Friday, November 12, 2010

Post: Reading War and Peace

Post by Ingrid

I often don't like to admit it for fear of sounding pretentious, but War and Peace is my number one, absolute, definitive favorite book. It feel as if it is my child, I cherish it so. Sometimes I'm afraid to talk about it because I'm afraid people will bash it and I will be personally hurt. It saddens me when people say that they will never read this book because of its size, or difficulty, or whatever else. Well, today, my friends, to act as a counter to the difficulties this book may present, I offer you 5 simple and helpful suggestions for tackling this masterwork. If you follow my suggestions, you will most certainly have a more pleasant and satisfying experience reading Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace

5 Tips for Reading War and Peace

Pevear and Volokhonsky translation
1. Choose a good translation.
This is extremely important. Two different translations can feel like two entirely different books. I highly recommend the Pevear and Volokhonsky translation. This translation is ideal because it sticks as closely to the text as possible. The other translation I've read by Anthony Briggs has lots of British colloquial terms and idioms which I found distracting. Though, one potential benefit of the Briggs translation is that the French sections are translated the same as the rest of the book, whereas Pevear and Volokhonsky keep the French sections intact, providing a translation in a footnote at the bottom of the page. I actually prefer the French kept intact, as it is fairly significant to the meaning of the work as a whole to recognize who is speaking French where and for what reason.

2. Know the history of the Napoleonic wars.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte plays an important role in this novel. I highly suggest that you familiarize or refamiliarize yourself with the history surrounding the Napoleonic wars, especially the invasion of Russia in 1812. If you understand what's going on you are far more likely to enjoy the war sections. At the very least, read about the Napoleonic wars on Wikipedia. (See links below.) Otherwise, I highly recommend Vincent Cronin's biography of Napoleon, which is very readable and actual portrays Napoleon in a more positive light ... interesting to compare to his characterization in War and Peace.

3. Familiarize yourself with Tolstoy's writing style by reading some of his short stories
Tolstoy actually has a very beautiful, straightforward writing style. It might be nice to familiarize yourself with his style before begin War and Peace so you can hit the ground running. I highly recommend "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" and "Family Happiness."

4. Make it a goal to finish by a certain date, or within a specific frame of time. 
It is extremely helpful to give yourself a specific window of time to read this book, or to make a goal to finish by a certain date. The first time I read War and Peace was during winter break between my sophomore and junior year in college. I knew I had to finish before school started again, so it gave me motivation to push through sections that weren't so interesting. It can be intimidating and discouraging to hit a less interesting section and realize you still have hundreds of pages left. Don't let this hold you back. The last third of the book is the best part. Keep pushing, don't give up.
Leo Tolstoy

5. Bookmark the character page.
There are hundreds of different characters in this book, and yes, they all have Russian names with their many variations. Most editions of this book (I think) have a page listing who all the characters and the variations of their names.  Keep a bookmark or post-it note in this page and refer back to it if you forget who a certain character is. You're going to have to turn to this page quite a bit in the first few sections, but you will be surprised at how quickly you get to know the characters.

So there you go! Anyone who attempts this tremendous work of fiction, I wish you the best of luck and encouragement!


Relevant Wikipedia articles:
Richard PevearLarissa Volokhonsky
Leo Tolstoy
War and Peace
Napoleonic Wars
Napoleon's invasion of Russia
List of characters in War and Peace
Historiography
defamiliarization (ostranenie)



Comments (57)

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This is a fantastic post with very pertinent, useful advice - thank you! Here's a silly story: A few weeks ago, I was in Boston, and decided to go visit Harvard - just 'cause I'd never been there. I bought a cheap Harvard bookmark at one of the campus bookstores and put it in the front of my copy of War and Peace (I have the Briggs translation - and THANK YOU for spelling out the differences. That's something I'd always wondered about) for when I read it - like Harvard = smart, and War and Peace = smart, so putting a Harvard bookmark in my copy of War and Peace will make me smart? Not sure I even understand my own logic there, but....

Anyway, Gravity's Rainbow was my goal for 2010, and War and Peace is my one, solitary literary goal for 2011. I can't wait! I'll be emailing you with questions. ;)
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
What a great post :) It's always nice to have good tips from people who love "difficult" books before picking them up yourself!
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
Before last year, I'd never considered reading W&P because of its reputation due to size. I'm so glad I did, though. What an amazing book! Your tips are all very good ones too. I want to reread it so that I can experience the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation. And the time window is such a good idea--I wanted to get it read while on a cruise (I didn't quite make it) and that definitely helped me avoid discouragement due to size.

There are a lot of misconceptions about this book, I think, which is too bad. It's fabulous reading.
2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
I've decided next year is the year I tackle some of those doorstops that I've put off reading over the years, and the P&V translation is sitting on my desk right now. Your tip list is great--I'll definitely do some background reading on the Napoleonic Wars, as my knowledge in that area is beyond dismal.
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
This is a wonderful post. What a great idea to be prepared before tackling a book like War and Peace. It's one thing to study a work of literature in the classroom, but to go it alone can be daunting and this post offers very useful advice.
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
Hi! We are actually reading this in school now, and i must agree with you, it is a masterpiece. A favorite. Although i kind of like it because it's not as depressing as Anna Karenina. These are great tips for tackling this book, but i must add: it is easier to understand Tolstoi's writing when you know his back round. It really explains a lot. Like the fact that he had a patriarch household. In his mind women were mothers and wives. It is the reason Anna Karenina died at the end of the book and Natasha Rostova lived happily ever after. He never liked Anna Karenina: she was beautiful, she cheated on her husband and left her son. While N. Rostova, despite also cheating on her husband, understood her sins, had lots of kids and became humongous just like Tolstoi's wife. And so on.
I would like to also add on translations: Volkonskij is a Russian emigrant who came from a family very much like Tolstoi's (they were relatives in fact), his translation is most accurate and lively. The french parts should be translated at the end of the book, but it all depends on the publisher.
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
I recommend reading it on an iPad. Then you can bookmark lots of things and actually search within the text. It made remembering characters and what they had done so far really easy to find, making it easier for me to follow the text overall. I only read this book because you spoke so highly of it, Ing. Thanks!
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
I'm getting ready to enter the world of Russian Lit. I've never read any of it!! (sad I know!1) :( I'm very much looking forward to it!

