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.

I have just read chapter one. Also have the audible version, bought years ago, so I might listen and read at the same time.

@BakeOffRewatch

So as not to miss out I bought the 75p version on Kindle. Thank you so much OP for making it so very easy with your links! I often find I overthink and then ever end up doing something, so I just bought the cheapest.

Have also now read the first chapter. I am glad I got it on the kindle, as I did need to use the internal dictionary a couple of times “abnegation” and “rejoinder”. I found it difficult as there’s so many names and relationships introduced already. I don’t think I made it past the first page when I bought the book, which must be in a charity shop now, because I couldn’t figure out what were Genoa and Lucca.

Grateful for this read-along, as the aim is to get through and not over-think!

Yes I was also glad of the kindle dictionary - abnegation is a new one on me!

Definitely I would have struggled to read in hard copy - the kindle makes it much easier to deal with the copious footnotes translating the French in my edition!

DP has found my book today! Was a Christmas present from him and he'd mislaid it! Grrr... So I have read the book introduction, potted Tolstoy biography, chronological events and a quick Wiki revision on Napoleon. Only after that did I feel ready to start the book! Have to say loving the feel of the book. I love Penguin Classics anyway but this is so satisfyingly HUGE. Have two special bookmarks, one for the text and one for the notes. First chapter read and enjoyed although had to concentrate on the different names. Hopefully this will get easier.

I enjoyed chapter one! I might make some notes on character names whilst there still aren't too many to remember.

Joining in after seeing this on another thread. I've downloaded the Penguin Classics edition to my Kindle and I'm going in!

Finished chapter one!

Agree with the two bookmarks idea @Needdoughnuts! I polished off 3 chapters post-shower but I suspect progress will slow when it veers off the narrative and into the philosophical/polemical. Enjoying thus far. Briggs translation quite lively at moment.

@TheLadySif that's a good idea. I've listened to a few classics on audible and it's usually a pretty good experience, as long as they've chosen a decent narrator.

Chapter one read :)

Also read chapter 1 now, it was quite fun!

@sociallydistained I've ended up with the same version, having totally failed to find my own copy. All books on my shelves are organised alphabetically so it's a mystery where it's gone!
Anyway, I dashed to Waterstones today and got the last clothbound copy. I may have also bought a lovely pale green version of Persuasion too
It's very beautiful and I'm happy. Have just finished chapter one and resisting going any further for the moment. (I was very guilty of getting bored and reading ahead at school)

Hesitant to declare myself as one of my other resolutions is to give up on books more readily if they aren’t for me this year. But, here goes, I am here and have started and am keen to give it a go - thanks for setting this up Viking. I have an ancient (1971 reprint of 1942 edition) battered and liver-spotted library hardback. The other option was another single volume hardback (possibly Penguin but I’m not sure) - i went for the one I have on the basis that the book was more willing to stay open whereas the other wanted to close itself. It’s the Maude translation, initial impression is that it reads well, and the odd note is given as a same-page footnote rather than endnote, which is a bonus. There is a character list at the front - but it doesn’t include everyone I’ve met in chapter 1!

My copy has 15 ‘books’ rather than 3 parts so looks like I’m aiming to complete book 1 for the 25th, which is about 115 pages?

First impressions: there are a lot of Princes! This version uses Andrew but also Vasíly - I’m finding myself thinking Basil though and surprised to be finding that helpful!

Just a reminder that one of the links in my OP is to daily blog posts reflecting on each chapter (based on a 361 chapter version so may not tally exactly).

Here's today's, I found it helpful as a companion read

brianedenton.medium.com/pavlovnas-god-79e913b6ad33

I'm going to do a better breakdown of the chapters and reading dates. If anyone wants to PM a pic of the table of contents from their edition over the next couple of days, I will try to include a comparison so we can all stick together.

I wouldn’t worry about the names and relationships too much. The ones listed are the important ones - there are many, many named characters who turn up once or twice doing not all that important stuff.

Bilibin and Bagration are my two answers for the day I win Pointless with ‘Named characters from W&P’.

