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.

Enjoy your holiday Desdamona and don't be worrying about the daily summaries. We'll muddle on

Andrey has definitely become a firm favourite of mine but I don't want him to get any ideas about Natasha... not sure why, but she's so young and he's really got an older head on his shoulders now - not sure they'd be good for each other.

I totally agree with you SanFranBear. I was thinking the same. It's good to see that he's getting his mojo back, but don't be eyeing up Natasha.

Thanks Fuzzy

Chapter 3
On his way home, Andrei sees a gnarled old oak which inspires him to think that “everyone must know me, so that my life is not only for myself” (423). At Bald Hills, Prince Andrei is consumed with ‘irrational’ longing to get back out into the world, so he decides to go to St. Petersburg.

A very Symbolic tree. I’m glad that Andrei is less depressed, but it seems a shame that his renewed interest in life requires leaving his son and estates behind. Marya’s reaction to his new attitude is telling.

'There was such affinity between us'. Andrei has been spending too much time in the countryside

Yes, I thought it was a shame that he couldn't re-engage with life and still stay in the countryside and bring up his son! Maybe he'll go back though, & this is all part of his development. (I also hope Marya gets a 'journey' too - especially one that makes her life happier)

And thank you for keeping us all on track Desdemona - it's really appreciated, but I'm sure we could keep it together for a bit while you're away :) Hope you're having a good time!

@IsFuzzyBeagMise

Thanks for posting the end of section commentary, Desdemona. It really brings it all together. I'm wondering who Bazdeev is. He has great composure, whoever he is :)

Ha, I had to look this up too. He's the mysterious Mason stranger Pierre meets in chs 1-2 of Part 1.

Thanks from me too, Desdemona, and enjoy your holiday! The longer Gradesaver summaries are very rich and interesting.

I'm also quite engrossed in following Andrei's journey. It's good that he seems finally to have got over his guilt about his wife (the portrait is no longer staring at him reproachfully!).

Ah! Thanks cassandre for clarifying who Bazdeev is!

It’s so long since I have commented on this thread that it had dropped off Threads I’m On! I have fallen behind with my reading too. Is it up to Book 3 Chapter 4 today? I will try and catch up over the next day or so.

Yes Chessie, that's it.

Government at its finest. I admire Andrey’s sang froid.

Happy Easter everyone! 🐣🌳

Happy Easter

I've caught up. Really enjoying these Andrey chapters and how he effortlessly puts into practice Pierre's unformed ideas.

Chapter 4
Prince Andrei writes a memorandum suggesting some new military regulations. The minister of war, Count Arakcheevv_, rejects Andrei’s suggestions, but offers him an unpaid position on the commission of military regulations.

Chapter 5
Excited by the energy of being around Petersburg, Andrei begins to renew old acquaintances. He attends a party and meets Mikhail Mikhailovich Speranskyy_, the Russian secretary of state. They discuss the liberal reforms that the government is trying to institute: liberating the peasants, and making government jobs more meritocratic by requiring applicants to pass an exam (rather than simply giving positions to members of the nobility). Andrei finds himself disagreeing with Speransky as much from a desire not to be sycophantic as from his true principles.

Thanks guys for the holiday wishes. Wine tasting in the Napa Valley so a world away from W&P!
Hope everyone had a lovely Easter weekend.
I think I missed a day so that's the last two chapters.

That sounds lovely @DesdamonasHandkerchief

That sounds gorgeous Desdamona. Enjoy

I'm going to have to read chapter 5 again. I'm not sure what exactly Andrei is saying about honour.

All I've taken from it so far is that Speransky has puffy white hands.

Chapter 6
Andrei finds himself turned off by the petty details of life in the city, where he often discovers he repeats the same topics and phrases day after day.
Later, Speransky visits Andrei at the latter's home to discuss the legislative commission. Andrei is impressed by Speransky’s logical way of thinking, and the feeling is apparently mutual – Speranksy appoints Andrei to develop the ‘Personal Rights’ section of the new Russian civil code.

Prince Andrei regarded the great bulk of humanity as contemptible and worthless creatures...

That's a bit of a sweeping statement there, Andrei!

Yeah, not liking the influence Speransky I'd having on the 'new' Andrey. He sounds like he thinks he's the bees knees (Speransky, that is) and is pretty insufferable with it. I presume his ideas are revolutionary and in Tsarist Russia, its good to see the son of a vicar coming good... but he is dreadful! Hope Andrey sees sense soon!

Oh, Pierre! I can't help but feel for him as he always seems so lost and unsure of himself. His wealth should give him some self-assurance and yet he seems even more insecure than ever.