After finishing Lonesome Dove - I much enjoyed the "big canvas" type of very-long-book - so seemed like a good time to re-read War and Peace. Last time was in 2012, summarized here. It continues to delight. Partly because it's interesting how much of the details, even some key plot items, get forgotten over the years (at least by me).
I won't repeat the 2012 thoughts. A couple additional items -
There is a super-charming minor scene - the hunt - Natasha and Petya accompany Nicholas. “Uncle’s” low-rent borzoi catches the hare. Later they gather at Uncle’s home for food and music. Natasha dancing to the peasant music. Everyone happy.
The hunt scene is followed pretty shortly by another charming evening - Nicholas, Natasha, Petya, Sonya accompany some of the serfs etc as “mummers” on sleigh ride across the snow to a neighbor’s house. Nicholas charmed (re-charmed?) by Sonya just when getting pressured to marry a wealthy heiress (Julie Karagin).
Prince Andrew facing death after Borodino, encounters Natasha. Looking to the next world rather than this one. These passages are really well done.
I had forgotten the parts about Natasha growing up a lot between packing up the Moscow house and caring for post-Borodino Prince Andrew. I had remembered her mostly for immaturity, which wasn't complete.
Re-reads are great pleasures.
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