War and Peace, Volume 1

By: Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by: Neville Jason

Length: 30 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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)

Marvelous!

What a masterpiece! One cannot but be amazed by the modern way of thinking Tolstoy had. His humanistic ways at describing war with despise.

Alot going on with this story

this is my first time doing good with war and peace, was always curious about it. So many characters and stories going on; for a first timer it's difficult to keep track of the overall story. I'm going to have to keep going back and carefully listen to the audio again. The book is well performed by the narrator but due to the enormous length of the story-60 hours, I'm going to have to keep listening until I grasp what exactly is happening. The story just seems to be a big soap opera about different families with Thier personal situations with the Napoleon wars woven through. All in all it's a good listen if you want to culture yourself and stray away from the worthless stories being told in today's society.

Translation issue

Just one question, does anyone know what translation this was read from ?

Thanks a lot,

such a genius writer

to develop so many colorful characters and intertwine their lives in a truly memorable way

A Phenomenal Listen!

Having read W&P in my younger days, I would say I worked through it. With this audio version, I finally understood why this all-encompassing novel has moved the world of men. I have not read, or listened to, a better novel...other than, Remembrance of Things Past.

love the narrative

Always wanted to real this. So happy I get to hear it as it reads. On to part 2 HAZZZAAAHHH!!

Male British accent wrecked it

This narrator makes young women sound idiotic, especially the main character Natalya--which is important because she's pivotal to the intertwine of the ending points, and Tolstoy already makes her a little empty-headed (although he tries to show the meaning of her heart).

I'm so tired of audio producers assigning British readers to every historical book they wish to sound intelligent. This is not a British book! Nowhere near. Gives total wrong impression.

I switched to the Thandiwe Newton narration (Maeve on HBO's Westworld). Highly recommend! Though there's Brit to her accent, it's not heavy, and she's got a strong handle of other languages and accents, which are all perfectly done and gorgeous to hear. She really balanced out the female voice problems from the author and this reader Neville Jason.

The narrator is fantastic

We can’t wait to start on the 2nd part with Neville Jason. The story and characters are given such character. This is up to reading it alone.

Listening was a nice change from reading it

If you could sum up War and Peace, Volume 1 in three words, what would they be?

massively parallel history

What did you like best about this story?

It's the story of life, from the intimate to the ultimate scope.

What does Neville Jason bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His reading was outstanding. His narration never flagged, became tiresome or got in the way of appreciating the book. His pace was just right.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Identification with the main character in relation to some of my own experiences in war and peace.

Any additional comments?

It would have benefited from some editing.

Awesome

I have loved W&P since college--and that's a long time ago. I've read it, I suppose, twenty times. But never have I enjoyed it quite so much as in this splendid reading. Neville Jason is a genius. (And, duh, so is Tolstoy.) Highly recommended.