War and Peace: BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

by Leo Tolstoy, John Hurt (Reading), Lesley Manville (Reading)

Paterson Joseph, John Hurt, Lesley Manville and Harriet Walter are among the cast of BBC Radio 4's epic full-cast dramatisation. Adapted for radio by Timberlake Wertenbaker, Leo Tolstoy's epic story follows the fortunes of three Russian aristocratic families during the Napoleonic War. First broadcast on New Year's Day 2015, the drama also features Alun Armstrong, Natasha Little, David Calder, Phoebe Fox, Sam Reid and Joanna David. "Tolstoy’s imagined world is recreated on air brilliantly by the extraordinary cast" - The Spectator Duration: 10 hours approx.

Genres: Classics, Audiobook, Russia, Historical Fiction, Fiction

1 pages, Audio CD

Published July 1, 2017

About the author

Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Russian: Лев Николаевич Толстой; most appropriately used Liev Tolstoy; commonly Leo Tolstoy in Anglophone countries) was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist fiction. Many consider Tolstoy to have been one of the world's greatest novelists. Tolstoy is equally known for his complicated and paradoxical persona and for his extreme moralistic and ascetic views, which he adopted after a moral crisis and spiritual awakening in the 1870s, after which he also became noted as a moral thinker and social reformer.

His literal interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus, centering on the Sermon on the Mount, caused him in later life to become a fervent Christian anarchist and anarcho-pacifist. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as The Kingdom of God Is Within You, were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good audio dramatization of War and Peace, produced by BBC Radio, and featuring some really good actors, including John Hurt, Paterson Joseph, and Roger Allam. This version tells the story through flashbacks, with a number of the main characters basically recounting the story to each other, setting up various scenes, and putting the story in perspective. That works as a pretty good device to tie such a sprawling story together, and to provide some context and exposition.
This version, of course, simplifies and abbreviates a lot of stuff, but the core story of War and Peace is here, I think, and told well. A real War and Peace fan could probably pick some nits with various decisions and character portrayals, but I think they've tried to be as faithful to the novel as they could.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love for this story has only been fostered by the BBC series with Lily James. The dramatization was so well done and it really just makes me want to read the original text in full!

[Jasmine Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

Listened via a BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of the book. Was always put off reading the book due to the commonly used phrase 'what are you writing? war and peace'. The book isn't even that long for modern standards!

Can see now why Leo Tolstoy's books are held in high regard. Bridgerton-esque mixed with battle retellings and historical war intrigue and complicated relationships. This book gave me so many feels.

Occasionally found myself getting the characters mixed up, will definitely reread a physical copy and see if I can follow the characters more accurately and get more from the story.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was exceptional! It's performed like a radio show rather than a book naration, which coming from BBC I assure you is very entertaining. I usually don't take much to novels, but had been considering this one for a while. When my mother suggested it by title when brainstorming things to read/listened to with me, I made the commitment, and, wow, what a payoff! The regular audiobook is 62 hours, so this is much quicker as well if you've never heard the story.
In short, this book is a masterpiece of human experience.

[Pearlyn Chua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow from the title I never figured this was fiction (it gives Machiavelli's The Prince vibes). Anyway I listened to the BBC Cast Dramatisation (so a bit of a cheat), and it wasn't easy to keep track of all the characters/voices, but I think the cast did a pretty good job trying to make each character's vocal style unique. Can't say I got super invested in the plot (except a few interesting parts), so it was an ok noted thanks story for me.

[K. M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the stellar cast, and my love of BBC dramatizations, I found this production hard to follow. Not only was there a large cast (who is who? Who do they love / hate? what did they do? why does the Polish guy sound Australian?) but also spans quite a few years with each personal account noted on. They (BBC) packed a lot into 9 hours and it was a bit much for me.

[avri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting way to read such a complicated book. I loved it and it definitely makes the plot easier to comprehend. Some speech is pretty muffled because of the dramatized effects but nothing that takes away from the story.

[Kj Moodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much shorter version of the book, but the voice acting was quite good, I really enjoyed this dramatisation.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great choice for a long drive! The miles speed by, and with the sound effects and dramatization, you are sitting in the middle of a party with all the Russian nobility bantering back and forth and telling each other the latest about family gossip and the war. Sometimes you are overhearing a personal conversation between characters. After a few hours, you wonder if these folks from the 1800s might be sitting in the back seat where you can't see them, even though the speakers are in front of you in the dashboard. (Saving the second half for the next long drive.)

Better than the book, in that the BBC voice actors are outstanding, so it's no trouble at all to recognize which character is which.

Different from the book, in that the dramatization presents the lived experience and interaction between the characters, without the description. You miss a bit of Tolstoy's tongue-in-cheek characterizations of the people and how their personality traits are impacting the situation.

A very accessible read for anyone under 30, in their matchmaking years, as the noble families jockey for position trying to set up advantageous marriages for the young people.

Equally interesting to experience this masterpiece at age 65, right after listening to the Great Courses on "The French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon" and spending many years in Washington. I now have more insight into the military and historical situations Tolstoy is describing, and how the different players are setting up their personal strategies and political interests in wartime.

Someday-- Earth grant me long life!-- I hope to make it through this wonderful story in the Russian original.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tolstoy was a magnificent storyteller, and I can't wait to sit down with this paperback. I'm in love with the actress who played Natasha. Recommend.