War and Peace ....I'm compelled to read it
This is the reason why I joined the site.
I've always wanted to read this book.
I almost purchased it a few months back but decided to wait until I did a little research on which translation is the best.
Would anyone care to give your suggestions?
Or lead me to threads that have already discussed this, which I am sure there are many. LOL
ALSO would anyone like to start the task together.
This is my first post on the site so,.... Hello Everyone!!
Hey,
Welcome! I've read several works by Tolstoy (all marvellous), and have now embarked on "War and Peace".
I don't know if you have read any nineteenth-century Russian novelist already, but (in case you haven't) before tackling Tolstoy, or any other Russian for that matter, two things would help:
* First, learn the Russian naming conventions, use of diminutives, etc. Any Russian novel could become somewhat confusing if you can't understand why Daria Alexandrovna, Dolly, Dollenka, Dasha and Princess Oblonskaya are one and the same person, or why Mr. Karenin's wife would be known as Karenina, or why the brother would be called Stepan Arkadyevich Oblonsky and the sister Anna Arkadyevna Oblonskaya.
* Second, get familiar with the social system in Imperial Russia.
As to translations, I'm reading this particular book in Spanish --- but if there's a translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky (who translated my version of Anna Karenina) by all means go for it! On the other hand, I read Ivan Ilyich and The Cossacks in Rosemary Edmonds's translation and it's very inconsistent with regard to transliteration and several other issues, so I wouldn't recommend any translation by her.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Last edited by Pecksie; 12-21-2008 at 12:24 PM.
Great choice, Easy Read!
I've read “War and Peace” only in a bad Portuguese translation. But I've read Peavar and Volokhonsky’s translation of “The Master and Margarita” (by Mikhail Bulgakov) and, as Pecksie said, they’re really good.
You can find their translation of “War and Peace” at Amazon.
War and Peace - hasn't the title been translated incorrectly?
To my knowledge, it should apparantly be titled War and the World.
Nope. We discussed it in War and Peace section.
You don't need any preparation; only good will and a lot of time.
At thunder and tempest, At the world's coldheartedness,
During times of heavy loss And when you're sad
The greatest art on earth Is to seem uncomplicatedly gay.
To get things clear, they have to firstly be very unclear. But if you get them too quickly, you probably got them wrong.
If you need me urgent, send me a PM
I am considering starting this. Are you guys going ahead with reading this? LMK, if so, that may influence whether I start it now or not. We could discuss it on this forum's W & P thread in the Author section...
Edit.
Dang, I thought I had the Pevear translation but I don't. I may have to beg off as it will be a bit before I get the Pevear translation in. After trying several translations of Dostoevsky, Pevear is the only way to go with Russians in translation (for me).
Last edited by promtbr; 12-25-2008 at 07:22 PM.
I'm thinking I'm going to try and tackle this behemoth of a book next Summer. I'd love to read it, more for the fact that it's such a hulking book than me having an actual interest in the story. Will definitely try and make sure this is one of my Summer reads.
Yes I would like to start with a few folks.
Lets shoot for Feb 1st as a start date and read say,.... 4 chapters a week.
I have thi book sitting in my ever increasing to read pile I jsut can not seem to get the will to pick it up and start it. Oh well I will leave it in the pile and see what happens.
I have not read War and Peace although it's supposed to be required reading for bookworms.
It is the word 'required' that has prevented my reading it.One part of my mind keeps saying "You really ought to read this book" but another is equally adamant in saying "Why should I? After all, I don't have a particular interest in Russian novelists and those that I have read, with the exception of Goncharov and Bulgakov, haven't really impressed me."
So I guess it will stay unread.
Oh, I forgot. I am currently reading Nabokov's The Luzhin Defense which I am quite enjoying.
Last edited by Emil Miller; 12-26-2008 at 01:06 PM.
I own it but i've never got round to reading it. It's a bit cumbersome to read in the bath tub and that is where a lot of my reading gets done. This is the only reason i've not got round to it, nothing to do with it being massive and full of Russian names.
I see the thread got moved to its appropriate place.Originally Posted by EasyRead
Feb 1 would be GREAT for me! I have been working my way through the 19th century classics and that time would be about right for me to start Tolstoy. (I will have pretty much the French done and ready to do dive into Leo)
Which version would you prefer?
The version here on the site is the Maude one.
I got the Pevear translation coming. I will read that. I personally don't think the reading from different translations should inhibit book discussions, in fact , it may enlighten it. I don't do the online reading thing, as I am a bookophile and own WAY way too many books..
I can confirm that I am in for a Feb 1 start date. Who's all in? Its going to be one of the great reads! I have read other Tosltoy (Death of Ivan Illych, but way too long ago to remember much).
I was thinking about reading another book, but will start this mammoth on Feb. 1st. I will go along as fast as I can with the time I have, and the fact that I'm a slow reader.
This should be interesting.
I hope we have a group to join in with us.
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