So I just read War and Peace, the translation by Louise and Aylmer Maude. I've been holding off reading this book for almost two years, but throughout that time have continuously thought about it. Around three and a half weeks ago I decided to crack open this brick and give it a real try. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found inside the book. I must admit that the first 100 or so pages are slow, but thanks to the quality and directness of Tolstoy's writing, not what I would call totally dull. I was able to read on thanks to his prose, plus I knew that considering these pages represent about 1/15th of the book, was able to consider that a 300 page book would have to hook your attention within the first 20 pages to be equivalent. By the time I hit page 120 I was hooked. The background of the main characters and the setting where all the events take place was sufficiently developed and the story was ready to take off. It never let me go. I honestly expected it might take me 2 months to read this book at my usual pace of 20-30 pages a day, but truly exceptional books will often times have me reading 40,50, or more pages a day if they really grab hold of me. This book was one of those books, and I found myself completing it not more than an hour ago after about 3.5 weeks of pleasure.
I have read many reviews about this book, and many opinions, so I'm not convinced I can add anything of real substance to what others have said, but I can share my thoughts and feelings. I find this book difficult to rate or classify as it is unlike any other book I have ever read. It is often called the greatest book ever written. Do I agree with this? No. Why? I haven't read enough truly great books to form that concrete of a subjective opinion about the book's quality and value, but what I can state, is that it IS truly a great book, and that I will read it, luck permitting, many more times over the course of my life because it is a story full of characters that I would like to be reacquainted with, and a calm and deliberate meditation on history and how events take place. I would recommend this book to anyone. Although the book is physically daunting to look at, and it's reputation is no less intimidating, it is in fact an extremely accessible and enjoyable read. Tolstoy writes with a simple yet elegant prose which easily lured me into reading more each night than I had initially planned to. The chapters are very short, often no more than 3-5 pages, which makes this a book that you can easily pace as you want. I have read some reviews saying that the book is not as profound as others, often being compared to the deep psychological and theological benders of Dostoyevsky. I have read Notes from Underground and Crime and Punishment. Tolstoy does not have the manic feel that Dostoyevsky can produce with his writing, in my opinion, but he possesses a calm and almost deity like command of his story telling, which I find very relaxing and stimulating. Many of his historical, philosophical, and theological digressions are quite profound in their simplicity, and I find as I get older and better read, that I enjoy this quality in a writer. With Dostoyevsky I experience thrilling highs and heart crushing lows, as if listening to the exploits and experiences of a half-crazed genius, but with Tolstoy I feel almost a paternal warmth, as if listening to a grandfather telling a story as only they can, in that calm, warm, and measured way.
I am not going to go into the actual plot of the book, but after you get used to the Russian names and large cast of characters you will find it isn't difficult to follow. Around the halfway mark is when I no longer needed to recheck the names and backgrounds of characters, and for you this may take more or less pages, but the point is, after a certain amount of time with the book it will become a non-issue, and it will sweep you along.
Many times throughout the book Tolstoy inserts what amount to little essays about the history of what is taking place in the book, as well as philosophical and theological thoughts. I in no way found this jarring or negative to the book, but again, felt like Tolstoy at these times has decided to tap you on the shoulder to have discourse on something important. There are two epilogues at the end of the book. The first epilogue does a great job of closing the book proper. The second epilogue is something entirely different. It is literally a serious essay on Tolstoy's view of history and how events are pre-determined. Many people groan about this part of the book, as it can be pretty dry, and because it possesses a drastically different character than the rest of the book. My advice is that when you get to the second epilogue, change your reading mode from that of reading and enjoying a novel, to that of reading a serious essay on something, a work that you will have to pay attention to. While I found this last epilogue tiresome at times, I now consider it a valuable contribution to the overall book, because I know that the second time I read it, his words and thoughts will reappear in my mind as certain events and things take place in the novel. In a way, this essay of his is like a primer on how to read War and Peace the second time through. At least that's how I see it. I think it only needs to be read once, with some highlighting of key passages, but I think it is valuable and will expand a reader's appreciation when they next revisit the book if they so choose. Of course this is just a hypothesis, but I can see how having a strong grasp of his theory of history and determinism can greatly aid in the reading and appreciation of this epic work. In this second epilogue he predominantly focuses on freedom and necessity, and how the two appear to change to the subjective viewpoint of a person the farther away in time and connection they are to the action or event that took place. Tolstoy sprinkles these thoughts throughout the book in his mini-essays, especially the second half, and they are very palatable, but in the second epilogue it gets poured on pretty thick, but if persevere'd with, I think it will only give a greater appreciation, even if you do not agree with his philosophy.
So that's about all I have to say about this epic book. I enjoyed my time with it and look forward to reading it again many times. To me it is a desert island book, a must have. There are so many reasons why it is a great book that I am unable to pinpoint it. Clifton Fadiman once praised it for it's all inclusiveness, and I would tend to agree, but also because it is just a grand and deep story.
