War and Peace vs Crime and Punishment

[Cossack]

I know both are superb books and I want to decide which to read first. Which one better not only in terms of enjoyment/interest but also the impact it leaves after it's read?

[JBI]

I'd read Anna Karenina First, then Crime and Punishment, then War and Peace, then The Brothers Karamazov.

In a sense, Anna Karenina is a bit of a prequel to War and Peace, and it's good to get some grounding in Dostoevsky before reading The Brothers Karamazov - but really, you can't go wrong with any of them. Crime and Punishment first, perhaps though, assuming you haven't read any of the books I mentioned, that is.

[feministdoris]

War and Peace is a very lengthy reading... many people give up on it - and, while i'm not assuming it's the case i still think you should start with c&p.

[Cossack]

I got war and peace though I might get crime and punishment while i'm reading war and peace, if I don't give up on it that is.. thanks for the input.

[islandclimber]

I prefer Crime and Punishment as it delves more deeply into the tortured soul, but War and Peace is still and extraordinary work.. Epic and vast...

[Dr. Hill]

Crime and Punishment all day, every day, on any plane of existence.

[mono]

Both books, after reading, you will never forget, both epic plots, both philosophical, and both by incredible authors; I certainly recommend that you read both. I think Crime and Punishment a bit more approachable, especially if you have never read Anna Karenina, which I would encourage you to read prior to War and Peace; I would call neither an easy read, but Crime and Punishment, at least, one can read on multiple levels of understanding, while War and Peace requires some studying even before opening the front cover, such as of the Napoleonic wars and Russian history. Despite their amazing plots, they seem a bit difficult to compare as to which seems "better," to tell all honesty; on that note, it feels a lot like selecting a favorite between Faust and The Iliad.
To put it short, I would promote reading both; if you feel brave, read War and Peace, otherwise Crime and Punishment.

[Babak Movahed]

Crime and Punishment for me. Both the novels are amazing don't get me wrong but I would choose Crime merely because the plot in my opinion is more riveting and page for page it's better.

[Buh4Bee]

Seem like Crime and Punishment may be the way to go first. Be prepared to read War and Peace with a committed attitude and do some prior research. It can be read standing alone, but you'll get more out of it, if you read it from an historical perspective.

[Delarge]

I started with Crime and Punishment and it was my first "Holy ****!"-literature experience. That novel completely blew my mind and opened my eyes to a kind of literature I didn't know existed. While it wasn't an easy read it was a pretty fast one and a novel I have come back to several times since.
I then read The Idiot (propably the most difficult and boring of Dostojevskijs great 3) and The Brothers Karamazov (the best novel I have ever read) before reading War and Peace. War and Peace was epic in scale, though it didn't get to me on the same lvl as most of Dostojevskijs works did. I found W&P very easy and fast to read, though 2 month prior I had just finished a Napoleon biography so I kinda knew the historical setting for the drama. Haven't read Anna Karenina yet, but it's definately on my tbr list.
My advice would be to start with Crime and Punishment - not to difficult and great literature!

[Mathor]

I'm a bit biased as I've never been a big fan of Tolstoy, and War and Peace I liked least of his works. (Anna Karenina was surely his better work)

I think Dostoevsky is the better writer, and I think you'll find more in Crime and Punishment than you could find in War and Peace.

[Bastable]

Love Crime and Punishment. Never really been able to get into War and Peace or Anna Karenina. I have a copy of Brothers Karamazov i've never really found the time to read.

[prendrelemick]

I think I'll be in the minority, But for me War and Peace is pure page turning pleasure. Crime and Punishment is a more philosophical read.
It doesn't matter which you tackle first though and I wouldn't worry about background reading either, they are both readable stand alone stories.

[mollie]

Crime and Punishment, for me. As others have said, I should be inclined to read Anna Karenina before War and Peace, but Crime and Punishment before both.

[blazeofglory]

In point of fact both of books were set in different milieus and it is pretty hard to say which one one should start with. Both are superbable books.

But I find war and peace is more difficult.

Tolstoy represents an age and he is still deemed a writer of unmatchabilit.

I suggest one should start with Dostoevsky and upon maturity one should have a good start to Tolstoy.

The two books I have started but never completed were Ulysses and War & Peace.

Despite the fact that these books were very hard but they are readable. That really transforms the reader.

I bet that once the reader completes war and peace he will immensely be transformed.

I got changed after going through Resurrection. I was a youth when I read Resurrection.