Leo Tolstoy (9 September 1828 – 20 November 1910) was from a noble family, his ancestor Pyotr being given the title “Count” by Peter the Great. Losing his parents at a young age Tolstoy and his siblings were raised by relatives. He did not do well in his studies and left the university to live a “lax and leisurely lifestyle” (Wikipedia). He began writing and had his first book published in 1852. He and his brother joined the army and fought in the Crimean War. This and other experiences in his travels led him to pacifism. His correspondence with Gandhi influenced his philosophy of non-violence, and ultimately Martin Luther King’s. (Philip Glass’s marvelous opera Satyagraha brings the three of them together.)
War and Peace (1869) has inspired many translations, as well as movies, television series, and operas. The 1956 film version starred Audrey Hepburn, Henry Fonda, and Mel Ferrer. Although it was heavily edited and many felt Fonda was too old to play Pierre, the film was nominated for several Oscars and Golden Globes. The 1972 – 1973 20-part series from the BBC was able to delve more into the book than a movie could hope to. In this version the great Anthony Hopkins plays Pierre. The series was remade in 2016. The opera by Sergei Prokofiev has gone through many transformations and has been recorded on several labels. While all of these versions show the enduring nature of Tolstoy’s story, none is so rich in detail as the book. The 1968 translation by Ann Dunnigan is considered one of the best because of her ability to catch Tolstoy’s phrasing and idioms. Whatever version you choose to read, I highly recommend giving it a go.
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