Many people have fear from reading this book. They think it’s thick, will take a long time to finish, and it must be a difficult read. Well, it’s true that it’s a thick book. And you can use it to slap someone [not saying you should do it. But you can 😉 ], but the chapters are short. It starts with a society party, where many of the novel’s characters are introduced. Among them are:

• Pierre Bezukhov, the socially awkward. He’s an illegitimate son of a very rich count Bezukhov. After the old count Bezukhov, Pierre became a count. And from here, when the book refers to count Bezukhov, it refers to Pierre, except if it specifically says old count Bezukhov [Kirill Vladimorovich].
• Andrei Bolkonsky: he’s intelligent and ambitious son of a retired military commander.
• The Kuragin family: father Vasili, the fortune-hunter son Anatole and the daughter Helene.
• The Rostov family: Natasha Rostov, her quiet cousin Sonya, and the impetuous son Nicholas, who just joined the army led by the old General Kutuzov.

My advice is to take a note of the characters names. But when you’re already familiar with them, you’ll know who is who. Tolstoy also used different names referring to one person. For example: Pyotr is also Pierre. Natalia is Natasha [Rostova] [and don’t get confused: her mother has the same name]. There are a few of English translations out there, but I recommend you the translations of these two: either Anthony Briggs, or Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky:

• If you want everything in English (but it’s British English) without having to look at the footnotes [of course there are footnotes in this translation, but a bit less], then take Anthony Briggs’ translation.
• But if you want to know who speaks French in the events [there will be footnotes about what they say in English, but also about general information], then take Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky.
• Reading on ebook? I think that you may appreciate Anthony Briggs more.

The story is not all time serious. There are funny moments, too. And actually, this book is my first thick book. I’ve read it twice: first time I used Anthony Briggs’ translation, and the second time Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky’s.

If Russian literature is your first time, notice that there are genders in names. For the example: Andrei Bolkonsky and Marya Bolkonskaya. The second name after the first name usually refers to father’s name. For example: Andrei’s father is Nikolai Andreevich [it means Nikolai, the son of Andree], so Andrei’s full name is: Andrei Nikolaevich Bolkonsky. And Marya: Marya Nikolaevna Bolkonskaya.

I think that people who like historical events, either non-fiction or fiction, will enjoy this book more. This book is not for speed reading. It’s more enjoyable to indulge in reading. And because this book has a lot of pages, saying goodbye to the ‘imaginary friends’ that have accompanied me was….quite difficult :3

Here’s a rough descriptions of what I think each family is:

• Bezukhov family

Just a rich count with more than two illegitimate children. In the story we only knew Pierre’s character.

• Kuragin family

infamous family. Vassily being a jerk, Anatole being a fortune hunter and a womaniser, Helen being a flirt.

• Bolkonsky family

Old prince is a grumpy, selfish old man who wanted Marya for himself. Andrei is an arrogant, selfish man. Marya is a sweet daughter, religious and kind. Little princess is a worried wife.

• Rostov family 

My favourite of all! The Rostovs are very warm, friendly and generous!

PS: mentioned above are just a few. There are more than….100 names in the book! This is why I recommend you to take a note of the names 🙂

Characters List

• Bezúkhov

Count Kiríll Vladímirovich: old count/father

Count Pyótr Kiríllovich or Kiríllich (Pierre): his son

Princess Kater/eina Semyónovna (Catiche): his niece

• Bolkónsky

Prince Nikolái Andréevich or Andréich: father

Prince Andréi Nikoláevich (Andryúsha, André): his son

Princess Márya Nikoláevna (Másha, Máshenka, Marie): his daughter

Princess Elizavéta Kárlovna, néé Meinen (Líza, Lizavéta, Lise) aka the little princess: Prince Andréi’s wife

Prince Nikolái Andréevich (Nikólushka, Nikólenka, Coco): son of Líza and Andréi

• Rostov

Count Ilyá Andréevich or Andréich (Elie): father

Countess Natálya (no patronymic) (Natalie): mother

Countess Véra Ilyínichna (Verúshka, Vérochka): elder daughter

Count Nikolái Ilyích (Nikólushka, Nikólenka, Nikoláshla, Kólya, Nicolas, Coco): elder son

Countess Natálya Ilyínichna (Natásha, Natalie): younger daughter

Count Pyótr Ilyích (Pétya, Petrúsha): younger son

Sófya Alexándrovna (no family name) (Sónya, Sophie): orphaned cousin of the younger Rostovs

• Kurágin

Prince Vassíly Sergéevich: father

Prince Anatóle Vassílievich: younger son

Prince Ippolít Vassílievich (Hippolyte): elder son

Princess Eléna Vassílievna (Lélya, Hélène): daughter

• Drubetskóy

Princess Ánna Mikháilovna

Prince Borís (no patronymic)(Bórya, Bórenka): her son

• Akhrosímov

Márya Dmítrievna: Moscow society matron

• Alpátych

Yákov (no family name): steward of the Bolkonsky estates

• Bazdéev

Ósip (Iósif) Alexéevich: an important figure in the Masons

• Berg

Alphónse Kárlovich or Kárlich (later called Adólf): a young Russian officer

• Bouriénne

Amália Evgénievna (Amélie, Bourriénka): princess Marya’s French companion

• Denísov

Vassíly Dmítrich (Váska): a hussar officer, friend of Nikolai Rostov

• Dólokhov

Fyódor Ivánovich (Fédya): a Russian officer

• Karágin

Julie (no Russian first name or patronymic): a wealthy heiress

• Karatáev

Platón: peasant foot soldier befriended by Pierre Bezukhov

• Lavrúshka (no patronymic nor family name)

Denisov’s and later Nikolai Rostov’s orderly

• Schérer

Ánna Pávlovna (Annette): hostess of an aristocratic salon in Petersburg

• Tíkhon (no patronymic or family name)

Tíshka: old Prince Bolkonsky’s personal manservant

• Túshin (no first name or patronymic)

Captain of Russian artillery at the battle of Schöngraben

• Willárski (no first name or patronymic)

Polish count and Mason

I hope it helps! Happy reading!