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War and Peace (Oxford World's Classics)
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Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $9.58
You Save: $ 3.37 ( 26% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Author: Leo Tolstoy
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Average Customer Rating:
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War and Peace (Oxford World's Classics) Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 891.733
EAN: 9780192833983
ISBN: 0192833987
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 1392
Publication Date: 1998-06-25
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
Dewey Decimal Number: 891.733
EAN: 9780192833983
ISBN: 0192833987
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 1392
Publication Date: 1998-06-25
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
Editorial Review of War and Peace (Oxford World's Classics)
In Russia's struggle with Napoleon, Tolstoy saw a tragedy that involved all mankind. Greater than a historical chronicle, War and Peace is an affirmation of life itself, `a complete picture', as a contemporary reviewer put it, `of everything in which people find their happiness and greatness, their grief and humiliation'. Tolstoy gave his personal approval to this translation, published here in a new single volume edition, which includes an introduction by Henry Gifford, and Tolstoy's important essay `Some Words about War and Peace'.
Customer Reviews of War and Peace (Oxford World's Classics)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Maudes at Home with Tolstoy
Review: The Maudes translated WAR AND PEACE in Tolstoy's house, consulting with him. They did a nice, thorough and very readable job. Meanwhile Tolstoy deliberately wrote in a simple, easy way to reach more readers. So while the Pevear translation may be slightly better (scholars have examined this work for more than a century and picked up translation errors here and there) or slightly worse, you really can't go wrong with the Maudes.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: My first thoughts after completion
Review: I held the book in my hands and felt its weight. It looked quite big; not as big as when I first saw it but still big - and had I actually gone
through all those pages and all those letters? Apparently. What now?
What was this feeling spreading in me? was it emptiness? I felt sad. For the first time after completing a book there actually was a possibility that I would never read a better book for the rest of my life. This possibility weighted heavily on me, and the book, still resting in my hands, grew even lighter.
But then, thinking about all the moments in the book, all the characters, all the emotions, all the ideas and images I thought: Well, if this book in fact turns out to be the best book I'll ever read, that would be alright.
And then I didn't feel empty anymore. I was not sad anymore, in fact, I was satisfied, and warm. And I still am.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Exactly what I was looking for
Review: I had been putting off reading War and Peace for over 45 years because my early attempts were with terrible translations. After looking at reviews of different translations, I decided to try once more with the Maude version. It is very readable and I appreciate the notes in the back and the character list in the front. It reads like the great novel it is supposed to be. I only wish I had discovered it earlier, but I am enjoying it now!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Should I Buy This or Pevear and Volokhonsky's Translation?
Review: Unless you are completely stressed out over $10, buy the new Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation. The main reason is that the Oxford version has little analysis. If it had offered a bit more, it would be a good buy but it is mostly just the text. Usually they contain an excellent analysis section, but it is not inclued here, So I give the nod to the newer translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky.
Count Lev Nikolaevich (1828-1910), more widely known abroad as Leo Tolstoy, is recognized as one the greatest novelist in the modern era. War and Peace is a superb piece of literature that most serious readers should read at least once. Many read it twice or more. All of the fiction is excellent and never dull. The non-fiction parts seem a bit strange and the reader can skip those parts. Once the reader gets past the first few pages, the reading is relatively simple and compelling. It contains excellent prose that one might associate with Tolstoy's writing, and it is only the length that discourages the reader. This was a seven day read, cover to cover, including two 300 page days - each day about the same as a complete regular novel such as "Saturday." It is not for the faint of heart.
War and Peace is a bit of an odd novel being so long. Tolstoy goes beyond a simple novel as Anna Karenina or The Cossacks. He tells a historical tale plus he injects approximately 100 pages of his own non-fiction comments about society and war. Tolstoy's non-fiction comments ruin the book to a degree. Instead of the best novel ever written, Tolstoy's political ideas - which the reader can skip - tend to tarnish the book as a piece of literature. One feels that he should have been able to integrate his ideas into the actions of the characters rather than giving the reader long lectures on history and politics in the middle and at the end of a wonderful story (as Dostoevsky integrates his ideas on religion and morality into the dialogue). Otherwise, it is probably one of the best novels ever written.
I like Pevear and Volokhonsky's work and have bought and read three of their other works and have looked at the Oxford version very closely. All the translations, such as Oxford (Maude) and Modern Library Classics (Garnett), are good and very similar in overall quality. For example, turn to the beginning at the start of section 11. The present book uses numbers while Pevear and Volokhonsky's use Roman numerals. What other differences are there? The present book says two people "value" their friendship while Pevear and Volokhonsky says they "cherish" their friendship. Not much different. Reading on the same page, the two turn to talk to each other in Maude while in Pevear and Volokhonsky's work one speaker pulls up their chair. One would have to know Russian and consult the original text to know if the "chair" is more accurate, but overall one gets a better or a more complete picture of the events from Pevear and Volokhonsky. So, spend the extra $10. and get the newer version with the better hard cover as a bonus.
