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War and Peace

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War and Peace

By: Leo Tolstoy, Louise Maude - translator, Aylmer Maude - translator
Narrated by: Thandiwe Newton
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About this listen

Tolstoy’s epic novel of love and war, in an unabridged performance by Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning actress Thandiwe Newton.

Some call it the greatest novel ever written. Whether it’s your first time, or you’re ready to dive back in, what better way to experience this epic novel than in this exquisite unabridged reading by Thandiwe Newton?

War and Peace is at once an epic war chronicle and an exploration of everything that make us all human: love and hate, ambition and despair, life and death. Allow yourself to get lost in the lives of three Russian aristocratic families, whose triumphs and challenges are every bit as resonant to today’s listener as they were to original readers. Thandiwe Newton inhabits each character with such flair that it is easy to forget that you are listening to one voice.

So cancel all plans, sit back, and let Thandiwe transport you to 19th-century Saint Petersburg....

Public Domain (P)2021 Audible, Ltd Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction War & Military War Military Thought-Provoking Funny Russia

Featured article: 6 Must-listen classic audiobooks


When you finally get a break from the day-to-day it's the perfect time to get stuck into a classic story. We asked the greatest fan of classic literature in the Audible HQ building for his top picks.

Featured article 6 Must-listen classic audiobooks
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a long listen but worth every minute. Thandiwe Newton's performance deserves awards of the highest accolades. what a story, what history, what observation and intelligence. just loved it from beginning to end.

brilliant

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This is one of my favourite books but the first time I’ve listened to it. I love the tangled web of love and deceit and the underlying coming of age story of five characters. It may be long but it’s worth it. As always though, the only bits of the book that become a bit tiresome are Tolstoy’s monologues emphasising his hidden agenda to convert people to his way of thinking about war, not that I disagree, it just interrupts the flow of the story. The narrator was amazing; there are so many characters and she managed to make them all come alive with her inflections and portrayal of their personalities.

Talented narrator

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A good translation lifted to excellence by the exceptional reading by Thandiwe Newton. A remarkable performance. The book is famously long but my interest was kept throughout.

Excellent

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I have watched two television versions of this. I have listened to two BBC radio adaptations. But, like many, the size and scope of the actual book has daunted me for decades. Enter Audible and Thandie Newton! I’m only 10 hours into this leviathan, but this is a very entertaining version and Ms Newton is doing a wonderful job. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to be persuaded by her various masculine voices but after a while you get used to it and actually warm to them. Her interpretation of Count Rostov is particularly well done. Similarly, I was a bit worried about how she would deal with the battle chapters, but she attacks them with aplomb. I have to admit that the number of soldiers ‘Hurrah’s gets a bit much! Overall, then, a wonderful version read splendidly. I’m looking forward to the other 46 hours!

Really very very good

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I absolutely loved it!!! Tolstoy's wonderful Epic is truly exceptional and has been a joy to listen to.
The intensity with which he describes the romantic relationships, the characters and the horror of war is incredible, what a writer!!! He very cleverly portrays the vulnerability of human relationships, the frailty of love, the acceptance and inevitability of death against the backdrop of War and demonstrates the futility of it and reiterates how there is nothing glorious about it. Thandie we Newtown performs this marvellous Epic superbly, she should be awarded an Oscar for her bringing to life both the male and female characters, giving each one their true personality.
Beautifully, beautifully performed!!!

Simply breathtaking!!!

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