I was wondering what you thought of the movie The Last Station? It and Desert Book Chick (http://desertbookchick.com/) got me started. And now, of course this post!!

GEEZ I wish I had more time to read!! :)
2 replies · active 738 weeks ago
Great post! I haven't read War & Peace yet, I think it will be a summer holiday job within the next few years. Sometimes I think people build up books to be so difficult in their head that when they read them they are surprised by how accessible they are - it was the same for me with Crime & Punishment.

When I do read W & P, I'll keep your advice in mind :)

Sam http://tinylibrary.blogspot.com
Superb posting, Ingrid! It is one of my most favorite novels, and I completely concur with the Pevear-Volokhonsky translation recommendation too. I am reading their translation of "The Brothers Karamazov" right now and enjoying it immensely. Good advice and wonderful links you've provided for W&P first-timers. Have a great weekend! Cheers! Chris
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
I loved this post! Thought the way you offered help was great, and I'll definitely keep the translation in mind as I've been looking for a decent copy for ages. Also, I can totally relate to you about feeling protective of your favourite book!

I've never finished a proper novel by Tolstoy because I just haven't devoted enough time and energy to it, but I've read a novella of his and absolutely loved it. So I'll take these tips and get into it this summer.

Thanks!
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
Wow, what a serendipitous post! I'm about to begin War and Peace! I'm finishing up my current read (Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress) and then I'll be tackling War and Peace, as I wanted to try finish it by the end of 2010. Thanks for the great post, tips, and unplanned but effective encouragement. ;)
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
Such an interesting post, Ingrid. My source of information and help when I read W&P two summers ago was my daughter, who was living in France at the time, and happened to be obsessed with all things Napoleon. We had a good email discussion--she was mostly clarifying characters and historical events. You two should meet each other. You'd have a lot in common. Although I loved W&P, I was more drawn to Anna Karenina.
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
Thanks for such a clear and super informative post! I've got this near the top of my TBR list - over the summer I read Anna Karenina and absolutely adored it, funnily enough I especially enjoyed all his thoughts about farming and the right way to use the land, run a country, govern, distribute goods and so on. I think it was because I read it in rural Africa where I was acutely aware of the relationship between people and land (which is much closer there - you couldn't *not* buy your vegetables from the wife of the man who had grown them, for instance). So every time I read a review of AK where someone says 'yeah, it was great, except obviously i skipped all the farming chapters' i think - huh? you what? I guess this in a roundabout way makes me very sure that I want to make sure I know, as much as I can, what the context is for W&P, to have some context for it and some understanding, so I will definitely be doing some pre reading as you recommend! I was once a philosophy major and everyone told me I would like Dostoevsky more than Tolstoy but I didn't love Crime and Punishment (also read this summer) HALF as much as Anna Karenina, so I'm very excited to read W&P! Just as soon as I finish Dr ZHivago which I'm reading for the readalong @nonsuchbook....! Feel rather like i'll have earned myself a trip to Russia to see it for myself after I've read all of these classics!
Thanks again for all the great info and your infectious enthusiasm!
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
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BookQuoter · 739 weeks ago

Great post. But you would be happy to know, that even before I read this I already decided to read this book, why you might ask? Because I just finished Anna Karenina, and I really LOVE his writing! But I will take your pointers to heart anyways and won't probably do it until next year:)
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
Thanks for these tips! I'm glad to hear someone loved this book, because it's on my list. :P
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
This is a wonderful post -- it does provide me with an extra kick in the seat, since I have been very intimidated to read this one. I'm a big fan of ensuring that knowledge of history is critical in order to enjoy certain works, so these tips are quite helpful. Thanks for reminding me that classics don't always have to feel so daunting, without a little bit of preparation beforehand.
2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
Would reading Anna Karerina help in reading War & Peace? War & Peace is one of those books that I have wanted to read for a while now. I have also heard to read the book in 50 page sections.

Thank you for the tips.
1 reply · active 739 weeks ago
Helps to know a bit about Russian history in general and about Russian literature of that period. But it definitely is one of the best books ever written.
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
I adore War and Peace, and read an abridged translation revised by Princess Alexandra Kropotkin (1949). My most favorite part of the book is Pierre grabbing Anatol by the collar and shaking him about...scaring the buttons off of the fiendish blackguard! (Pierre is one of the best parts of the book!)
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
Great post!

There is an excellent essay comparing the various translations in the Claremont Review of Books (link to article). The Pevear and Volokhonsky edition went on my Christmas list after I read the article.
1 reply · active 738 weeks ago
LOL yeah I doubt i'll ever read this book. I have not liked the other Tolstoy I've read in the past, and i don't like philosophy or war or history...
1 reply · active 738 weeks ago
Excellent suggestions. I'd love to pick this up someday soon. I'm thinking that next year I'll try to read a "big" book every month or so. I'm kind of tired of being scared off by them or making excuses about not having the time.

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