War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy, 1869) (re-read)

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. 

Song Without Words - The Photographs & Diaries of Countess Sophia Tolstoy (Leah Bendavid-Val, 2007)

This was very interesting and worthwhile, a great follow-on to books reachable by clicking here, to this valuable biography, and also to this quite entertaining movie.

It's pretty clear that Sophia Tolstoy was a pretty amazing person in her own right.

The author became aware that photos and diaries were available but not pulled together thematically or otherwise made readily accessible.  Thus the idea for the book.

Among the photos taken by Ms. Tolstoy:  many photos of Tolstoy - part of her goal of preserving his legacy.  Also numerous self-portraits and portraits of the children and grandchildren.  I particularly liked the peasant scenes around the Yasnaya Polyana estate.  This was in the very early days of photography, and even the description of the techniques and technology was interesting to me.

The diary excerpts were interesting and frank.

I liked this on quite a few levels.  Tolstoy (at least early Tolstoy, but even some of his later works) is a delightful author.  He and Sophia had quite the relationship (some of which, in the earlier stages, is a model for Anna Karenina passages).  The Russian history part is interesting.  It helps fill out one's picture of Tolstoy.

And as discussed elsewhere, it would be interesting to see if Tolstoy would have gone through the whole "Tolstoyan" schtick if he didn't know that Sophia was behind him making sure that the business side of his life was being taken care of.

War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy, 1869) (2007 translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky)

I last read this book during either my sophomore or junior year at Notre Dame (somewhere between 1975 and 1977).  I'm surprised about how little of the plot that I remembered - which made the re-reading all the more delightful.  (I do recall that Prince Andrei was musing about various deep issues and looking at the sky, but I probably recall that only because it was the subject of a paper I wrote.  I now can't find the paper, just the professor's comments (below).  Don't know which professor, but he or she apparently wasn't that thrilled with my efforts.) 

This is a new (2007) translation that I was anxious to read.  Birthday gift from PJr and Nedda.

As I perhaps too often write - the experience of reading a book like this is enhanced to an incredible degree by other reading.  Sure, a book like this also would stand on its own.  But incomparably better with some background.  A simple example - Tolstoy started writing this as a different novel, focusing on the Decembrists.  I wouldn't have had a decent idea where to place that concept until just a few years ago (good discussion here).  Meaning Pierre's activities in the Epilogue would have meant nothing to me during my first reading (not that those activities are central to the book, but still).  Also:  this book about the invasion of Russia was very helpful.  And this on Napoleon's early years.  And this on Tolstoy himself.  Etc. 

The story line moves among a large group of characters, primarily focused on three families:  Rostov, Bolkonsky, Bezukov.  (Also, to a lesser extent, the Kuragin family, annoying as each of its members was.)  Napoleonic war provides background.  It's a novel, it's history, it's also philosophy, extensive musings about the relative importance of the collective will and the individual in history, etc.  Famously long, which permits the story to develop, strong identification with characters, etc.  I was really worried about Natasha and Kuragin, and about what would happen with Prince Andrei.  Among other things.

I think Tolstoy got carried away with the idea of history as a collection of individual wills, little influenced by the actions of individuals.  I think that's wrong.  It was a constant theme in the book.  Tolstoy must have felt pretty strongly about it, had to know it cluttered the story line.  Napoleon clearly inspired so many writers and historians to focus on the role of the "great man" in history.  (For example, this is a great exploration of the topic.) 

Something wonderful about Tolstoy - after I read him for awhile, I feel like I can "see myself" better.  All good novelists achieve this, but I find the effect strongest with with Tolstoy and Proust.  Tolstoy has a wonderfully effective way of casting light on the multiple motivations that affect all of us pretty much all of the time - some mixture of vanity, self-interest, kindness, undue concern about others' opinions, etc.  The effect of "seeing myself" better is strong during and immediately after reading these books, then it starts to wear off.

Example:  how about this description of listening - focused on Natasha vis-à-vis Pierre but more broadly applicable - "Now, as he told it all to Natasha, he experienced that rare pleasure which is granted by women when they listen to a man - not intelligent women, who, when they listen, try either to memorize what they are told in order to enrich their minds and on occasion retell the same thing, or else to adjust what is being told to themselves and quickly say something intelligent of their own . . . "  If one doesn't permit oneself to be distracted by what would nowadays instantly be jumped on as "sexist" in this passage - who doesn't too often listen in precisely this fashion?

Karataev's little sayings while Pierre was a prisoner (and on the march away from Moscow) were great.

Austerlitz, Borodin, occupation of Moscow, Kutuzov.  Pierre trying to find himself; Masons.  Echoes of The Death of Ivan Ilych.  Russian upper classes speaking French, of all things - more fluently than Russian in many cases.  (I can understand how the courtiers in the various countries needed a lingua franca, but the effect here is ironic to say the least.)  Intrigues among courtiers and military staffers.  Tsar Alexander.

