This epic is considered one of the most celebrated works of fiction and is regarded as Tolstoy's finest literary work. The book details events leading to Napoleon's invasion of Russia, and the impact of the Napoleonic times on Tsarist society. Newsweek in 2009 ranked it top of its list of Top 100 Books.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy [Annotated]
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse the best books of summer including blockbusters, beach reads, and editors' picks in our Summer Reading Store. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
'there are pages of useful information making this volume the ideal vehicle to introduce the general reader to Tolstoy's epic ... the whole novel is here contained in one single volume ... so well bound that it will lie open at any page - an admirable quality in any book but rare to find in a paperback' Jean Fyfe, Scottish Slavonic Review, No. 20, 1993
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Language Notes
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) wrote two of the great novels of the nineteenth century, War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By anemones
Format:Paperback
I'll admit that I only read this so that I could honestly tell people I've read it. And yet it was extraordinary, the greatest novel I've ever read. As the spotlight reviewer says, it's long because it covers everything. Tolstoy surprises, reassures, and consumes at the turn of every page. He knows me. He knows my life. He knows how I will turn out and how my life will turn out. His characters are all so alive and realistic that when a knock on the door interrupts my reading and I go to answer it, I expect Prince Andrei standing on the other side. You'd think that it would be hard to get into the head of a Russian cavalry lieutenant from two centuries ago - the equivalent of my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather - via the imagination of a Russian aristocrat who is the equivalent of my great-great-great-grandfather. But no. Tolstoy makes them feel like my friends. He describes war as the utterly confused and perpetually unjust mess that it must surely be (like the WWI poets), and covers so many other themes that it would take a work almost as long as W&P to do them any justice.
Especially when taken with Anna Karenina, which is almost as impressive and somewhat more coherent as a single story, Tolstoy seems more like the omniscient god of mankind's imagination to me than any religious "God" does. Bravo.
PS: The Oxford World Classic edition is great. The translation by Aylmer and Louise Maude was approved by Tolstoy himself and is never stilted - it hasn't even aged greatly. There are a handful of helpful maps, a list of characters, and a timeline. The typeface is easy to read and by no means small. The inner margin is wide, meaning that the words never run too close into the spine, which is itself quite strong. The endnotes are helpful and thankfully referenced by page number, thus not being difficult to find, unlike the accursed numbers-arranged-by-chapter format. The only drawback is the weight: one-handed reading will be uncomfortable for some, but on the whole I think the ever-so-slightly heavier paper will be appreciated. The price is certainly a bonus. For the record, this is the only classic which I bought and read straight away, right the way through on the first go!
Especially when taken with Anna Karenina, which is almost as impressive and somewhat more coherent as a single story, Tolstoy seems more like the omniscient god of mankind's imagination to me than any religious "God" does. Bravo.
PS: The Oxford World Classic edition is great. The translation by Aylmer and Louise Maude was approved by Tolstoy himself and is never stilted - it hasn't even aged greatly. There are a handful of helpful maps, a list of characters, and a timeline. The typeface is easy to read and by no means small. The inner margin is wide, meaning that the words never run too close into the spine, which is itself quite strong. The endnotes are helpful and thankfully referenced by page number, thus not being difficult to find, unlike the accursed numbers-arranged-by-chapter format. The only drawback is the weight: one-handed reading will be uncomfortable for some, but on the whole I think the ever-so-slightly heavier paper will be appreciated. The price is certainly a bonus. For the record, this is the only classic which I bought and read straight away, right the way through on the first go!
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To have only 1,000 words to describe why I like this book is not nearly enough. I have read this book 6 times and I confess I find something new everytime. I expect I will the next six, or eight or ten times. The story of War and Peace involves a large cast of characters. The ones to keep an eye on are the Bolkonskys (based on Tolstoy's own family), the Rostovs, and Pierre Bezukov. There are also the nasty Kuragins whose presence generally means trouble of one sort or another for one of the other characters.
Tolstoy originally wanted to do a book on the Decemberists, a group of aristocratic Russian rebels who really came of age during the war with Napoleon. However, his novelist's sense told him that it would be a more interesting story if he looked at how the generation of 1812 came to be what they later became.
This book works on different levels. First there is the plot of book which contains some of the most fully realized characters in all of literature.
Tolstoy originally wanted to do a book on the Decemberists, a group of aristocratic Russian rebels who really came of age during the war with Napoleon. However, his novelist's sense told him that it would be a more interesting story if he looked at how the generation of 1812 came to be what they later became.
This book works on different levels. First there is the plot of book which contains some of the most fully realized characters in all of literature.
It is also about Tolstoy's theory of history which is meant to be an answer to Carlyle's "Great Man of History." In Tolstoy's mind, great men of history, with their many concerns are the slave of history. In this book he manages to turn Carlyle on his head.
Finally, this is the great national epic of Russian literature. Considering the competition this is a fairly bold assertion. What Tolstoy is writing about here is how Russia, at least the Frenchified upper class became Russian.
This translation is much superior to the Constance Garnett translation which contains a number of questionable judgements. Ms Garnett single handedly translated most of Russian literature, but some of her translations are a bit of a departure from the original. The Bolkonsky family estate is best rendered in English as "Bald Hills" not "Bleak Hills." The Maud translation is superior in many ways.
Don't just read this book, reread it.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Reader
Format:Kindle Edition
Great classic book. Well done job by Forward2, easy to read and navigate. No bugs. Definitely recommend this Kindle Edition and publisher.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent transulation
Maude does a very good in transulating the story. I nejoe history. Leo Tolstoy is an excellent story teller.I recoment this book to every person.
Published 8 days ago by Tamara von Weber
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tolstoy is a master writer
In terms of writing, I have never read a better writer than Tolstoy. He writes in a way that makes you believe what you are seeing is real life. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Jay Dog
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rewarding read
After beginning War and Peace twenty years ago in a heavy, small print hard cover version, I have finally been moved to continue reading it on kindle. Read more
Published 1 month ago by cate stilwell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful edition
The book was at par with Barnes and Nobles leather bound editions. Had wonderful binding and the print was great.
Published 1 month ago by A. Syed
5.0 out of 5 stars
There's a reason it's a classic
Deep characters and philosophies, a groundbreaking view of history and the causes and effects of power, and both war and love action make this the classic it has always been
Published 3 months ago by Chi town Photog
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoying it again
War and Peace doesn't need me to review it. It is a timeless classic with themes that reverberate today. It should be required reading, oh wait... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Laura K Schneider
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Translation of War and Peace
One of my top 5 favorite books. This translation puts you in Tolstoy's world of 19th century Russia and doesn't let you go. I have read other translations. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jan Kneib
5.0 out of 5 stars
book was in new condition
Although the package was ripped when it arrived (I can't pin point where or when that happened) and perhaps a more sturdy package would have been more suitable for a book of this... Read more
Published 3 months ago by cthomas
2.0 out of 5 stars
No xray!,,
Reading that the book is "best navigation," i downloaded YET ANOTHER copy of this book, only to find that it, like all of the other copies, lacks XRAY, which is the only reason one... Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. O'driscoll
2.0 out of 5 stars
not what I ordered; binding has no words; inside text in modern font
I have resolved to "read the classics" this year. I've read or am reading Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, and Dickens' Little Doritt, Great Expectations, and David... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Margaret Bullitt
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
|
|
