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.

I thought Chapter 5 was very funny, particularly the final sentence, where, now engaged, they’ve dropped all references to melancholic trees (I say this as a fan of The Smiths). I think they might be sensible enough not to be too unhappy.

Chapter 6
When they arrive in Moscow, Count Rostov, Sonya, and Natasha stay with Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimovv_, the blunt noblewoman from Part I. Count Rostov also needs to sell some property he has in Moscow in order to provide a dowry for his daughter. Marya Dmitrievna advises Natasha to deal with her father-in-law “nicely and cleverly” (554), and to likewise be kind to Princess Marya. Natasha would rather not think about these issues, preferring to daydream about Prince Andrei.

Hi BakeOff!

I think the wording in Briggs is very similar and I took it to mean the most significant moments in his life were the Battle of Austerlitz, the death of his wife and so on.

The Briggs translation does refer to the 'best bits' of his life too. Odd when he's taking about nearly dying himself and the death of his wife!

I don't like Marya Dmitrievna's attitude towards Sonya 😡 I guess it's understandable but just gets my back up - hate favouritism.

Yes, SanFranbear! That made me cross as well. I wonder if that will stop if she marries Nikolay.

I know!!

I remember doing a double take there too bakeoff - Maude has ‘All the best moments of his life suddenly rose to his memory’ - then includes ‘his wife’s dead reproachful face’ in the list. I guess the Russian must be along the lines of ‘most powerful’ rather than ‘best’!

Chapter 7
Natasha’s first meeting with her future in-laws is a disaster. Marya is put off by Natasha’s youthful and flighty appearance, and Natasha, sensing this, responds with her own disdain. To make matters worse, the elder Prince Nikolai accidentally comes out in his pajamas because he forgot that Natasha was there. When he returns nicely dressed, she leaves rather quickly and spends the night distraught.

I think the pyjamas were not at all accidental! I am a bit confused - I thought the engagement was still a secret but it seems that other people know?

Agree re the pyjamas - he knew what he was doing, particularly given the emphasis he was using with his phrasing!

I can't work out who's at fault here really - Natasha for being all disdainful, Marya for not dismissing Mmle Bourienne, Count Rostov for skeddaddling as soon as possible or Count Bolkonsky for instilling terror in everyone around him. Just a mess... and where is Andrey?

Agree it was intentional, another Gradesaver error.
It's a classic case of me think he doth protest too much, 'I didn't know, I swear I didn't know' and all that.
The modern interpretation is that Bolkonsky senior is suffering from dementia.

Just finished book 2, part 4 - my favourite by far. I have no sympathy for Pierre or Andrei and their self absorbed endeavours and judgement of others; but I loved reading about the heart of the Rostov family and their foibles. They seem like really genuine people who value each other and the role they play in society - not for themselves and heir own superiority - but for hosting others.

Reading the comments here on part 4 now, looks like I’m alone in liking the whole part but everyone liked chapter 7. I did read the part in one day, so I guess I’d had to read the hunt chapters over a week I would be less charmed. I don’t think the hunt as much impact on me as I found the translation hard to read. In V&P (Pevear and Volokhonsky) translation the uncle’s catchphrase is “Right you are!”. Interesting that it’s “Fair for the chase!” In Briggs @IsFuzzyBeagMise. Sonya definitely didn’t see anything in the mirror, her inner thoughts specifically say she felt she had to live up to the expectation of the maid and Natasha who said “she’ll definitely see something “, then as Sonya started telling them about it she started to believe it herself.

Thank you for sharing the Briggs translation @DesdamonasHandkerchief and @IsFuzzyBeagMise of Book 2, part 3, chapter 3. Given how Tolstoy laboured over this and the editorial input of his wife, I wonder what they wanted us to take from that. Maybe we’re meant to double take @Cornishblues , if Briggs preserved it. I thought it might be a translation quirk, where they were the events that bettered him or bested him, but might be more than that.

Onto part 5!

I think the Count was being spiteful. He knew what he was doing alright.

They are all a bit at fault for the reasons that SanFranbear puts forward. What an awkward first meeting.

Rifling is right. The engagement isn't a secret any more. What on earth is going on?

Hi @BakeOffRewatch 'Right you are' is a much more current phrase than 'fair for the chase' isn't it?

I think society gossips and that’s how the engagement is known. But, they aren’t officially engaged and public so to speak.

Gah! At the beginning of the year dh said he wanted to join in and he bought his own copy but kepton putting it off. I have been waiting all year for him to catch up so we could talk about it together. 😤This week he binge-read past the point where we are and has just told me a massive spoiler. 🙄

Yes, of course. That makes sense. As soon as people start to whisper about it, it gets out.

Oh no Rifling! 😡

LTB rifling

🤣
I'm impressed you have a husband who'd even contemplate reading W&P rifling, mine wouldn't even watch the adaptation.

Chapter 8
Count Rostov, Natasha, Sonya, and Marya Dmitrievna attend the opera together. There, they learn about Boris Drubetskoy’s engagement and about Dolokhovv_’s recent doings – he has deserted his regiment and became involved in court intrigues in Persia.

Hahah, yep, I have one of these.

Finishing the weekend searching for images of Natasha's first ball. Hope to catch up with you by next weekend. Really enjoying reading with you all.

Rubbish about the spoiler @Rifling, I'd be so upset if it were me. Doing this read along feels like this special protected slow pace thing in my life at the moment.

One of Audrey Hepburn