Simply wonderful.

[Update 6/24/12:  by coincidence, it is almost exactly the 200th anniversary of Napoleon crossing into Russia, see summary here.]  

---------------------------

Here are my professor's comments - apparently he or she was hoping for some critical thinking . . .  w&p

Reading Chekhov: A Critical Journey (Janet Malcolm, 2001)

I had seen a couple favorable reviews on this book, plus I much enjoyed this compilation of Chekhov short stories (though the book actually included actually fairly long stories by what I now understand to be his standard).

I found this interesting, but not terribly so.  Probably because I haven't read enough Chekhov.  Part of it was the style - the author was traveling around Russia looking at Chekhov sites, and linking occurrences to stories or themes in Chekhov stories - some of this seemed strained.

Of interest to me:

1.  Chekhov really had Tolstoy - older, more established, and so definite about so many things (if unreasonably so) - up on a pedestal.

2.  Chekhov as a master of distilling the story to the bare minimum.  Quite modern - didn't like neat resolutions.

3.  Chekhov as closely tied to his family; very loyal; grew up very quickly and pretty much led the family - the father was a religious fanatic of some sort.  Chekhov became a doctor but didn't practice a lot; did some work with indigent.

4.  The famous trip to Sakhalin - penal colony - and a report on the conditions there.  I hadn't realized he traveled cross-country (assumed it was via boat both directions, not just on the return) - and this was before the Trans-Siberian Railroad existed - wow.

5.  I liked the discussion of "The Steppe" - which was my favorite among the stories in the compilation I read.

6.  Chekhov not a fan of Dostoevsky - didn't like the "psychological" stuff.  But similar to Harold Bloom, this author traces Dostoevsky influences in Chekhov stories.

I definitely will read more of Chekhov's stories.

Short Novels by Leo Tolstoy (Modern Library)

This volume had similarities to the recently-completed Chekhov compilation. In both cases, these are somewhat unusual works in terms of length.

In the case of this edition of Tolstoy works, they were written prior to 1862 - it's easy to see some of the themes that are more fully developed in Anna Karenina and other of this longer works. And it's enjoyable to read Tolstoy's earlier works - before some of the preachiness set in. So I liked this quite a bit.

Five short novels:

1. Two Hussars. This was least interesting of the five - a hussar's son repeats some of the same moves of the father in the same town about 30 years later - with the daughter of the woman the old man had romanced.

2. A Landlord's Morning - this resonates more with Tolstoy's own life and some later writings. A young landowner idealizes peasant life, tries to lift up the peasantry, accomplishes little. Similar to Tolstoy's own efforts to free and educate his serfs. The descriptions of the serfs - and portrayal of poverty - are pretty compelling.

3. Family Happiness - a young girl and a friend of her deceased father - who happened to be in charge of the family's financial affairs - fall in love. There is an age difference, and a bit of a falling out while the young girl goes through the stage of pursuing life in society. But these are two appealing characters, and the ending works. I like Tolstoy's descriptions of the relationship, falling in love, etc. (though not as much as the way he did it in Anna Karenina).

4. Polikushka - another story centered on serf life - this was a very strong story - the titular character was a serf with a reputation for dishonesty. The out-of-touch female landlady tries to reform him, trusts him to fetch a large cash payment and bring it back home. Detailed descriptions of the serf residences, the serf overseer, etc. Including persons selected for conscription - always a very bad day for 19th century Russians. One serf with cash wasn't inclined to buy a substitute for his nephew who had been conscripted.

5. The Cossacks - this story had the power - it felt a bit like the story of the Steppe in the Chekhov compilation. A Moscow dandy heads south to take up a commission in the Caucasus, with the goal of starting a new life (things not having gone well in Moscow). Tolstoy was with the army in this part of the country as a young man. Great descriptions of the friction - even then - with the Chechens (described as "braves" per the North American term); Cossack life ("Old Believers" allied for the most part with the Russian imperialists, but identifying with the Chechens and Circassians); Lukashka and Maryenka; Daddy Eroshka - these are three great characters. The Moscow dandy likes Maryenka but of course can never fit into the Cossack life.

The Last Station

Saw this movie at Camelview with PJ and Liz (during her AZ visit).

Liked it a lot.

The story focused on Tolstoy's end-of-life. As discussed here: the wife he loved and couldn't live with, or without. Tolstoyans - followed Tolstoy's later blandishments far more than he did. Chertkov's efforts to take control of copyrights.

Much of the story was told from the viewpoint of a Tolstoy acolyte who showed quite a bit of independence, found a love affair of his own, etc.

Hadn't realized that the book on which the movie was based was written by the same guy that did the Frost bio PJ and I enjoyed.

Tolstoy (A.N. Wilson, 1988)

Read this lengthy biography at the gym. I took a break from reading this biography a couple monthgs ago when I unwittingly learned from it how Anna Karenina ended. I guess the biographer assumed familiarity with Tolstoy’s main works. So I went back and read Anna Karenina (discussed here) before any more of the plot was spoiled, then finished this biography.

