War and Peace, Volume 1 cover art

War and Peace, Volume 1

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War and Peace, Volume 1

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 Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction War & Military War

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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)
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Without wishing to state the obvious, you need a lot of time to listen to the story from beginning to end. There are lots of characters, lots of settings, lots of dramatic moments and a lot of historical references.

I had the time and enjoyed it very much. I'm not sure why it's such a celebrated novel. The story just goes on and on. There are also extended passages that border on the philosophical. I'm pretty sure I would never have had the patience to read this story in paper form.

for people with a lot of time on their hands

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A difficult narration - but done very well. Nothing I can say to praise the book more than has been said millions of times. Brilliant.

Amazing

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An mmense sweep of hisorical narrative interwoven with human intrigue and drama. Not a light read. It is advised to keep all the characters .....their names foibles and firmly at the forefront of ones mind to appreciate and assimilate its value as a classic novel.

tour de force.

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The Narrator expertly delivered this for the entire story. He carries the mood and the characters amazingly. I was so sorry it had ended I stood upright in surprise. I have been totally immersed in another world.

Entertaining, amusing, enthralling, wanted more!

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Loved this. A beautifully nuanced look at Russian life. Thoughtfully and intelligently narrated. Bravo Audible!

Brilliant!

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This is almost as wonderful as reading the book yourself. Knicks the socks off the BBC adaptation and although it seems a huge undertaking it is so beautifully read that the time whizzes by and one is swept along by Tolstoy' s descriptive prose. Treat yourself!

A five star treat

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Absolutely wonderful! A whole world is created and the narrator is perfect. Very highly recommended.

War and Peace

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Loved this story so much! Took me a while to get into it (especially trying to remember who is who with the difficult names) but once I got it, it was such a fantastic story! The narrator is brilliant, and I love each of his voices for the different characters.

Fantastic Narration!

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Even for a Norwegian coming from a noveau riche society, this story makes all sens and senses. Famtastic performance by the
reader.

Fantastic portrait of a time, brilliantly told

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None can equal Tolstoy for vividly bringing to life setting and character. One is transported from the page into his uber romantic Russia, all glittering snow, Cossacks and champagne. The narration too is superb. Bring on Volume 2!

Masterful storytelling

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