War and Peace (Abridged 4 CDs) Audio CD – Abridged, January 1, 1995

More has been said and written about War and Peace than most other books, given its age, length, and important position in the world of literature. I don't have anything of consequence to add to that, but did want to provide a suggestion as well as a review of this particular Kindle edition.My suggestion is this- if you want to read W&P, familiarize yourself with Russian patronymic naming. A man whose father was named Pavlov with have a name like "Sergei Pavlovich Rossokovsky", while his sister might be "Elena Pavlovna Rossokovsky". This sometimes reflected in last names too, so "Bolkonsky" refers to a male family member, while Bolkonskaya refers to a female member of the same famly.As for this Kindle version:1. Many of the main characters have their names Westernized. The siblings Marya and Andrei Bolkonsky are named in the book as Mary and Andrew. Why would they Westernize Russian names in a Russian book?2. The book is inconsistent with that family name, using Bolkonsky mostly, but also Volkonsky.3. There are a number of places where the text is suddenly italicized for no discernible reason, with weird, misplaced, jagged line breaks.

Story is great and history lesson is excellent. Sometimes during war story it can be slow in depth reading that requires effort.

I originally read this book in my early twenties, and was mostly interested in the romances and all that talk about freedom and inevitability was just blah, blah, blah! This time I reviewed the ideas behind the Enlightenment, and Darwin to increase my understanding. Reading it again in my seventies, I can appreciate what a masterpiece this book is.

Yes, it's a great classic. And supposedly one of the best novels ever written. I have attempted to get through it several times over the decades. Could never do it. Complex and plodding. Too many characters. Too much philosophy. And way too long. Not a real novel, but a combination of history, fiction and philosophy. Tried reading it again with this Kindle edition, but I can't get into it any better than years ago. I liked Anna Karenina and The Death of Ivan Ilyich better. Dostoyevsky and Chekov, I think, are just as great as Tolstoy. Crime and Punishment is the best Russian novel. I hate to say it, but the reputation of War and Peace may be more than it deserves. How can a novel that's hard to get through for most people be the greatest of all time? I'll give it four stars instead of three only because its Tolstoy.

Three times over the last few months, I heard or read someone saying that War and Peace had been transformative to them. I had made a few fitful starts over the years, but inspired by such testimony, this time I took the plunge. I wanted to be transformed.Hm, maybe. I do feel that I have just emerged from something big. That the knowledge I’ve gained about Russia, this period in history, the phenomenon of Napoleon, human nature in war time, even the intricacies of family dynamics—is deeper, fuller, and wiser than before. Except for the proud, cruel, and villainous, Tolstoy treats his characters with great tenderness and understanding and insight; he recognizes and reveres the hand of God in the affairs of men, which I appreciate very much. I think I’ll probably be thinking about this book for a long time.Time spent early on getting all the (very unfamiliar) names straight will pay off in the vast majority of the book. I think my starting this more than once helped, because I ended up reading the first two chapters two or three times. Most of the key players in the novel appear in the opening chapters.

I began reading War and Peace as a challenge to myself. I wanted to see if I could do it. Tolstoy's classic novel is famous for many things and brevity is not one of them.But what began as a personal challenge transformed into something that was both rewarding and refreshing--far beyond what I had anticipated.We live in the age of instant entertainment. If a story does not capture us within the opening pages, we toss it out. If a television show does not pay out sufficient enjoyment by the first episode, we change the channel. So our entertainment has catered to our appetites. Stories exchange character development for action sequences. Detailed and nuanced dialogue is traded for the flamboyant and the crude. Like fast food we sacrifice quality (depth, insight, meaning) for time.And also like fast food, we miss out.Because there is something special about a really long, well told story. There is something to be said for tangible characters the reader can truly know and befriend. Characters that will stay with you long after the story is finished. Just like in War and Peace.There is no question the complex and realistic characters make War and Peace the classic that it is. As I read, Natasha became my pure and innocent sister I would do anything to protect. Pierre became that old, childhood friend whose defeats I mourned and whose victories I rejoiced. And in Prince Andrew I saw a piece of myself. The same restless heart. The same search for purpose.These are characters who (just like in reality) never stand still. They are ever being molded by their circumstances, successes, failures, and choices that they make. They are conflicted with a slew of desires, ever competing between their contradicting natures. They have questions. They make mistakes. Some change for the better and others for the worse. Tolstoy gives us a front row seat into their internal wrestlings. There were even times when Tolstoy would describe a character's inner feelings that I felt he had put words to my own.Additionally, Tolstoy never shies away from taking an honest look into big life questions we prefer to avoid: Questions about life and death. Of greatness and meaning. Of the horrors of war and the emptiness of earthly pursuits. It is his insight into these questions that make War and Peace more than simply entertainment.War and Peace is a journey. Like a journey it has ups and downs—there are slow parts and there are parts you will stay up to late to read. But be warned: once you finish you may not see everything the same. And that is what makes a story a good story.

I started reading this as a challenge to get it done before the BBC adaptation this year, but I failed because I just didn't have the time to devote to get through all of the deep, brooding, philosophical pages which Tolstoy writes. What the man could say in three lines, he uses three chapters! Definitely not a book for the light-hearted, but I'm determined to get to the end some how! Although the translation isn't the best (they translate 'Andrei' as 'Andrew' but keep 'Helene' and 'Pierre' - it really annoys me because I'm a language student and therefore snob), it serves its purpose and some of the lines have had me in stitches (Snob again - I'm allowed to laugh at poor translations, I often make them myself!). Well worth the pocket change, though, if you fancy a challenge on your Kindle.I should also mention that this was a tired purchase. I bought it after little sleep late at night...

This is my second attempt at trying to get through this book. I started it many years ago but abandoned it because at the time I simply didn't have the stamina to stay with it. This time I have bought the book (gave the last one to a charity shop) and downloaded it to my kindle so I can pick it up when on the move, giving myself more opportunities to absorb it.This isn't a light read by any stretch and the print is very small so you need excellent eyesight or a page magnifier at least. I am anticipating the sense of achievement when I finally get to the end of it.

Not an easy read - but well worth sticking with. I have no idea how to review a classic such as this - I can only suggest you try it. I got the kindle version, so cant comment on quality of binding etc.

I had been wanting to read War & Peace for some time, but wasn't sure if I would be able to get on with it. When I saw there was a free sample that was several chapters in length I decided to read it. Once I'd got half way through the sample I was hooked and so purchasing the whole book was a must.I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to get involved with a host of characters who are all connected in some way and that you want to know their outcome.

A great book bringing 19th century Europe to light using unique story telling. It follows the lives of ordinary people to understand the complex events at that time. It captures strong themes on love, romance, politics, military strategy, philosophy, and life in general. I could not put down this book despite its huge volume.A great book indeed!!!