I haven’t read yet as I have the mother of all colds and have been trying to sleep it off. I do recall the opening scene and I went to Russia not long after the BBC series and I would swear I was standing in that exact ballroom at Catherine Palace, but I haven’t checked where they filmed.

Thoroughly enjoyed Chapter 1 and had to be very firm with myself about not reading further I'm finding the Kindle app much better than I remembered for switching from the main text to the footnotes and back again - I always used to end up in the wrong part of the book! Highlighting and making notes on Kindle to see how it goes but have a notebook handy if it's needed.

Thanks @StColumbofNavron, will take that on board. And look forward to your Pointless appearance! Ooh a BBC series, that sounds like a good way to finish the last 4 days of the year after we’ve finished reading.

I have no idea about any of the characters or stories, not watched it on tv or read a synopsis. So all totally new to me.

I enjoyed that meditation blog post, helped me focus on the theme rather than the details. I enjoyed the Greek reference and looks like I’ll learn a lot through this reading and the blog post and everyone’s comments on this thread. One of the comments under the blog was “A beautiful companion to what will be a beautiful experience in my life. Thank you”, which is how I feel about this thread 🥰

Can I join you? I've got a penguin classics version that's been winking at me from my bookcase for about 30 years- have never quite managed to make a start - so this might just give me the push I need

Mine just has chapter numbers, no chapter titles.

It’s the 75p one on Amazon, The Vintage Classics edition, translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MGHPFBJ?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Book One: 1805, 28 chapters
Book Two: 1805, 21 chapters
Book Three: 1805, 19 chapters
Book Four: 1806, 16 chapters
Book Five: 1806-1807, 22 chapters
Book Six: 1808-1810, 26 chapters
Book Seven: 1810-1811, 13 chapters
Book Eight: 1811-1812, 22 chapters
Book Nine: 1812, 23 chapters
Book Ten: 1812, 39 chapters
Book Eleven: 1812, 34 chapters
Book Twelve: 1812, 16 chapters
Book Thirteen: 1812, 19 chapters
Book Fourteen: 1812, 19 chapters
Book Fifteen: 1812-1813, 20 chapters
First Epilogue: 1813-1820, 16 chapters
Second Epilogue: 12 chapters

I'm going to give this a go.

Hello, joining this great plan for the year.
I have two translations on my kindle, the Vintage Russian Classics which is Pevear and Volkhonsky and the Briggs. Think I prefer the former.
Also have the Naxos Audible one read by Neville Jason, this might be the Maude?
Read this years ago while backpacking - great for waiting for trains - and loved it, pretty sure it was the Penguin Classics which I think was Rosemary Edmonds.
So I might flick between for a while. First impression is the Briggs is a bit more modern, but actually prefer the Pevear and Volkhonsky

I read the first couple of chapters today. Highly enjoyable. I love the BBC series and have watched it a few times, and I’m finding that helps keep track of the characters. I had a look on IMDB to help me a few times

I've just downloaded it free on Apple Books. Not sure which version. I've always wanted to read it. The Maude is 99p so if I don't seem to match up to you all I'll buy that.

@MaryasBible I have just read the first chapter and did the same as you and looked at IMDB to try to get a sense of who is who

Just been gifted a gorgeous copy of W+P for Christmas from my parents - what serendipitous timing!

I have a question for those reading on Kindle.

I have the Amazon Classics edition which is free on Prime, but it only breaks it down into 15 books plus epilogues, and doesn’t break down into the individual chapters. This means that when I use the ‘go to’ feature I can only move to the start of each book and not the individual chapters within that book. It also means that the ‘time left in chapter’ is the time left for that book not the actual chapter. This is annoying because I want to know how long it will take me to read each individual chapter and I also want to be able to ‘go to’ individual chapters if I need to.

So if you are reading on kindle and your edition does break down into the individual 361 chapters on the ‘go to’ feature, which edition do you have? I might have to fork out for a different edition because I think this Prime one will annoy me too much.