This definitely was one of my favorite books of the year. Much more than a biography. I’ve read a ton of Tolstoy’s stuff over the years and always like it. Wilson provided all sorts of biographical information, but also much history (focused on 19th century Russia) and plenty of opinions on all sorts of topics. I like his writing a bunch. (Also read “The Victorians” last year and have “After the Victorians – The Decline of Britain in the World” signed out of the library (this could be an interesting follow-on to the 1759 book in the post immediately below.)

Some things I wanted to remember:

--Tolstoy’s long life – he was writing at Sebastopol during the Crimean War in 1854, and finally died in 1910 just a few years before Revolution in 1917. Went through the liberation of the serfs in 1861 and all the late 19th-century Tsarist repression etc.

-- Aristocratic blood, so he had access to top levels of society all the way up to the Tsarist household. Yet ran his mouth (or wrote pieces) against Orthodox Church, government methods, private property, war; and in favor of rights of serfs, etc. – things that would have sent anyone less famous or less connected straight to a labor camp in Siberia.

-- Inconsistencies all over the place. Aristocrat but tried to identify with the serfs. Denounced private property yet lived well and satisfied his scruples by licensing property to his wife. Made his own shoes, espoused simple food, etc.

-- Eventually excommunicated by Orthodox church; his followers ("Tolstoyans") made his views almost into a religion (and something he probably would have had trouble recognizing).

-- Interacted with many, many leading figures. Gandhi picked up ideas re nonviolence. Chekhov and Gorky stayed with him in his last years. Loved reading Dickens. Competitive with Dostoyevsky. On and on.

-- Communists probably could have used many of his ideas and his persona for PR, but couldn’t figure him out. He was against private property but didn’t like what they were doing either. Lenin was in the same town as Tolstoy when Tolstoy was doing some wonderful famine relief work in 1891; Lenin was one of the few that refused to assist (in the belief that the more deaths and suffering, the faster the revolution could come).

-- This guy named Chertkov who competed with Tolstoy’s wife for access and publishing rights, etc. Strange.

-- Wife put up with his idiosyncrasies (though I guess she had her own) and was key to getting the works done, published, organized.

--His incredible fame and stature in and out of Russia. His novels that make him famous today were 50 years old by the time he died, and everyone knew him but not for those books.

Wikipedia bio is here.

Anna Karenina -- Leo Tolstoy

I read this novel at the gym in 30-minute sessions on the Stairmaster. So it took a little over two months. And well worth it. In addition to being a fantastic author, Tolstoy is a larger-than-life character in his own right.

I’m not sure how to compare, but many folks seem to think Anna Karenina is Tolstoy’s greatest novel. (It was published between 1875 and 1877, after War and Peace and before he started getting preachy.) He takes 900+ pages going over seven main characters (Anna Karenina and Aleksey Karenin, Dolly and Stiva Oblansky, Konstantin Levin + Kitty, Vronsky) and, through them, revealing so many dimensions of married love, family life, the consequences of infidelity, and much more.

The most interesting character is probably Konstantin Levin (perhaps portrayed sympathetically because the character is so obviously based on Tolstoy himself, as this biography by A.N. Wilson explains). Supposedly Tolstoy actually wrote expressions of love with chalk on a tablecloth to his wife-to-be (just as Levin does with Kitty Shcherbatskaya). Like Levin, Tolstoy gave his diaries to his wife right after the wedding (though Tolstoy’s diaries caused much more disruption than the diaries in Anna Karenina). Like Tolstoy, Levin is an aristocrat who enjoys working on his estate in the country rather than hanging around in Petersburg (or even Moscow) society. The deathbed scene involving Levin’s brother mirrors Tolstoy’s own brother’s death. Levin, like Tolstoy, tried to run schools for the peasants on his estate. Etc.

I understand that Levin didn’t even appear in the first draft of the story, which focused on the title character. The book was published in installments in a Russian magazine, and the story ran off in different directions over the course of several years. But the parts work.

Tolstoy has a way of making his characters ridiculously realistic. When reading his things, I constantly have the reaction “yes, that’s how people, including me, really think or feel about things.” His description of going to meet Kitty Shcherbatskaya at the skating rink when he was in love with her but completely uncertain whether he “had a chance” is dead on. His descriptions of mowing hay with the peasants, the interactions with Kitty, the politicking among the Russian gentry, etc. are thoroughly enjoyable.

The novel has been filmed many times, typically with big-name leads. Details about the book are here.

By the way, the novel begins with one of its most quoted lines, "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." A Tale of Two Cities, described below, also had a pretty famous opening line ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times").

Tales of Courage and Conflict (Leo Tolstoy, various stories from 1842-1893)

Large collection of shorter works.

His writing is fantastic. The Sevastopol sketches are wonderful war stories. Numerous similar examples.