Wow. Tolstoy truly is a master at capturing the essence of human existence. His ability to depict emotions, relationships, and human dynamics is unparalleled. I’m not sure how he does it, but his characters feel like living, breathing individuals, and I was completely immersed in their lives. Every character—from Anatole to Andrei, and from Hélène to Natasha—was captivating.

The Peace sections immediately drew me in, while the War sections took a bit more effort to appreciate. However, as I progressed, I found that some of the most moving moments were hidden within those War chapters. One particular scene brought me to tears—a rare feat for any book. I honestly can’t remember the last time a book had that effect on me; it must have been over 15 years ago.

Tolstoy’s fervent belief in determinism offers an unconventional perspective on Napoleon and his role in history. According to Tolstoy, revolutions are not sparked by the will of a single leader but are the inevitable result of the collective will of all individuals involved. It’s no wonder that the descendants of the indomitable bear that is Russia have a different impression of “the little man” than I do, having grown up in a small nation annexed by France in 1810. After all, history is written by the victors.

It took me a few attempts to fully engage with this towering masterpiece of literature, and the culprit was the translation. The Dutch version by Boland was abysmal, as this (Dutch) article explains. To my surprise, even ChatGPT produced a better translation than what has been printed in Dutch up til now. In contrast, the English translations posed a different challenge: the absence of French. Ultimately, the revised Maude edition by Mandelker struck the perfect balance for me as it kept the original French. I appreciated the footnotes to double-check my understanding when needed.

For anyone struggling with War and Peace my advice is to try different translations until you find one resonates with you. Podcasts like those by Brian E. Denton or Ander Louis can also help you find the rhythm of the book.

I’ve fallen so deeply in love with Tolstoy’s writing that I’m already planning to reread this novel in another translation—most likely P&V. War and Peace is a book I’ll treasure for a lifetime.

Links:
- The Dutch article about Boland’s translation: https://www.tijdschrift-filter.nl/webfilter/vrijdag-vertaaldag/2017/week-5-willem-weststeijn/
- Brian E. Denton’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpfKYmO8_0CTcPglZppJRu_aWDhBNvTs2
- Ander Louis’ podcast: https://ayearofwarandpeace.podbean.com/e/ep0742-war-peace-book-1-chapter-1-leo-tolstoy/

War and Peace - Likewise Book Reviews

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