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War and Peace, Volume 2

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War and Peace, Volume 2

By: Leo Tolstoy
Narrated by: Neville Jason
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About this listen

War and Peace is one of the greatest monuments in world literature. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, it examines the relationship between the individual and the relentless march of history. Here are the universal themes of love and hate, ambition and despair, youth and age, expressed with a swirling vitality which makes the book as accessible today as it was when it was first published in 1869.

In addition it is, famously, one of the longest books in Western literature and therefore a remarkable challenge for any reader. Neville Jason read the abridged version of War and Peace and proved his marathon powers with his outstanding performance of Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. These make him the ideal narrator to essay Tolstoy's epic.

War and Peace was translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude.

© and (P) Naxos Rights International Classics Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Fiction War Russia

Critic Reviews

"War and Peace presents us with a complete picture of human life; a complete picture of the Russia of those days; a complete historic picture of the struggle of nations; and a complete picture of the things in which men set their happiness and greatness, their sorrow and their shame." (A.V. Knowles, Tolstoy: The Critical Heritage)
"There remains the greatest of all novelists - for what else can we call the author of War and Peace?" (Virginia Woolf)

All stars
Most relevant  
Take ot as it is. grab your family tree and follow the story. people are just as flawed as war

A Must Read

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Firstly the narrator is excellent. I sampled a few, and his reading is the right pace, well voiced and enthusiastic. His French and German accents are also very good (by my poor ear). Some scenes in this book are extremely moving and the narrator brings you with him, clearly moved himself as he reads. Great voice acting.

I won't review the book itself here but I loved every minute, however many hundreds. Although epilogue two was rather dense and needed a bit more attention.

classic for a reason

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The narrator does a stunning job of balancing all of the various characters and their outlook on life. he has a warm, kind voice that makes it easier to listen to passively.

Just a head up though, there are fairly lengthy academic historian arguments which are quite a chore to wade through, the last hour in particular.

Otherwise the characters are wonderfully fleshed out and vital, like real people their passions and beliefs change with time and experience.

It's a battle, but if you're looking at volume 2, you already know if you're going to plunge into the world once more.

... And then the sun came up (on finishing)

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Great performance by Mr Jason in the “story” parts of this book. He reads the theoretical bits well, too, but nobody could make them particularly enjoyable. And there are some hours of that stuff. Overall, I’m glad to have listened to this book and suggest you do, too. Just skip the sermonising bits.

Some good stuff, some tedious philosophising

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