War and Peace Readalong thread 2022

[VikingNorthUtsire]

Interest thread for the 2022 War and Peace readalong

THIS OP WAS UPDATED on 4/1 BY MNHQ (THANK YOU) TO ADD MORE DETAIL TO THE READING SCHEDULE AND UPDATE THE AMAZON LINKS

"The finest novel ever written on this planet"
"Here is a novel that is worth whatever time one gives to it. There is more life between its cover than in any other existent fictional narrative"

This is a really helpful blog post by someone who has done the challenge: nicksenger.com/onecatholiclife/announcing-the-2020-war-and-peace-chapter-a-day-read-along

1. Translations

The main complication seems to be which edition to choose. The blog post above contains some commentary of the different tranlsations that are available and their merits. There's also a pretty comprehensive guide here including samples from some of the best-known translations: welovetranslations.com/2021/08/31/whats-the-best-translation-of-war-and-peace-by-tolstoy/

The main differences that I can see are:

• some editions (including the free download on Project Gutenburg) have a different chapter structure. I think/hope we would manage to find one another if some are reading versions with more or fewer chapters but I have based the readalong on the versions with 361 chapters.

• there's quite a lot of French in at least some parts of the book. Some editions translate it into English, others keep it in French but use footnotes

• some translators have chosen to anglicise the characters' names. I guess its personal preference whether you prefer Mary, Andrew and Basil or a more Russian version.

Looking at the editions recommended and reviewed in the above blog:

The Vintage Classics edition, translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky: ]]

NB also this link for the kindle version: ]]

The Signet Classics edition, translated by Anne Dunnigan: ]]

The Penguin Classics edition, translated by Anthony Briggs: ]]

As a general rule I would definitely recommend downloading a sample of any kindle edition before buying, so you can be sure that you are happy with it.

Obviously, some people will prefer to avoid Amazon! Feel free to use the weeks in the run-up to Day 1 to share any tips on what you are buying and where from. Can I suggest though that we stick where possible to the editions with 361 chapters otherwise we will all get very confused!

1. Reading timeline

Nick, of the blog post, has very helpfully done the calculations for which chapters fall on which days, except he did it in 2020 which was a Leap Year. So feel free to take a look at nicksenger.com/onecatholiclife/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Nicks-2020-War-and-Peace-Chapter-a-Day-Reading-Schedule.pdf but see below the schedule for the Mumsnet Readalong.

Again, different editions name and number their chapters differently - some refer to four books divided into parts (as below), others refer to fifteen books although it's essentially the same structure just with different numbering. Hopefully there's enough info below to keep us all in sync, and always happy to let anyone know via PM what's happening in today's chapter so we can keep together.

Book 1: 1805
Book 1 Part One (25 chapters): 1/1 - 25/1
Book 1 Part Two (21 chapters): 26/1 - 15/2
Book 1 Part Three (19 chapters): 16/2 - 6/3
DAY OFF: 7/3
Book 2: 1806-1812
Book 2 Part One (16 chapters): 8/3 - 23/3
Book 2 Part Two (21 chapters): 24/3 - 13/4
Book 2 Part Three (26 chapters): 14/4 - 9/5
Book 2 Part Four (13 chapters): 10/5 - 22/5
Book 2 Part Five (22 chapters): 23/5 - 13/6
DAY OFF: 14/6
Book 3: 1812
Book Three Part One (23 chapters): 15/6 - 7/7
Book Three Part Two (39 chapters): 8/7 - 15/8
Book Three Part Three (34 chapters): 16/8 - 18/9
DAY OFF: 19/9
Book 4: 1812-13
Book Four Part One (16 chapters): 20/9 - 5/10
Book Four Part Two (19 chapters): 6/10 - 24/10
Book Four Part Three (19 chapters): 25/10 - 12/11
Book Four Part Four (20 chapters): 13/11 - 2/12
DAY OFF: 3/12
Epilogue One 1812-20 (16 chapters): 3/12 - 19/12
Epilogue Two (12 chapters): 20/12 - 31/12

Phew!

I would suggest that we meet at the end of each section (so 17 times over the course of the year) to discuss what we've read, but with (non-spoilerish) chatter welcome at any time in between. According to my guru, Nick, each chapter is around 4 pages long, so it should be do-able.

1. Chapter "meditations"

This looks like another really interesting blog post from someone who has done it, with thoughts and meditations on each chapter: brianedenton.medium.com/a-year-of-war-and-peace-cc66540d9619#.yabefbbgz

Come and join me! This time next year we will almost have finished reading the finest novel ever written on the planet.

PS Some may feel that each day off deserves a shot of vodka or two. I couldn't possibly comment.

Actually I'm sure they mentioned Dolokhov had fair hair too. I enjoyed todays chapter. Nice to see Rostov again, and someone with some integrity.

Although he had been in the company of Frau whatshername…

Though I accept that these were different times and norms.

Ah yes, I forgot about that..!

