War and Peace

Absolutely not in good condition held together by tape!

I normally have the best experiences with this websites which is why this is only getting 3 stars and not lower. The copy of “War and Peace” that I ordered has entire parts of the pages missing, and those missing sections of the pages make reading the text nearly impossible. Like I said though, this is very out of the ordinary and it will not prevent me from using this website again.

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As described

I heard a professor say that if you only read one book in your life, it ought to be "War and Peace." And I believe he's right. Reading a chapter or two a day, it took me months, but it was a most rewarding experience. To my surprise, the novel was not plodding and obtuse, like many classics. Instead, I found it enjoyable, endearing and informative. It tells the tale of several noble Russian families and how they intertwine during a restive period in Russian history. It also describes in great detail various battles and the personages involved, some fictional, some not. As a story, it had suspense, very well-defined characters, action and interesting plot turns. The book also contained essays by Tolstoy on the forces of history and other matters -- which I tended to skip over. But, now having completed this singular work, I feel enriched and satisfied. I'm no expert, but if someone tells me this is the greatest novel ever written, they won't get any argument from me.

What's left to say about a book that more than any other is often called the greatest novel ever written? Some readers may avoid such enormously famous works due to intimidation or to a jaded (and unjustified) familiarity. To such folks, I say, pretend you never heard of the book except from a trusted friend who's recommending this book as a `sweeping saga of war-time Russia and its gentry class during tumultuous times' (or other such book cover blurb) and dive in. You'll be rewarded with leaving your accidental life and experiencing the company of people whose lives you'll care deeply about: Prince Andrei, Natasha, Nikolai, Pierre, and a host of others. No doubt you've heard of the huge number of characters in the book and that readers should jot down notes to understand what's going on. Yes, there are many people in the book but the main characters are a manageable number and most people reading for pleasure will do fine without notekeeping. And the book is long but so is the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Stephen King's Dark Tower series. Unforgettable characters, magnificent battle scenes, adultery, philosophical ruminations, and even some chick-flick tear jerker scenes - what more can a reader ask for?

Just want to write a short review. I agree with the other reviewer, Brady. I bought the book a couple of days ago and have been reading it non-stop! All the passages in the other translations that left me scratching my head have all come alive! I've always wondered, for example, why Tolstoy would describe Andrey and Boris as "looking more manly"--now I know he means they look "more mature"! KUDOS to Anthony Briggs!