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.

Aw, cute 😍 Channel! And she (looks like a she!) keeps your bookshelves tidy too!

He’s a big fierce (neutered) tomcat. Ahem.

Loving the cat pics! Here's mine.

Excellent double basket work.
Is there a correlation between reading Tolstoy and cat ownership?

I think there must be

Seems to be so - mine aren't very literary, but they do also like baskets

A treasure trove of cats! Gorgeous cats Sadik and Tarahumara! Many apologies to ChanelCat for misgendering him!!

My other cat is grumpy that he wasn't included earlier. He isn't literary, but he likes a lot of fine dining :)

Loving the Tolstoy/cat synchronicity. Mine are very badly educated and show no interest in books, I blame myself for bringing them up with Kindles, but they do like lounging around.

I thought Sonya showed real spirit as she must have told Marya about Natasha's plans, who we were told earlier didn't really like Sonya. This whole section has been really exciting.

(Also wondering how many of the cats have literary names...)

So many gorgeous pusscats... theyvreally are just the best animal!

And mine are named after videogame characters I'm afraid - we're a pretty low-brow household in the main 😆

Plus, Sadik, I adore how your third cat is actually sitting in the appropriate filing tray... just lush!

A very intelligent cat 😺
My cat is named after a famous scientist, but my parents used to have Dickensian cats.

Chapter 18
As it turns out, Marya Dmitrievna heard about the elopement plans from Sonya, and then confirmed them by intercepting a note from Natasha to Anatole. When she hears that the men have escaped, she reprimands Natasha. She decides the best course of action is to keep the news from Count Rostov, who would be crushed and would likely challenge Anatole to a duel. When he gets home from his business on another estate, Count Rostov suspects something is amiss but doesn’t question the women’s story about Natasha being ill.

Felt for Natasha in this chapter, being berated by Marya. I think she needed the Countess to guide her.

My male cat is named after a slightly obscure astronomer, but the female is a famous literary girl. Regretted not using her name for DD2 but it's better on a cat.

I was ill last week so read to the end of the book - book 2, not the whole book! - which is why I haven’t been posting, as hate any kind of spoiler. But I needed to join in and say I have a cat too! Wonder what this says about the literary type on MN

Funnily enough, some PP mentioned their DH’s not being into it, but the only people in real life I know who have read the book are men, who’ve then recommended that Anna Karenina is better!

I seem to be eternally either slightly ahead or slightly behind depending on work Bakeoff which makes it tricky to post and/or read without risking spoilers.
Right now though I can't help feeling that the Rostovs have done pretty badly in their parenting with Nikolai really not taking on board the consequences of his financial losses, and Natasha not talking to anyone about her feelings and uncertainties about Andrey / feelings for Anatole.
Actually the situation with Sonya saving the day does remind me again of Mansfield Park where Julia and Maria have never learnt to take responsibility for their actions, while the 'charity case' Fanny makes much better choices.

SanFran - DP may have renamed my In tray to reflect reality I'm afraid my cats came from the rescue as adults, so just have the names issued there (random people names).

I hope you're on the mend BakeOff! I read ahead on this section too, as I needed to know what happened with Natasha. It was a matter of urgency :)

I agree with the lack of effective parenting by the Rostovs. The Count wants to turn a blind eye because he's afraid of facing up to something difficult. It's easier to brush it under the rug. I was disappointed by Marya's reaction too. She could have been a strong voice to support Natasha, but any suggestion of scandal and the woman's to blame, even at Natasha's young age.

In 'Hard Times', it's the charity case Sissy, who goes on to have a happy ending. Tom and Louisa are flawed characters and don't achieve their potential owing to an overly strict upbringing.

My cats are named after the cartoon penguin 'Pingu' because he has the same round eyes and surprised expression and other is 'Bó' (the Irish word for cow) because of his black on white markings. Pretty basic really :)

Loving the cat pictures!

Interesting points about it being the privileged characters who are immune from the consequences of their behaviour here and in Austen, and the more disadvantaged having to behave more wisely - plus ça change.

Was also interested in the mention of duels and the implications for family dynamics that the culture of duels creates here, with Anna keeping Rostov in the dark about Anatole and the foiled elopement partly so as to avoid him having to demand a duel.

Chapter 19
Marya Dmitrievna asks Pierre for his help in convincing Anatole to leave Moscow, which she believes will prevent violence. Pierre tells her and Natasha about Anatole’s Polish wife. Although Count Rostov doesn’t know about Anatole, he does know that Natasha has refused Prince Andrei and is disappointed that she didn’t consult her parents first.

Speaking of 'charity cases' in classic novels, I'm reminded of Jane Eyre and her unkind cousins.

Poor Pierre... he's very disillusioned with us pesky women now - even sweet, unpolished, innocent Natasha can't be trusted!

It's good he's going to speak to his BIL, but will he actually be able to accomplish anything - I get the impression Anatole will just laugh at him and carry on regardless. Still don't have a huge amount of sympathy for Natasha and I should - she's so young and naive and completely taken advantage of but I just can't shake my initial impressions of her...

Hope Andrey reappears soon!

Does anyone play Wordle?
Today's word is a quality that embodies Princess Marya perfectly.

Unfortunately I did not get it! (Kicking myself!)

I nearly failed @IsFuzzyBeagMise but got it on 5, merely because I'd eliminated most possibilities. I did put in several words that didn't exist! Yes it is definitely Princess M

I'm a wordle fan! It took me 5 guesses today too - quite a tricky one.

Loving the cat pics, here is one of my boy monopolising the footstool. I've been behind for a while, now at chapter 18 so almost caught up!