Great read: 5 stars if you have the fortitude, and worth the effort.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A good read
Review: ...is how my mother, a great reader all her life (86 years, 82 reading) described War and Peace when she saw me with it. And that is exactly what it is. Don't be put off by the length, it's quite possible to pick up and put down. It maintains its power and vividness of scene and character however long you leave it alone. The war scenes are as gripping as the peace scenes, and there is a great deal to learn from Tolstoy, even us, even now. Constance Garnett's translation is a lovely one, into easy English, modern but not too modern. Final suggestion: I got a paperback version first and - it - will - show - the - wear - before you're done, no matter what. I am getting a hardcover to keep around.
Review Summary: Maudes at Home with Tolstoy
Review: The Maudes translated WAR AND PEACE in Tolstoy's house, consulting with him. They did a nice, thorough and very readable job. Meanwhile Tolstoy deliberately wrote in a simple, easy way to reach more readers. So while the Pevear translation may be slightly better (scholars have examined this work for more than a century and picked up translation errors here and there) or slightly worse, you really can't go wrong with the Maudes.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: My first thoughts after completion
Review: I held the book in my hands and felt its weight. It looked quite big; not as big as when I first saw it but still big - and had I actually gone
through all those pages and all those letters? Apparently. What now?
What was this feeling spreading in me? was it emptiness? I felt sad. For the first time after completing a book there actually was a possibility that I would never read a better book for the rest of my life. This possibility weighted heavily on me, and the book, still resting in my hands, grew even lighter.
But then, thinking about all the moments in the book, all the characters, all the emotions, all the ideas and images I thought: Well, if this book in fact turns out to be the best book I'll ever read, that would be alright.
And then I didn't feel empty anymore. I was not sad anymore, in fact, I was satisfied, and warm. And I still am.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Exactly what I was looking for
Review: I had been putting off reading War and Peace for over 45 years because my early attempts were with terrible translations. After looking at reviews of different translations, I decided to try once more with the Maude version. It is very readable and I appreciate the notes in the back and the character list in the front. It reads like the great novel it is supposed to be. I only wish I had discovered it earlier, but I am enjoying it now!
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Should I Buy This or Pevear and Volokhonsky's Translation?
Review: Unless you are completely stressed out over $10, buy the new Pevear and Volokhonsky's translation. The main reason is that the Oxford version has little analysis. If it had offered a bit more, it would be a good buy but it is mostly just the text. Usually they contain an excellent analysis section, but it is not inclued here, So I give the nod to the newer translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky.
Count Lev Nikolaevich (1828-1910), more widely known abroad as Leo Tolstoy, is recognized as one the greatest novelist in the modern era. War and Peace is a superb piece of literature that most serious readers should read at least once. Many read it twice or more. All of the fiction is excellent and never dull. The non-fiction parts seem a bit strange and the reader can skip those parts. Once the reader gets past the first few pages, the reading is relatively simple and compelling. It contains excellent prose that one might associate with Tolstoy's writing, and it is only the length that discourages the reader. This was a seven day read, cover to cover, including two 300 page days - each day about the same as a complete regular novel such as "Saturday." It is not for the faint of heart.
War and Peace is a bit of an odd novel being so long. Tolstoy goes beyond a simple novel as Anna Karenina or The Cossacks. He tells a historical tale plus he injects approximately 100 pages of his own non-fiction comments about society and war. Tolstoy's non-fiction comments ruin the book to a degree. Instead of the best novel ever written, Tolstoy's political ideas - which the reader can skip - tend to tarnish the book as a piece of literature. One feels that he should have been able to integrate his ideas into the actions of the characters rather than giving the reader long lectures on history and politics in the middle and at the end of a wonderful story (as Dostoevsky integrates his ideas on religion and morality into the dialogue). Otherwise, it is probably one of the best novels ever written.
I like Pevear and Volokhonsky's work and have bought and read three of their other works and have looked at the Oxford version very closely. All the translations, such as Oxford (Maude) and Modern Library Classics (Garnett), are good and very similar in overall quality. For example, turn to the beginning at the start of section 11. The present book uses numbers while Pevear and Volokhonsky's use Roman numerals. What other differences are there? The present book says two people "value" their friendship while Pevear and Volokhonsky says they "cherish" their friendship. Not much different. Reading on the same page, the two turn to talk to each other in Maude while in Pevear and Volokhonsky's work one speaker pulls up their chair. One would have to know Russian and consult the original text to know if the "chair" is more accurate, but overall one gets a better or a more complete picture of the events from Pevear and Volokhonsky. So, spend the extra $10. and get the newer version with the better hard cover as a bonus.
Great read: 5 stars if you have the fortitude, and worth the effort.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A good read
Review: ...is how my mother, a great reader all her life (86 years, 82 reading) described War and Peace when she saw me with it. And that is exactly what it is. Don't be put off by the length, it's quite possible to pick up and put down. It maintains its power and vividness of scene and character however long you leave it alone. The war scenes are as gripping as the peace scenes, and there is a great deal to learn from Tolstoy, even us, even now. Constance Garnett's translation is a lovely one, into easy English, modern but not too modern. Final suggestion: I got a paperback version first and - it - will - show - the - wear - before you're done, no matter what. I am getting a hardcover to keep around.