War and Peace

Critics

• A masterpiece in miniature

  War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, trans Anthony Briggs 1,392pp, Penguin Classics, £16.99 "As for Tolstoy," James Joyce wrote to his brother, when Joyce was 23, "I disagree with you altogether. Tolstoy is a magnificent writer. He is never dull, never stup ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

  One of my most memorable couts de théâtre was the nine-hour stage version of War and Peace I saw in London a couple of years ago, complete with battles, balls, bear hunts and 15 actors playing at least three parts each. It was brilliant. General Kutu ... (read full critics)

  guardian.co.uk published on Fri, 24 Sep 2010

12 Reviews

• 1 person find this helpful

  

  Great epic, vast in scope, but well worth the effort!

  Is this helpful?

  Andy Neads said on Jan 18, 2008 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• 

  Kapli Kapali. Drops dripped.

  It feels like I just spent a long month in Russia in the early nineteenth century. But in spite of the frequent passages on military history where Tolstoy analyses in great depth the pointlessness of military ambitions, and which make you wonder how there ever could have been another war in the wor ... (continue)

  It feels like I just spent a long month in Russia in the early nineteenth century. But in spite of the frequent passages on military history where Tolstoy analyses in great depth the pointlessness of military ambitions, and which make you wonder how there ever could have been another war in the world, I truly enjoyed this armchair trip around Russia. Met some wonderful characters, full of excitable passions and overflowing emotions (the Rostovs), some others, deeply reserved and private (the Bolkonskys) who interest us just the same, some brilliant society people who lie and cheat with such style (the Kuragins, mainly), and of course Pierre, a humanist hero, out of step with everyone but always tuned in to what truly matters.

  Is this helpful?

  Top of the pile said on Jul 12, 2011 | Add your feedback

• 

  Truly a classic book. For many it may look daunting purely by the thickness of the book, however when reading you find yourself in a wonderfully written tale involving historical moments leading to the French invasion of Russia through the eyes of Russian aristocracy and also features real historica ... (continue)

  Truly a classic book. For many it may look daunting purely by the thickness of the book, however when reading you find yourself in a wonderfully written tale involving historical moments leading to the French invasion of Russia through the eyes of Russian aristocracy and also features real historical figures such as Napoleon.

  Tolstoy was clever and realistic in his use of both Russian and French in his original version, being true to aristocracy of the time who spoke French due to it being viewed as prestigious and sophisticated unlike Russian.

  Is this helpful?

  xYoshiiiiox said on Jun 20, 2011 | Add your feedback

• 

  Good essay on the book here: http://bit.ly/aMMOUF

  Is this helpful?

  Kerim said on Mar 30, 2010 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

• 

  There are so many references to War and Peace in other literature. Prince Andrei's dried up old tree approach is critiqued in Esteban, The House of Spirits. It happens all the time.

  Is this helpful?

  DustMoteVII said on Mar 22, 2010 | Add your feedback

• 

  Masterpiece

  This book is simply what one would call a masterpiece. Too bad it can't be read in Russian unless one has a vast knowledge of the language. The whole story takes the reader through the historical moments and the places of the Russian empire during Napoleone's reign. At the same time the figure of th ... (continue)

  This book is simply what one would call a masterpiece. Too bad it can't be read in Russian unless one has a vast knowledge of the language. The whole story takes the reader through the historical moments and the places of the Russian empire during Napoleone's reign. At the same time the figure of the Russian zar is amazingly presented from many points of view. You haven't read it yet? What the hell are you waiting for? The whole 1400 pages are certainly worth it. The many many characters are each and every one deeply explored they stay true to themselves and yet, all the while evolving in the story...just one word for the author: Bravo

  Is this helpful?

  SamWinchester89 said on Feb 24, 2010 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

See all 12 comments

Book Details

• Rating:
  (100)
  • 5 stars
  • 4 stars
  • 3 stars
  • 2 stars
  • 1 star
• English Books
• Paperback 1296 Pages
• Edition: 1
• ISBN-10: 0099512246
• ISBN-13: 9780099512240
• Publisher: Vintage
• Pub date: Aug 06, 2009
• Also available as: Mass Market Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD, Audio Cassette, School & Library Binding, Unbound, Others and eBook
• In other languages: other languages 繁體書, Livres Français, Deutsche Bücher, Libros en Español, Libri Italiani, Nederlandse Boeken

Improve data of this book

Groups with this in collection

• The Collective (146)
• Best 100 books ever, according to 100 contemporary authors (31)
• Russian literature (37)
• The Novel 100 (106)
• Malaysian Bookworms (64)

Groups conversations

• World War with a little lit Engishfunfun (1 comment, 1 person)

Margin notes of this book

Prices Change currency & sellers

ISBN	Edition	List	Sale	Seller
9780099512240	Paperback	$16.08	--	The Book Depository
Other editions →
+ 3 copies tradable: →