A few more books made their way out of the house today to the charity shop, and I made a point of not browsing too much – but I really couldn’t resist this:
I do, of course, already own a copy of “War and Peace” which if I recall correctly is the Maudes translation. Whichever one it is, it’s riddled with the original French passages which Tolstoy put in the book (as upper class Russians of the time only spoke that language) and this has always been a stumbling block for me as my French is very, very, VERY basic.
However, this lovely box set which was produced to tie in with the old BBC adaptation is translated by Rosemary Edmonds and hurrah! the French is translated! So it may that this is the impetus I need to get me reading W&P at last.
Plus it’s really pretty, in great condition and it only cost £1.50 – amazing! As I’ve said before, I do love the local charity shops! 🙂
Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings 
Jun 11, 2016 @ 18:01:23
one of the greatest books of literature!! PedroL
Jun 11, 2016 @ 18:41:45
I must make it a project to read it this year!
Jun 11, 2016 @ 18:42:47
🙂 good luck!! i´m sure you´ll love it! PedroL
Jun 11, 2016 @ 19:56:28
Thanks!
Jun 11, 2016 @ 18:02:32
Well done Karen – I really will get round to reading it soon I really will ☺
Jun 11, 2016 @ 18:41:29
Me too, hopefully…. 🙂
Jun 11, 2016 @ 18:43:11
I have those! (and I might have just read them ;))
Jun 11, 2016 @ 19:56:23
Absolutely!
Jun 11, 2016 @ 19:00:55
I’ve never seen Sir Anthony Hopkins look quite so young 😉
Jun 11, 2016 @ 19:56:16
Indeed! And I can just about recall this being on TV!
Jun 11, 2016 @ 19:51:23
An excellent find. I have the Anthony Briggs translation line up to read soon, but I would have loved to have snapped this up.
Jun 11, 2016 @ 19:56:02
I couldn’t resist – and it’s in lovely condition too!
Jun 11, 2016 @ 19:55:15
Nice find
Jun 11, 2016 @ 19:55:42
I was quite pleased!
Jun 12, 2016 @ 00:16:15
Wonderful! I love the jaunty stance of the soldier on volume 1 😀 I’m hoping this is the year I finally get around to W&P…
Jun 12, 2016 @ 10:19:16
Me too – I can’t think of a better time!
Jun 12, 2016 @ 07:46:51
Look forward to hearing your thoughts as you progress through it!
Jun 12, 2016 @ 10:18:52
Hopefully that will be this year…. 😉
Jun 12, 2016 @ 09:06:15
I read it over 20 years ago. I loved it. I wonder if I shall ever find time to re-read it.
Jun 12, 2016 @ 10:18:25
That’s the trouble isn’t it – there are so many new books we struggle to find time to re-read!
Jun 12, 2016 @ 10:58:01
I am determined to start War and Peace some time! I have to say I think 3 volumes is a better way of doing it – the copy I have is huge and the print tiny. I think I will have to skim read the French if that is what mine has.
Jun 12, 2016 @ 12:03:20
The size of book and print really is relevant – two volumes may make it workable as the other copy I have is a tiny fat hardback with miniscule print…
Jun 12, 2016 @ 10:58:43
It had to be done! Hopkins is barely recignisable there. Enjoy!
Jun 12, 2016 @ 12:02:38
Well, I’m old enough to remember him when he looked like that…. 🙂
Jun 12, 2016 @ 12:16:17
Oh me too!
Jun 12, 2016 @ 15:41:30
Me too sadly….
Jun 12, 2016 @ 15:42:58
if you do embark on this you can be sure it will keep you quiet for a long time. The edition I had contained a very useful bookmark indicating the characters and the various names by which they are known which proved invaluable since I couldnt keep that in my head.
Jun 12, 2016 @ 17:59:49
That sounds a useful bookmark – I may find and print out a list of characters to keep on hand!
