War and Peace

By: Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble

"The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity."

Tolstoy’s War and Peace, written in serial format and published between 1865 and 1869, is widely regarded as a masterwork of Russian literature and one of the world’s greatest novels.

This epic novel intricately weaves together the lives of several families against the backdrop of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812, and follows Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count who is fighting for his inheritance and yearning for spiritual fulfilment; Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family behind to fight in the war against Napoleon; and Natasha Rostov, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman, as they navigate love, loss, and their search for meaning in a tumultuous world.

As Napoleon’s army invades, Tolstoy follows characters from diverse backgrounds—peasants and nobility, civilians and soldiers—as they struggle with the problems unique to their era, their history, and their culture; and through their experiences, explores the profound complexities of human nature and destiny.

Celebrated for its historical realism and rich character development, its examination of the social and political landscape of the time, and for its profound exploration of the human condition, War and Peace is an epic war chronicle, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and social reformer, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time. He is best known for his epic novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, both celebrated for their intricate character development and profound exploration of moral dilemmas and human nature. In his later years, Tolstoy experienced a spiritual awakening which led him to reject materialism and embrace a life of simplicity, seeking to align his life with his beliefs about non-violence and compassion. Tolstoy's legacy endures not only through his literary masterpieces but also through his profound impact on literature and philosophy.

Public Domain (P)2023 SNR Audio

Wow

The story is so much more accessible than I have been made to believe, and my favorite part was definitely the characterization and following each of the major plot lines. The vocal performance was awesome as well. 

Book 8 Chapter 14 Leo Loses it

Come on! Anatole is a grade A creep and way below Natasha's league. Tolstoy puts Natasha into a flimsy love triangle and taints the story in my opinion. I had to throw out this review with 31.25 hours left in the audiobook because I didn't want the rest of this virtual mega novel to swamp the memory of the cheesiness of the Natasha and Anatole hookup at that lady's house. Hang in there Natasha. Just a little longer until you and your Daddy Prince exchange vows.

Enlightening

Fascinating story with background information and an evaluation of mankind.
Respect to Jonathan. He read it from the beginning to the end in a involving manner.

Best narration on audible

The performance was sublime. This narrator used so many different voices and impersonations that the story was very easy to listen to and easier to follow with all of the different characters. Fantastic work. Unfortunately this book has long dry stretches such as the end where it’s 3+ hours of mansplaining.. just really killed the story. Skip the epilogue