Tolstoy Estate, The
Conte, StevenWhen a German medical unit establish a field hospital in Leo Tolstoy's former country estate, army surgeon Paul Bauer meets Russian writer and custodian of the estate, Katerina Trubetzkaya. It is 1941 and a brutal Russian winter and an ignominious retreat are on their way ...
Threaded through with the Tolstoy classic War and Peace, and with a close attention to detail, this captivating book is a story to savour as it balances the horrors of war with the universal power of literature. [Large sized book]
Pages
410
410
Year
2020
2020
Reviews
06-03-2024
The book drew us in until we were gripped by the story. It shed light on a time and place we knew very little about. A very satisfying book to read.
11-01-2024
We all really enjoyed this, even though a few of us wouldn't ordinarily read this genre. Someone read it in a day or so as was so enthralled.
10-01-2024
Generally positive response to this book. The visceral descriptions of medical procedures in the challenging conditions of war were difficult to read. The love story was compelling, and many wanted to read 'War and Peace' after this. The strong Russian female character was appealing. Historically this was interesting as it was from the German viewpoint for a change. Recommended for all readers - especially those with a medical interest.
15-12-2023
Engaging - gave us chills (literally!) about the German-Russian war. Well drawn characters and portrayal of soldiers during war time.
01-11-2023
Quite a different insight into the 2nd World War. We enjoyed the variation of this book. A bit slow in the middle.
25-09-2023
Everyone that read it, really liked it.
13-09-2023
We all found the book fascinating and two of us are going to read 'War and Peace' again. We had a very interesting discussion about learning from our mistakes - men and war and guns.
21-08-2023
Everybody loved this book - one of the best we have read! Characterisation is superb and storyline very strong!
21-08-2023
Unanimous verdict. 5/5. We all loved this book and couldn't put it down. So beautifully written, so descriptive, so clever. Some of our group have been stimulated to re-read 'War and Peace'.
11-08-2023
A wonderful sad love story with an insight into a period of history we knew little about, the German invasion of Russia. They were so confident of winning in a climate and terrain they were ill prepared for. The circumstances surrounding this love story prevented it going far, but some beautiful writing of feelings and overcoming political adversity.
31-07-2023
Enjoyed by all members. Quite eye-opening about details of war/soldiers in Russia ( Germans). Learned much about Tolstoy's background which was interesting to all.
02-06-2023
Once settled into reading this book all our group found it thoroughly engrossing. The characters, the storyline, the style of writing, the setting - all so well portrayed and developed. Notes and questions very good too.
18-05-2023
All at our discussion group enjoyed the book - well written and all agreed they could feel/see the conditions in the Russian winter of '41 at Tolstoy's estate. The main character, Paul Bauer, was sincere and dedicated to his role as a surgeon.
13-04-2023
This book was enjoyed by all members of the book group. More than a couple were tempted to tackle 'War and Peace' after this story. They found the glimpse of life at the front very real and it was a very well told story.
23-03-2023
Liked the story, some loved the medical/surgical descriptions and others didn't. We found the main character 'not very German'. The letters were a bit of a jolt, but some really liked them.
17-11-2022
We all decided that this beautifully written book was definitely the best we read this year. Carefully crafted, wonderfully detailed characters - we just loved it. A joy to read.
10-09-2022
This was a bitter sweet novel of war, love and literature and we all rated it very highly. There were horrifying accounts of the numbing cold, the unpreparedness of the German army, the pointlessness of war and the varying ways that individuals deal with it all. Tolstoy's estate and War and Peace somehow brought it all to life.
07-09-2022
The group enjoyed the book. The characters were well drawn and the descriptions of surgery in the field hospital very vivid. The most disagreement in our discussion was over the use of the later letters which interrupted the historical sequence of the narration, and whether they should have been left until the end. Recommended.