War and Peace (Collectible Editions) by Leo Tolstoy
Product details
Web ID: 14421912Ratings & Reviews
3 customer images
Excellent book and excellent edition
For some reason, the translation info isn’t included. This is the Maude translation. It is one of the greatest books I have ever read; the characters feel like real people and I have become quite attached to them.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
An excellent rendition of Tolstoy’s classic!
Please note that this review is only for the Barnes and Noble Collectible Edition of War and Peace, not for any other edition or translation. Where to begin? This novel is remarkable must-have for any classic literary/Russian history enthusiast. The blue-and-gold hardback design is stunning, and combined with the gold-lined pages, the book itself is a work of art. Several other reviews mentioned the thinness of the pages (they are like Bible pages), but I myself did not have an issue with the thickness, as the pages are still opaque and durable. The text is small, but still easy to read, and both thin pages and fine print contribute to the overall shorter length of the novel (896 pages compared to other editions with 1200ish pages), only serves to condense the book into a reasonable size. During my research for this book, I struggled to find out which translation this edition was, as it matters greatly. This is one of the few shortcomings: neither the title page nor copyright page reveal the translator, but after matching pdfs of classic first-page translations (Maude, Garnett, Dunnigan), I can indeed confirm that this edition is the CONSTANCE GARNETT translation, which, despite being among the earlier English renderings, has a clarity and readability that have stood the test of time. Garnett’s translation captures Tolstoy’s grandeur and subtlety, offering a seamless introduction to this monumental work. As for the story itself, the novel provides a monumental glance into the lives of czarist Russian aristocracy, their lives, their love, and their endings. Tolstoy’s prose is beautifully captured by this translation, and the characters jump off the page with unsurprising ease. The novel’s length is nothing to be concerned with, with enough perseverance, any mature reader will find pleasure and solace in this novel. Once again, this hardcover collectible edition of War and Peace is Tolstoy’s literature at its finest. Whether you’re attracted by the beautiful cover, the engaging translation, or the intricate plot, this novel is sure to be enjoyed, and is truly one for the ages.
Recommends this product
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Text pretty small, printing not very nice
If you look at the text in this books you can see pixels on the letters and it is just not very sharp. The font is also pretty small, though that may be unavoidable with such a long book. I wouldn’t recommend buying this one. It also doesn’t tell you who the translator is, which is weird.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com