So it was Nikolai... interesting! And yes - shenanigans aplenty today

Is it just me who found todays chapter a bit confusing?
I thought they were talking about Rostov confronting the thief initially, but then it transpires they were talking about something that happened 'off camera' when Rostov told the commander, Bogdanych, about the theft in front of other officers. At least Nikolai doesn't need to worry to much about extra duties for his breech of etiquette now, the hussars have bigger fish to fry!

This is the Grade Saver summary:

'Chapter 5
Nikolai approaches the regimental commander, Karl Bogdanovich Schubertt_ (also called Bogdanych) to inform him about the theft. However, he does so in front of other officers – a serious breach of etiquette. Staff captain Kirsten advises Nikolai to apologize, but Nikolai’s pride prevents him from doing so. In the middle of this conversation, Zherkov bursts in. He has been transferred to the Pavlogradsky regiment because of the joke he made in front of General Mack. Zherkov announces that the Austrians have surrendered and that the regiment must prepare to march.'

Yes! I've been waiting for others to post to try to make sense of it. Thanks.

I've been reading the chapters twice since we have started part two to make sure I'm getting it Desdemona. It's the change of scene and the new characters that are taking a while to process, I think.
Yes. That's what I understood. It was the breach of etiquette that got Nicolai in trouble and brought disgrace to the regiment. It's good to fall back on those summaries!

Me too but I e found all the war chapters a bit confusing tbh. I’m just keeping going waiting for the peace chapters again!

@MamaNewtNewt

Yes! I've been waiting for others to post to try to make sense of it. Thanks.

I know!

I think quite often stuff/people are introduced and not clarified until a page later. The overuse of rank for example, that many share is a bit confusing. But, I said it up thread, I go for overall understanding and atmosphere etc with the war chapters so I am enjoying them. Seems like Nikolai is on a bit of journey.

I have only just found you. I would love to join in. I started reading this last year, a chapter a night. I made it to halfway through book 3 and then went on holiday, forgot to take it (paperback not kindle version) and then didn’t pick it up again when I got home.
I will use book summaries online to jog my
Memory and be ready to join in when you get to the right bit. Might actually help me to finish it then!

Welcome babybythesea! You have read a fair bit of the book so far. Not too surprised that you didn't take the tome on holidays:)

I feel like today’s chapter is filler for some big war stuff. Not much occurring and no recognisable characters.

Yes, I wanted to read on but stopped myself!

I've just caught up after falling behind for a week. Going to try not to do that again!

@Mb76 these illustrations are great! Please keep sharing them if it's not too much trouble.

It was interesting to learn about Tolstoy studying the battlefields. I realised how much it helped in truly understanding the reality of a battle when I visited Flodden on holiday in Northumberland last year. It was so clear to see how the lie of the land had influenced the outcome that day, something I just wouldn't have grasped from a written account.

Desdamona you did make me laugh with your comment about the general's quivering walk

It does feel very current, doesn't it, with Russian troops gathering and waiting to attack .

In this chapter I was struck by the "fun and high spirits" described. Plus the comments about the nuns - are they going to be disabused later of the notion that war is just a game and a big adventure?

Agreed! And they are wreaking havoc on the beautiful landscape. Such is the destruction of war.

Gosh yes, the nun stuff!

I read The Leopard a few months ago, and there was similar nun stuff (of course, Garibaldi and co. were anti-clerical by conviction). Haven’t any soldiers heard of lesbians??

I really did enjoy The Leopard. I quite like just looking at it sometimes as it reminds me of previously mentioned lecturer who recommended it to me.

Oh, I bought The Leopard for my husband so that he could explore his Italian heritage but he hasn't shown any enthusiasm for picking it up. I have no idea what it's about, just that it's an Italian classic. Maybe I should read it instead.

It’s about the crumbling of the Italian aristocracy as the Risorgimento forges a new Italy. It’s a great read, quite slow but some lovely language (even if in translation).

@highlandcoo, thank you, I will keep posting the illustrations 😊
Tolstoy was in a war himself, the Crimean war I believe.
Yes it is ironic reading this book when Russian troops are at the Ukrainian borders. I don’t believe ordinary Russians want a war with Ukraine. I hope this blows over and does not escalate into a full blown conflict. 😞

It reminds me of how before WWI there was such an enthusiasm for war and the young men joined up in their drove but by the end they were broken, shell shocked snd thoroughly disabused of the notion that war is a jolly jape. Yes the nuns but was but probably representative of what some soldiers saw as the spoils of war.

Yes the nuns but was shock but probably representative of what some soldiers saw as the spoils of war.
It gets worse today! Women are rarely respected in war/unrest. I remember my mother-in-law telling me how worried her father was for her when they had German officers billeted on the estate they lived on during the war.

And don't forget what happened in Berlin when the Red Army finally reached and 'liberated' the city - absolutely terrifying and the accounts are so tragic.

I did enjoy today's chapter though as you got a real sense of the scale - plus all the people swept up in the mass and the snippets of conversations heard as they whipped past. There seemed little sense of urgency, even when cannonballs were landing practically in their laps - but perhaps its that sense of invincibility mentioned earlier... its all fun and games until its not!