download the new for apple War and Peace

Which Translation of War and Peace Should I Read?

The new Penguin Classics edition of War and Peace, published in 2005 by Anthony Briggs, has breathed fresh life into Leo Tolstoy's timeless novel. However, not everyone has warmed to its use of contemporary colloquialisms and British idioms. This sentiment is also shared by some regarding the two most recent translations, which aim for a more accurate rendition of Tolstoy's unique literary style.

Despite this, neither of these newer translations has eclipsed the celebrated versions produced earlier in the century by Constance Garnett and the husband and wife team of Louise and Aylmer Maude. Two respected new translations made War and Peace widely available in paperback during the second half of the 20th century: one by British translator Rosemary Edmonds for Penguin Classics in 1957, and another by American Ann Dunnigan for Signet Classics in 1968.

In fact, about a dozen translations have appeared since the novel's first complete publication in Russian in 1869. However, only a handful stand out as particularly notable. This leaves readers with the task of deciding which translation to choose from.

Rosamund Bartlett, translator and author of Tolstoy: A Russian Life, notes that this is not an uncommon dilemma when it comes to the works of Russian classics. With multiple translations available for anglophone readers, the question becomes which one to read.

For those looking to experience War and Peace in its most authentic form, choosing the right translation can be a crucial decision. Whether you opt for a more literal or free-flowing translation will depend on your personal reading preferences. Ultimately, it is up to each individual reader to decide which translation best captures the essence of Tolstoy's masterpiece.

'download the new War and Peace for Apple'

Download the new for apple War and Peace