WAR AND PEACE

Award-winning actor Thandiwe Newton gives a splendid performance of Tolstoy's epic. Mixing fictional narrative with his own views on philosophy and history, Tolstoy portrays the events of 1805 (the Battle of Austerlitz) through the end of Napoleon's invasion of Russia in late 1812. The story goes on to about 1820 as a continuation of events affects five Russian families. Tolstoy's consummate skill at portraying the epic and the intimate is perfectly narrated by Newton. Her versatile voice is perfect at pacing, enunciation, narrative, and character portrayals. She uses appropriate accents for non-Russian characters and class-appropriate English accents for the Russians. Nothing takes away from Newton's laudable performance of more than 60 hours. M.T.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2023 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]