War and Peace, Volume 2

By: Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by: Neville Jason

Length: 31 hrs and 24 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)

Deep, Brilliant, Moving.

one of the most beautiful books Ive heard. the expanse is vast and all encompassing. The characters etched are unforgetable. The narration enhances the pleasure.

Fabulous

Great story and excellent reader. Will want to listen to other books he has read for Audible.

Such a treasure

What a work! Loved the narration and one of the very best books ever written!

A great book, a great performance.

Where does War and Peace, Volume 2 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Numéro un

What was one of the most memorable moments of War and Peace, Volume 2?

It's all good.

What about Neville Jason’s performance did you like?

He is fantastic. Consistent and easy to listen to.

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

Just love this book.

Any additional comments?

Do yourself a favour and listen to this book. Then buy a copy of the book, read it yourself. What ever you do, don't watch the 1950s Hollywood production of War & Peace. The novel is so much better.

Great book, superior performance

Would you listen to War and Peace, Volume 2 again? Why?

This applied to both volumes. The book is famously long, so I might want to listen again, but a few years down the road. The vast panorama of Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia is covered in all phases with historical accuracy and a large cast of diverse characters. Tolstoy's psychological insights are right-on and applicable today. His descriptions of the battles are mesmerizing - you can almost smell the gunpowder. Truly a literary masterpiece, but requiring a bit more work on the part of the listener/reader than Anna K.

What was one of the most memorable moments of War and Peace, Volume 2?

The retreat of Napoleon from Moscow (to be duplicated by Hitler over a century later - didn't he read War and Peace?) induced by the spirit and tactics of the out-manned Russian military (with an assist from the Russian winter).

Which character – as performed by Neville Jason – was your favorite?

This is a close call between several, but I have to go with Prince Andre.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, for an obvious reason.

Any additional comments?

The performance by N. Jason was brilliant. I wish I could give him more than 5 stars. Simply the best performance in any audio book I have listened to. Makes you feel that you are sitting in a movie theater.
Two suggestions: obtain before reading:
1. A list of characters and their relationships.
2. Maps of the Napoleonic invasion, esp. the battle of Borodino.
I found both on the Internet.

Worth the time investment

I listened on my daily commute and read at home. Working like this it took me 3 months. Listening to a masterwork during a commute is absorbing and really improves my patience with traffic. Also cant help but feeling that there isn't anything that compares on the radio. It took me 3 starts before I finally finished WP. Many lessons to be learned from this including the effects of evolution, life experience and maturity on characters. Also quite a bit of history that I wouldn't have otherwise thought to be interesting. Neville Jason does a great job and his involvement improved the experience for me. Overall a positive experience and Ill probably read it again some day.

Best novel ever

This is the best translation out there and Jason Neville's performance of it is stunning.

Fascinating

This book starts me on a journey to read more Tolstoy

The narrator is exceptional. All the characters come to life and are very discernible. A very excellent book with a truly talented narrator

What ab Epic tale!

I believe this book is Tolstoy's effort to justify the events of the Napoleonic military campaign on Russia, through a story of fictional characters living through this Era, Historical records told through the Author's perspective and observations/justification of what might (or might not) have been the driver behind the events.
His tale is not always about battlefields, but also investigates the lives of the Russian people fighting the war and their family's and loved ones (at times of War and Peace as the title suggests)
In a way the author tried in this tale to surmmerize what he believed is the esscence of the Russia people's culture, faith, will and pride ( and how this relates to being European at a time when French culture was dominant in Russia).
Finally; It is an important record of what life was like before the Bolshevik changed the Russian identity forever, it might also be a reference for the future of Russia after years of hardship and pain.

Finale to a perfect audiobook journey.

Absolutely floored at how good the whole two part experience was. I definitely recommend this to anyone who's seriously into long books- particularly drivers like me.