over six weeks.

War and peace is a long book, sure, concedes the teded video above from brendan pelsue, but its also a thrilling examination of history. Apart from the answers of other people you have the man without qualities robet musil, 1774 pages on the common edition, the tale of genji murasaki shikibu, 1210 pages on the common edition but with a lot more pages in the annot. Without a unifying theme, without so much a plot or a clear ending, war and peace is a challenge to the genre of the novel and to narrative in history. Many of the novels characters are introduced at a society hostesss party, among them pierre bezukhov, the socially awkward but likeable illegitimate son of a rich count, and andrew. War and peace is one of the greatest monuments in world literature. Leo tolstoys historical novel on the napoleonic invasion of russia has become a byword for long books. Often called the greatest novel ever written, war and peace is at once an epic of the napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the russian spirit. I cant recall the authors name, but again they will know where books are. Based on the philippa gregory book of the same name, the story of elizabeth of york, the white queens daughter, and her marriage to the lancaster victor, henry vii. War and peace is a novel by russian author leo tolstoy. War and peace is a novel by the russian author leo tolstoy, published serially, then in its entirety in 1869.

How is it that we have known four decades without a world war, when relations between the superpowers have been so. Text fly within the book only tight binding book co uj ft m oup 2273 191 179 10,000 copies. If youve been looking to read the almighty russian tome, perhaps this article may help you out. Im so thrilled to have finally finished this book, so that i can move on to something else. If youre watching bbc one drama war and peace by leo tolstoy and want to get a quick overview or summary of the plot to enjoy it more as research suggests, here it is 587,287 words of the book summarised in just 1,945 words which is 0. Portions of an earlier version, titled the year 1805, were serialized in the russian messenger from 1865 to 1867, the. Length of a book is typically associated with its sizespecifically page countleading many to assume the largest and thickes t boo k equates to its length. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the napoleonic wars, it examines. The thing that most people know about war and peace is that it is long.

Like the original tolstoy novel a new bbc adaptation of war and peace. War and peace is not so much difficult as it is long. It sounds like you really want to read a book about war. I cant recall the authors name, but again they will know where books are sold or checked out. The most difficult thing but an essential one is to love life, to love it even while one suffers, because life is all. After all, war and peace is a book of prodigious length its roughly 0 pages long. Ive asked the most expert person i could think of, rosamund bartlett, to recommend which translation of war and peace is best. For me, war and peace is the best novel ever written. The show opened on broadway in the fall of 2016, starring josh groban as pierre and denee benton as natasha. But these tactics were all used to surprising ends and built an empire that rivaled any other in history, and one that was actually known for its peace, prosperity, and freedom. The 1956 release of war and peace was the first englishlanguage film version of the novel war and peace by the russian novelist and shortstory writer, essayist and playwright leo tolstoy18281910. Apart from having written an extremely long book, tolstoy was admired for his writing style. Feb 15, 2019 its seven hours long and absolutely worth seeing. War and peace broadly focuses on napoleons invasion of russia in 1812 and.

If youre looking for another excellent long book to plow through while in quarantine, i cant rave enough about lucy ellmanns 1,040page ducks. The book is the product of a very big mind, who lost interest in almost everything war and peace was about before he died. The 587,287 words in war and peace end up being 1,215 pages. Mar 20, 2020 and if youve already read war and peace. It is there, like a vast, unexplored continent, and all sorts of daunting rumors circulate about life in the interior. My edition translated by richard pevear and larissa volokhonsky is about 1,200 pages. During series one, his character donned a disguise which included a hat, glasses, and a copy of the novel war and peace. Im sure ill miss some great books youve loved, so please suggest them in the comments. War and peace russian title, voyna i mir written by leo tolstoy first draft in 1863, was serialized in a litary magazine under the title 1803, tolstoy apparently hated this.

Another thought i had as to the understandability of the translation one uses. Jul 11, 2012 it has been many years, and many books ago that i read war and peace. The novel chronicles the french invasion of russia and the impact of the napoleonic era on tsarist society through the stories of five russian aristocratic families. War and peace annotated and millions of other books are available for. Riveting book i couldnt put down war on peace is a riveting and thoughtprovoking book exploring the reasons behind the declining, though one hopes not dying, art and craft of. Tolstoy is also known for his novel anna karenina and his short stories such as those included in sebastapol sketches. Looking at the sky or gazing at the distant mountains now stirs up something profound in your heart. Tolstoy is also known for his novel anna karenina and his short stories such as those. Though often compared to war and peace, the long suppressed world war ii novel has more in common with war journalism, which grossman practiced as a soviet reporter on the front. They were also masters of cruelty and violence, no doubt about it. Rarely it happens that after you read a book, it becomes a milestone in your life. Are there other classic books longer than war and peace.

