War and Peace Readalong thread 2022 - thread 2

[VikingNorthUtsire]

"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: www.amazon.co.uk/War-Peace-Vintage-Classics-Tolstoy/dp/0099512246/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

NB also this link for the kindle version: www.amazon.co.uk/War-Peace-Vintage-Classic-Russians-ebook/dp/B005CUS9AG/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

The Signet Classics edition, translated by Anne Dunnigan: www.amazon.co.uk/War-Peace-Signet-Classics-Tolstoy-ebook/dp/B001RWQVXA/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

The Penguin Classics edition, translated by Anthony Briggs: www.amazon.co.uk/War-Peace-Penguin-Popular-Classics-ebook/dp/B0033805UG/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

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.

So glad that the readalong is still on track. It's rather bizarre reading this classic novel while Russia and her neighbours are in such turmoil - my thoughts are with everyone affected by that including those on this thread.

In the previous thread we were considering Tolstoy's skill (or lack of) in portraying female characters, and whether we find Prince Andrei's dreams of military glory understandable or rather tasteless. Our characters are on the verge of a big and decisive battle: the Battle of Austerlitz, described by Wikipedia as "one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars".

Thanks @VikingNorthUtsire

Thank you @VikingNorthUtsire for setting this all up.

Thank you @VikingNorthUtsire for the new thread.

Thanks for new thread Viking

Can I join? Where are you up to roughly? And have you reached a consensus on best kindle edition?!

Hi @ShineTogether, yes please join! The more the merrier 😊

There's a timetable at the end of the first post showing how the chapter-a-day falls across the year - we're coming up to the end of book 1 at the end of this week.

We've discussed differences between the translations but I don't think there's been any consensus on any one being better than the others. As per the top post, I would recommend sticking to one of the 361 chapter versions if you want to be in sync each day.

I'm still following along. Had to catch up a lot at one point, but am trotting along nicely now!! Pretty sure I've name changed since I joined.

I'm finding the war chapters rather less engaging than the domestic ones, but with occasional flashes of interest. Thinking about it, I would never normally pick up a book where war was the theme. But it definitely helps when the characters and their individual traits become more and more familiar.

Oops, just posted on the old thread. I'm finding the War chapters fascinating, much more than I'd expected

Re: their lack of effort. I think we have to remember this is Napoleon. I think we are 1805 and he was formidable - I think we can see this in the story. Andrei and Pierre, as well as Kutuzov have some respect for him as a commander. I feel for Kutuzov, he might be asleep but he has said his piece as an experienced leader and they won't listen.

I enjoyed today's chapter, with ole Nikolai finding his feet a little - even if it's just in case the Emperor should decide to rock up. I couldn't work out how he was nodding off on patrol, until his horse was mentioned and then it twigged!

I think I would've found the shouting and clamouring from the French troops really intimidating - they are still a much larger force than the Russian/Austrian side, aren't they?

Even though I've read this before, I am completely clueless as to what comes next (well, other than the historic detail) so hoping Nikolai's bravery pays off and Andrey gets his taste of glory. Although can't help but agree with one of the last posts on the previous thread:

Current events certainly put the reading in a harsher light. (Andrey) wants glory, nationalism, the love of the people, to be well known - desperately, more than anything, at the sacrifice of his wife, sister and father even. This is the head space of men who go to war

Quite chilling, really.

I liked it too. I thought the description of Nicolai's fatigue was very well done with some clever word play in the Briggs' edition describing his inner thoughts as he was drifting off.

I thought it conveyed the atmosphere before battle really well, the clamour, the shouting, the excitement, spying on the other side, the uncertainty of it all.

I enjoy the insertion of Napoleon's missives to his troops, presumably they are authentic documents (?), they are fascinating. There is a sense of foreboding in the air. I think they are going to be up against it this time.

From Gradesaver:

Chapter 13
Nikolai Rostov daydreams about saving the tsar’s life. He hears the French rear guard making noise and alerts the generals, but not before nearly being shot – an experience that exhilarates him. Dolgorukov and Bagration disagree about the reason for the noise. Nikolai volunteers to fight on the front lines in the next day’s battle. As it turns out, the noise came from the French soldiers applauding Napoleon, who had visited them. Napoleon tells his troops that they must fight valiantly to protect him.

Have I messed up somewhere as I appear to be a chapter ahead of Desdemona's summaries? For me, the last thing was the Russians/Austrians/Germans blundering around in thick fog... whilst Napolean looked on from on high! I know the Battle of Austerlitz is a pretty famous one and so the results are widely known but Tolstoy doesn't hold back on 'shaming' his own army here. He made them look totally incompetent!

I’m on chapter 13 today. It might just be that the chapters are a bit different in your translation. I started off with the Maude translation and found that while I was reading the same number chapter as everyone else, theirs were longer so everyone was talking about events I hadn’t read yet!

Oh no, I’m on chapter 14 today. Now I am confused!

Just checked the last thread and on 27th we were on chapter 12. So 13 was yesterday and 14 (with the fog) today.

Yes, it's chapter 14 today.

Oops sorry guys! Getting a bit too involved in the current Russian war. I'll post chapter 14 summary when I get home.

Home from work not from the war zone II made it sound like I'm out there fighting in that post'

Desdemona

No worries!

From Gradesaver:

Chapter 14
The battle of Austerliz begins.
At the battle the next day, the Russian troops head for the French’s right flank, and the Austrian troops advance on the left. None of the men know where they are going, but the enlisted men are cheerful nevertheless. However, the officers are very disgruntled because they think Weyrother’s strategy is “stupid” (271). The action begins but moves slowly because of the foggy weather and because the Russian officers have not yet given definite orders.

No worries at all, Desdemona - it could just as easily have been me!

"I know the Battle of Austerlitz is a pretty famous one and so the results are widely known but Tolstoy doesn't hold back on 'shaming' his own army here. He made them look totally incompetent!"

I guess it fits very much with his Christian anarchist / pacifist views - I'm not sure of the timeline of his life, but I think by the time he wrote War & Peace he had come to that way of thinking?

As a side note, I only just found out that Tolstoy's father was called Nikolai, and his mother Mariya (and his brother Nikolay also). Anyone know a good biography ? I feel like his life is well worth reading about.

From Gradesaver:

Chapter 15
Kutuzov and Prince Andrei are in the fourth column. Prince Andrei orders his men to line up, but Kutuzov reprimands him for doing this without being ordered. He sends Andrei to check on the third column’s progress. Tsar Alexander arrives to inspect the troops again. Kutuzov makes a bad impression on the emperor because of his subservience and sluggishness. The emperor seems to prefer another general, Miloradovich.