Reading War & Peace: My Advice

I recently read War and Peace and wanted to share some tips that I wish I knew before I read it. Let me know what you think!

#tolstoy #russianliterature #books #warandpeace

[Insatiableviel]

Leo Tolstoy, along with Fyodor Dostoevsky, Rabindranath Tagore and William Shakespeare belong to the greatest among the great authors of all time.

[CarolynMarieReads]

This was such a great video! I’m a co-host of the Dickens versus Tolstoy debate/book club, and we’re reading War and Peace in April and May! I’m incredibly excited, especially since Anna Karenina is my favorite book I’ve ever read! Hearing your praises for War and Peace makes me even more excited to read it! I hope you enjoy Anna Karenina whenever you pick it up! :)

[christianf]

One wonders if “War and Peace” would have been as highly acclaimed as it was if it was published under its original name “War, what is is good for”

[mattbenz]

Beyond the Napoleonic wars, I would say it is far more important to have a basic understanding of Russian history, especially in the 19th century. Throughout the book, Tolstoy was taking sides on major political events in Russia that were still extremely relevant when the book was written 50+ years after the war. A lot of the political figures in the book are real people. Spiransky, for example, was the father of Russian Liberalism and issues like serfdom were still relevant in Russia in the 1860s when the book was written (serfdom ending in 1862 in a very controversial way).

I took a lot of Russian history classes in college and it is insane how much I got from those in this book. Tolstoy never shied away from controversial topics in this book. This book can be viewed as both a massive criticism of Russian society and at the same time a love letter to it. I'd very much suggest reading a timeline of 19th century Russia before reading this book, as well as having Google ready for names that sound real.

[zanebranson]

Thanks for this. I have a GED and no formal education, but I very much enjoy literature. As a FedEx driver in a very remote area I have lots of audiobook time. I listened to Crime And Punishment last year and have been actually reading War And Peace year as time permits. While Dostoyevsky is very readable, and Tolstoy even more so, I have had serious difficulty in keeping track of characters mostly due to the fact that Slavic names all sound the same to me. I've not had this problem with English authors.

[ailen]

im 12 years old, but im very excited to read this one! ive started reading some classics like picture of dorian gray or 1984, so this seems very interesting to continue knowing more literature!

[AlexiaCambaling]

I really agree with familiarizing yourself with the Napoleonic wars. I first tried reading War and Peace a few years ago and put it down. Since then, I've watched so many documentaries about the Napoleonic wars and I'm currently enjoying War and Peace a lot.

[dfull]

Tolstoy has to be one of the greatest writers ever. Anna Karenina was one of the most beautiful books I’ve read. Excited to read War & Peace.

[therrolandrews]

I’m 63. I have read many of Tolstoy’s novel and short stories decades ago. Indeed his writing is wonderfully compassionate. I started reading war and peace three years ago, got one hundred and thirty pages into it then got side tracked. I decided this fall to tackle it again but first wanting to check out people on YouTube reviewing war and peace. I came across your post and the biography of Napoleon you read. I thought that would be a good preview read before war & peace. I just finished it today. What a read!!! What history! What a man!!! I would have liked to have met him. Yeah, he was a fallen human with issues, but what a fascinating person. I’m now ready to embark on war and peace. Thanks for the tip on Napoleons biography. 😎

[axlramirez]

War and Peace is still pending in my TBR, although I love reading Lev Tolstoy. Last year, I read Anna Karenina and at the beginning of this year I read The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Both of them were astounding.
By the way, good video and you have a new subscriber.
Greetings from Mexico. 👋

[hollyc]

You’ve made me more excited about having bought a copy of this just this month! I’m excited for it. Thanks for the great review!

[granjuanchito]

I was going through the most difficult time in my life and reading is my favourite passion. So I decided to read such a challenging classic. I didn't know then the effect that the book would cause in my heart. I don't want to give anything away but the story of Prince Andrei and Natasha was the most beautiful piece of literature that I've read in my entire life. I felt like Tolstoy was talking about me and what I went through. Of all my friends and family who tried to help me no one understood how I was feeling like this man who wrote this book one hundred and fifty years ago. It made me feel alive to know how wonderful literature can be and how this man not only knew how I felt but also could describe my feelings in a way that I never could. I think of this man as if he were a father to me who rescued me from despair. Good literature is magic and allows the most creative people to share their stories with us. Art is inspired by life and this kind of art saved mine.

[EricTian]

Reading War and Peace has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. However, the tips you give here are definitely warranted - the characters introduced in the first volume are no joke!

Tolstoy also has a lesser known work called "A Calendar of Wisdom"; he apparently believed it was his most important work to humanity. Would recommend checking it out if you haven't :)

[Mika-lkbv]

i read 'crime and punishment' earlier this year and I'm currently reading 'war and peace' and one thing that helps through russian novels is character list! (characters are referred more than one name) I'm making one right now and it's so helpful with later chapters. i have no knowledge historically whatsoever and I'll definitely read some historical context that'll help me through the book. and yes i agree! it's super readable and I'm loving it so far <3

[SCH]

I just started reading War and Peace, which I've wanted to read since first seeing the wonderful and extremely moving musical, Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. I'm taking it very slowly so that I can relish it and live in it. I'm only planning on reading a chapter a day, which means it will take me just a few days short of a year to complete this journey. Thanks to your referencing of it here, I just purchased Napoleon: A Life to read alongside it as a companion to War and Peace. Thanks so much for that recommendation!

[orglancs]

Hello again, Drunzo. Many wise words about this great book, which I have read and re-read many times. Before I first read it, my image of it was of a dusty classic that one ought to read, simply because everyone else has read it and talks about it. As I read into it, I discovered that it is not the least bit 'dusty' at all. It is a testament to humanity, glowing with passion and vitality and love of life. The love stories in it, the encounters between the characters, are just wonderful. And it's not just the people, even a roof sparkling in the sunshine after a rainstorm seems more alive, because Tolstoy is describing it and he can do that better than anyone else.

[johnbennett]

This is a wonderful vlog! Thank you. Your comments are intelligent, good analysis. Your love of literature is evident. I look forward to your future YouTube pieces.

[sweet-keeks]

I just finished reading Anna Karenina, my first Tolstoy novel. I think many of the points you made about what makes Tolstoy a great writer and worth reading translate between these two stories.
I was interested in War and Peace before, but this has secured its spot on the 2023 TBR. Thanks!

[mindylawrence]

I had a couple of dry runs with War and Peace when I was younger. Now I'm 71 and just got my copy in the mail today. After listening to you and to Dickens versus Tolstoy I'm ready to read it again from the beginning. I've already read up about the War of 1812.

[jonnykelleyy]

reading the count of monte Cristo right now, my first "classic" book read. I'm loving it, and looking forward to my next. I've definitely found it! thanks so much. They both have to do with the napoleonic era too which I wouldn't have known