Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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43 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Honestly, the Greatest Novel Of All Time, 18 Jan 2007
I'm 16 years old and have just finished War and Peace. Funnily enough I didn't actually buy the novel to bask in the glow of pretension that such an achievement could have me in. I was curious. Will it be tedious as it's so long? The answer is a certain no.
I Loved this book so much since the moment I started reading in the Summer (yes that long ago) to finishing now in January, that I feel like re-reading it. I can't see the point in reading any other novel as they will only be inferior to this masterpiece.
The characters are the main reason I loved War and Peace so much.
Pierre Bezukhov a man searching for a meaning to his life. It's through him Tolstoy explores the depths of the human soul most vividly.
The Bolkolnsky's with the timid, plain-looking Princess Marya who has a pure and zealous heart. Then there's the loving father who is unable to show his true emotions. And possibly my favourite character Prince Andrey who could be said as the opposite to Pierres' abstract, and absent-minded nature. But who I felt the most affinity with through his struggle to find any self-esteem or truth. (I will not spoil the storyline, but the ending with him is the most beautiful scene I have ever read).
The Rostovs who are the family studied in most detail. There's the loving parents who are have infinite pride in their sons but especially their daughter Natasha Rostov. Her impulsive nature is both frustrating and adorable, a real flawed heroine. Another character who I have noticed not one person mention so far is Sonya. She is a cousin to the family who is incredibly hard-working and suffers alot but never complains, Tolstoy makes her the perfect woman. But as such she never is really accepeted by anyone. Nikolay is possibly the fourth main character (after Pierre, Andrey and Natasha), and he's likeable, but ill-tempered.
The minor characters like the vile, false Kuragins, Denisov the humourus general with a lisp, Dolokhov the classic rogue and the superficial Drubetskoys are excellently portrayed.
The Peace parts seem to be everyones' favourite parts of the novel, and I have to agree. They are utterly spell-binding. If you're incredibly angry or depressed, there's nothing like it to mysteriously calm and comfort the soul. Nevertheless the War parts are described in such detail they really DO put you in the place of the characters involved.
There are scenes in this novel which I will never forget. So beautifully depicted, by the master of all authors. The horror of warfare and life itself is shown here also, as it's such a fantastic panorama of the characters it doesn't shy away from the darker sides to life.
My only qualm with War and Peace is the epilogue. I am not a fan of them in the first place but here it seems altogether rather tedious and Part 1 is far too straightforward for a Tolstoy Part.
BUT
READ WAR AND PEACE. EXPERIENCE INCREDIBLE VITALITY. DO NOT LET THE SIZE PUT YOU OFF. IT FLIES BY, AS IT IS -
THE GREATEST NOVEL OF ALL TIME.
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29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Translation, 13 Jun 2006
There have been many reviews of War and Peace written (perhaps more than any other work of fiction) so I thought I'd confine my review to the merits of this particular edition. Needless to say this new translation is utterly outstanding and it's incredible to think of the work which must have gone into producing it. I cannot read Russian and therefore have never read the original version, but the subtleties of language and superb flowing prose present in this edition at times struck me as some of the greatest passages I had ever read in the English language. Tolstoy must have been a flat out god amongst men if he could top this in Russian.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vibrant new translation of one of the greatest novels ever written, 12 April 2007
War & Peace hardly needs further endorsement. Though it's a long book, you won't regret reading it and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised by the amount of soap opera-like drama throughout. W&P really does have everything - romance, vivid battle scenes, philosophical rumination on the workings of history. And unforgettable characters and scenes. This vibrant new translation by Anthony Briggs, the first in nearly 50 years, is faithful to the original while feeling a lot fresher and more modern than previous versions. In particular, Briggs has a fine feel for the language of the peasants and soldiers who people the book. Put aside a couple weeks or take it to the beach this summer - you won't be disappointed.
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