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.

Yes, zafferana - bring on the war! Goodness, I sound bloodthirsty and I have really enjoyed this section which covered so much ground but I found myself missing the more military sections.

Pierre is a bit dull but I can't help but really like him - he seems just more 'real' than many of the other characters. I didn't much care for him declaring how he'd ask for Natasha's hand that night, if he could... no idea why she instills such contempt in me but she does and I dislike how she's treated as some sort of precious flower who shouldn't be upset or feel the consequences of her actions...

I also liked the comet bit... seemed a but prophetic and otherworldly!

Bring on the next volume... feeling a but lost with a day off 😆

Yeah, I agree with you @SanFranBear - Natasha is a spoilt little madam. I don't much like her either.

I'm #teamPierre. Loved these bits with him and how he put Anatole in his place. He needs to kill his wife off to free himself up for Natasha. I'm not a huge fan but am hoping she'll be chastised and not so arrogant after her close shave with Anatole. Gradesaver didn't give Sonya enough credit for her part in it too.

I'm not ready for more war, I prefer the Russian society and comets!

#teamPierre here too! Anatole and Helene really are a piece of work aren't they? I hope Pierre can eventually free himself from his awful marriage. Agree we're due some war soon, even though I've loved the recent society chapters.

I'm #teamNatasha!

Thank you for the summary for the end of section and the end of that book, Desdamona!

Argh...Lost my post!

I'm a bit annoyed by the summary suggesting that Anatole should be partially absolved of blame by virtue of his upbringing, that he has been enabled by others and that's why he acted that way. I find it hard to believe that he didn't know that the elopement wouldn't have been disastrous for Natasha. I think he didn't care. I agree with Cludgie. He's a bad 'un. There isn't a single moral fibre between himself, Dolokhov and Hélène.

I agree. He's described as "good-natured".... oh that makes it all ok then!

Gosh, what an ending - so clever how it brings together almost all our main characters (except Nikolai - I wonder what he will do when he finds out about Anatole trying to abduct his sister?!)
The ending, with Pierre seeing the comet, was just astounding - really transcendent.

Exactly! 🙄

I agree - good natured he 'ain't. He's a snake in the grass!

Volume III Part 1
Chapter 1
In June 1812, Napoleonn_ invades Prussia. Tolstoy pauses the story to meditate on history and its causes. He argues that the typical explanations for history, which attribute war and big events to politics and 'great' men, are insufficient. Instead, he argues that history is caused by infinite decisions and influences, most of which seem unimportant. Therefore, even though people make decisions from free will, those decisions are still employed by a greater destiny.

What a cracking way to start the next volume - I really enjoyed Tolstoy's musings and think he's probably not far off the truth. Nothing has just one cause, really.. and it's still so true today.

Ready for a bit of action from our cast of characters now though - hoping to see Nikolay back in action and got everything crossed that we hear some news of Denisov!!

Yes - I really liked that bit too.

That's a great start to Volume 3.
I found myself nodding along in agreement.

Well as a historian of sorts that was right up my street. I also thought I was behind again, but it turns out I’m not. Excellent.

Chapter 2
Napoleon crosses the Niemen river and invades Prussia, losing a number of men in the process.

I just don't get this whole sacrificial mentality... so many pointless deaths, of men and horses, for nothing!

Rather dark humour on Tolstoy’s part.

I think it was a real event, not invented. All so tragic.

Chapter 3
Meanwhile, Tsar Alexander is in Vilno, Poland. He inefficiently tries to prepare for the war before attending a ball in his honor. Many of the novel’s characters have followed the tsar to Vilno. Boris Drubetskoyy_ has become quite the social climber, and eavesdrops on the tsar in hopes of hearing news that no one else has heard. He overhears that Napoleon has crossed the Niemen and that the tsar is planning to declare war if the French do not withdraw.

I'd kind of forgotten about Boris. Now he's married his money, sorry - his lovely wife, he's totally in his element but this chapter goes to show money can't buy you manners or class.... eavesdropping on the bloody Tsar! Oh Boris 😆

He is unscrupulous! He wouldn't know a scruple if he met one 😂

Chapter 4
The tsar sends Balashovv_, a general, to demand that Napoleon withdraw his troops from Prussian lands. The French troops that Balashov meets are very disrespectful to him. He eventually meets a French nobleman, now styled as the king of Naples, who regards war as inevitable.