Jun 12, 2016 @ 15:57:22
Yay! I’m glad you got it. It’s a rich novel, but also extremely readable, and I know you’ll love it. The Rosemary Edmonds translation is excellent. Love the Maude, but Rosemary is just as good!
Jun 12, 2016 @ 17:57:51
I really hope to get onto it this year – I loved AK so I should do this one too!
Jun 13, 2016 @ 06:21:50
They look lovely! I’m usually against film or TV covers, but older ones are forgiven, adaptations given a decent amount of time can get quite interesting and a kitschy. But also, I’m glad it’s not just me! When I read this I found the French annoying and slowed me right down.
Jun 13, 2016 @ 06:35:17
Me too on both counts but as it was the old BBC version I forgave it. And thenFrench would have had me giving up so at least this way I have a chance!
Jun 13, 2016 @ 10:56:38
war and Peace is one novel that I think I would never read in my lifetime because of its huge size
Jun 13, 2016 @ 11:36:46
Oh, big books can be brilliant – Anna Karenina is amazing. As long as you have the time to commit, a big book can be so satisfying!
Jun 13, 2016 @ 16:25:13
I will def be reading Anna Karenina. Funny thing is I have read so many articles etc about it that I think I know the plot already. But yes! will read to appreciate the writing
Jun 13, 2016 @ 12:15:05
Oh – this edition brings back so many happy memories! That BBC production was sown when I was about 13, and I absolutely loved it. And when I had finally saved up one whole pound (those volumes were 50p each back in those halcyon days), I remember walking into the branch of John Smiths on Sauchiehall Street, and proudly taking those two volumes, in the cardboard box, to the counter. That very evening I started reading it. Bliss!
Now, after decades of book-buying, I have books pouring out of every nook and cranny of the house, and scattered higgledy-piggledy all over the place: it becomes very easy to become a bit blasé about it all. But back then, every new purchase was a rare and treasured possession, and I particularly remember the covers of those Penguin Classics – those grey sketches on the covers of “The Brothers Karamazov” (published in those days in two volumes); that irreverent picture on the cover of Voltaire’s “Candide of Voltaire putting on (or taking off) his underwear; the Munch paintings adorning the covers of the Ibsen plays; and so on – the purchase of each book a valued memory. What with moving and with other things, I have lost many of those books I bought back in the 70s and 80s, and have newer editions and newer translations of many of them, but nothing quite matches the warm glow of first discovery.
I have long since lost those paperback volumes (I now have the Rosemary Edmonds translation in the Folio Books edition). I also have (and have read) the hardback edition of the Constance Garnett edition (it’s the same edition, I remember, that Sandra used to read in “The Liver Birds”); teh Maudes’ translation in Everyman Classics (which I have also read and have loved); and a hardback edition of the Anthony Briggs translation (which I haven’t yet read). This is not a book to be read once and put away: it’s a lifelong companion! I think I’ll have to pick up the old Penguin Classics edition of War and Peace if I ever see them.
Jun 13, 2016 @ 14:20:16
Happy days! I can remember so well when a new books was something so special. You’re right – we do get blase as we get older and books are not so hard to find. I spent all my pocket money on books when I was young and can still remember the thrill. Still get it when I find something obscure I’ve wanted for a long time!
Yes, looking forward to this – I checked my Maudes’ version and it *doesn’t* have the French in, it’s only the revamped, updated Maudes from OUP that’s reinstated this – WHY! WHY! But Penguin classics are so wonderful – I can recall coveting them in my teens and they still catch the eye in second hand shops! 🙂
Jun 14, 2016 @ 04:12:22
LUCKY You! ENVY YOU my favorite novel
Jun 14, 2016 @ 09:18:52
🙂 Looking forward to it!
Jun 17, 2016 @ 12:12:57
If I’d seen that in one of ours, I’d have bought it for you. Which reminds me, I need to send you that Edith Sitwell book.
Jun 17, 2016 @ 13:47:28
Oooh, I’d forgotten about that – thank you! :))