War and peace is a perfect book to read together for the duration of our necessary isolation. Tolstoy groped toward a different truth one that would capture the totality of history, as it was experienced, and teach people how to live with its burden. Length of a book is typically associated with its sizespecifically page countleading many to assume the largest and thickest book equates to its length. Osmania university library call no l accession no 95 gg author j 4. Ive written before about the reasons why i love war and peace, but with any 0page book, it takes some motivation to get started and, perhaps more so, to keep going. I have them roughly organized by chronology and era but feel free to skip around. The sort of book you shouldnt read in bed because if you fall asleep it could give you a concussion. War and peace is a historical novel by leo tolstoy first published serially in 186569.

Jan 22, 2016 the book is the product of a very big mind, who lost interest in almost everything war and peace was about before he died. At the time, a new bbc version was going to come out and i was determined to watch it and read the book as well. As the trap sloshes along the wet earth road and as the horses splash through the mud below the two. Again, the page number will vary from edition to edition due to different sized pages and print used. I got the cliff notes 1979s version of spark notes and had the general premise and players down before i watched the series. However, each chapter is, on average, four pages long. The show is described as an electropop opera, and is based on book 8 of war and peace, focusing on natashas affair with anatole. The peace, the war, the intrigueby the time you reach the end, youll long for the story to go on forever. But whatever we call it, war and peace is an astonishing worka book that incorporates historical characters, vivid battle scenes, several love stories, shrewd glimpses of everyday life, an examination of western ideas and the russian soul, and a disquisition on the nature of history itself, among other things.

I dont really have a problem with book length, as long as i am interested in the book. A guide to a book that is not just great, it is the best novel ever. And in a sense it will, because you will never forget these complex, moving characters in all their gorgeous humanity, or the sweeping passions of a time before our own. Jul 06, 2017 rarely it happens that after you read a book, it becomes a milestone in your life. A historical novel as long and involved as war and peace required exhaustive research. An essay on translating war and peace by richard pevearto many prospective readers tolstoys war and peace is the most intimidating of literary monuments. Moscows abandonment and burning is the great deed that saves russia and the momentbymoment details of the event are discussed, including rastoptchins lastminute bid for glory at the expense of the. War and peace is as much an historical treatise as it is a novel and i became as engaged in the story of the napoleonic war in russia as in the lives of the principal characters. Tolstoy read as many books about the napoleonic wars as he could. In fact it is very long, to the extent that its length has become a byword to describe any other great tome of writing, and has passed into the modern vernacular, how often do we hear terms such as i was not expecting war and peace. I would be careful of the translation of the book before committing. Riveting book i couldnt put down war on peace is a riveting and thoughtprovoking book exploring the reasons behind the declining, though one hopes not dying, art and craft of us foreign diplomacy negotiation.

It is regarded as one of tolstoys finest literary achievements and remains a classic of world literature. It is a living organism that is never quite the same as you remembered. War and peace is a novel by the russian author leo tolstoy, published serially. At over 1400 pages long, this book may seem daunting but i urge anyone to read it, and like me, you may find it the one of the most rewarding book you will ever read.

Jul 21, 2017 war and peace is that name that people throw out when mentioning classics and long books. Tolstoy discusses mass activity as a combination ofinfinitesimal units of activity and provides a short summary of past and future events. I have to say that i regret not having read it earlier in life, as the characters are so very true to life, and the story, while specific to its time, has themes that are universal and timeless. Nov 21, 2007 it sounds like you really want to read a book about war. Not that these books are up to par with war and peace, but i have also read the entire eragon series, which are quite lengthy. I suggest black hawk down, another long book but all about war and soldiers a book written well before the movie that is very good. Petersburg in 1805, as napoleons conquest of western europe is just beginning to stir fears in russia. Pierre saves the life of a french officer who enters his home looking for shelter, and they have a long, amicable conversation. If her favorite novel is war and peace it almost never does. It has been many years, and many books ago that i read war and peace.