January 15, 2016

War, Peace and Cable


War, Peace and Cable

NEWS FLASH! It turns out Lady Rose Aldridge (of Downton Abbey, really, did I really need to tell you that?) is not in America, but Russia – yes, Lady Rose is actually Natasha Rostova (which may or may not be the same thing as Cinderella). 

That's just one tidbit related to the fact that, on January 18, a new BBC six-part miniseries of Lev Tolstoy's War and Peace comes to American television. 

Here's some stuff to help you get ready.

First, watch the trailer.

Second, where can you watch this? Well, if you are in the UK, on the BBC of course (where it started last week), or on BBC.com (which you may also be able to do if you have a VPN). You can also buy the download, which may or may not play outside the UK.

If you are in the US, it will be showing on A&E, Lifetime and the History Channel, as four, two-hour episodes. (It appears that streaming may be available at this link.)

Third, how should you prepare? Well, first remember that this is just a movie, not the book. Just sit back and enjoy it as an interpretive work for a different medium.

If you want to go getting all high-horse anyway, you can read or re-read the book and prep yourself to say pompous things like, "well, Andrei really never said that..." or "that's not how I imagined the ball, based on Tolstoy's description..." 

Both the Anthony Briggs (Penguin) and Pevear and Volokhonsky translations are highly acclaimed. Constance Garnett's is also very nice, and it was done closer to the original, and Garnett knew Tolstoy.

If a 1200-page novel is a bit much to take on right now, you can also go the SparkNotes or Cliffs Notes route. Still too much? There may be no hope for you. Ok, ok, here is a 186-word version from the Independent. And The Standard put out this nice "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know... summary.

Fourth, what should you eat while watching this? Russian food, of course. Turn to our cookbook, A Taste of Russia to find something that sets your tastebuds a-watering and get cooking!

More?

  • In its run-up to the series, the BBC put together this listicle of 10 things you must know.
  • The sounds of War and Peace in 2 minutes. Thanks for that, Jay-Z.
  • 12 reasons to love War and Peace.
  • Get the soundtrack from the Academy Award-winning Russian version of the novel.
  • A music playlist of songs with a connection to the novel, assembled by the BBC.

Enjoy! And be sure to share your comments about the series on our Facebook page, or via the comments box below.

You Might Also Like

War and Peace: 7 Fun Facts
  • July 01, 2015

War and Peace: 7 Fun Facts

How many characters are in Tolstoy's War and Peace? Could it have been any shorter? Did Tolstoy himself love it or hate it? Find out the answers to these – and more! – questions in this quick list of little-known War and Peace facts.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
How Russia Got That Way

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
White Magic

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955