Before you Read War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy Book Summary, Analysis, Review (Russian Novel)

Dec 12, 2022

Renowned Russian Realist author Leo Tolstoy discusses his masterpiece 'War and Peace' on the podcast. They delve into the challenges faced by readers, Tolstoy's unique historical approach, and the themes of war, revolution, and governance in the novel. They also emphasize the importance of choosing the right translation to make the reading experience less intimidating.

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ADVICE

Start Reading War and Peace

Don't be intimidated by War and Peace's length.
Start reading and join the discussion to understand its meaning.

INSIGHT

Tolstoy's Challenge

Tolstoy questions how we understand human actions and historical narratives.
He challenges the focus on leaders, minimizing the impact of ordinary people.

INSIGHT

Historical Context

War and Peace is set in 1805-1820, but the French Revolution is crucial context.
The novel explores the clash between monarchies and the rise of liberal democracy.

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Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! Was there a theme or meaning you wanted us to talk about further? Let us know in the comments below! Today we talk about all the things we wish we knew before starting "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy. "War and Peace" is a maximalist effort of Russian Realism. It combines fictional elements of a book with real historical figures. This is meant to be spoiler-free but obviously will discuss real events in history. The French Revolution, we believe, was critical for understanding the opening chapters. We want to talk about some movements in Europe and Russia to help set some context for your reading. Tolstoy does an amazing job of walking readers through the book from there. We continue to reflect back on this book now, 6 months later, after reading it.

War and Peace In-Depth Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVAv8RQaURs&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YADI_Qy4oRWZFcNKX0DJuIq

Anna Karenina In-Depth Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzQKRTN-hlE&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YAeKApGlGHLejJIznz37SOE

Leo Tolstoy Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkaqYLXOzWM&list=PLHg_kbfrA7YAyibqABgxNq8dGLzGYw7UP

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Wording Clarifications and Rationale:

“Coronation” is a Western word, but in Russian, the process is actually called “chrismation (anointment) to tsardom,” or “being wed to the tsardom”, a very important difference - one that is lost in translation when speaking of Russia.

https://www.rbth.com/history/331232-russian-tsar-emissary-of-god