War and Peace, Volume 1

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.

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Reseñas de la Crítica

"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)

Perfect

Amazing. So much detail into the thoughts, feelings, what is said, what is not said, intentions, interactions, expressions, body language; comming of age, dissapointments, growing, learning, virtue, vice, scheming, love, forgiveness, desire, so much more. This is a book about life. This is why I love the classics. An excellent narration as well. Perfect score.

Good reading of the Maude translation

What did you love best about War and Peace, Volume 1?

Anyone who loves a long Victorian novel along the lines of Anthony Trollope will have lots to love in War and Peace. Although those are most the "peace" parts. I admit I got a little bored with the War parts and am far more interested in the drawing rooms during Peace.

Who was your favorite character and why?

In the beginning I had a lot of sympathy for Maria Bolkonskaya and the way she has to put up with abuse from her father. But then she treats Natasha so coldly and is so selfish about not wanting her brother to get remarried, I started to lose sympathy . We'll see if this switches again in Volume 2.

Any additional comments?

One of my biggest complaints about audiobooks is that when I want to read a translated book, I can rarely easily find out the translator. This version is the Aylmer and Louise Maude translation (available in the public domain if you want to read along) but it keeps the Russian name pronunciations that were removed from that. Why is it so difficult to find out who translated it? That information should be available.

Terrific!

This recording of Neville Jason reading War and Peace is wonderful and quite a bargain. I listen to audiobooks when I walk, and it took me three months to listen to all of War and Peace (both Volume 1 and Volume 2). Jason's inflection and pacing are flawless. What a pleasure! Note: he is reading the Maude translation.

War and peace narrated by Neville Jason

A masterpiece must be displayed correctly so as to to bring forth its full splendor. This allows the viewer the deep experiencing necessary to brings art to life. Neville Jason's narration gives Tolstoy such a display. His intelligence and emotional depth bring War and Piece to life and reveal its timelessness and beauty.

Excellent narrative and narration

What prose, characters and the writing, pure excellence! I love every single word and all its beauty