TOLSTOY, L.: Cossacks (The) (Unabridged)

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The Cossacks (more info)
Leo Tolstoy,


1. Chapter 1 - 00:05:08
2. The man in the fur-lined coat… - 00:05:52
3. Chapter 2 - 00:04:40
4. He meditated on the use… - 00:04:32
5. And now his farming and work in the country… - 00:05:52
6. And there, among the mountains, she appeared… - 00:02:51
7. Chapter 3 - 00:03:17
8. The mountains and the clouds appeared… - 00:03:38
9. Chapter 4 - 00:05:11
10. All Cossacks make their own wine… - 00:05:47
11. Chapter 5 - 00:05:13
12. From the dairy chimney rises a thin cloud… - 00:04:58
13. Chapter 6 - 00:03:54
14. Lukashka, who stood on the watch-tower… - 00:04:34
15. 'What have you seen? Tell us!' - 00:03:47
16. Chapter 7 - 00:03:14
17. 'Get along with you! What a thing to make a fuss about!' - 00:04:23

The Cossacks (more info)
Leo Tolstoy,


1. Chapter 8 - 00:03:48
2. The night was dark, warm, and still. - 00:04:06
3. 'Time to wake them,' thought Lukashka… - 00:03:35
4. 'I've killed an abrek…' - 00:03:27
5. Chapter 9 - 00:04:34
6. The Chechen had been shot in the head. - 00:03:10
7. 'Drink, lads! I'll stand you a pail!' - 00:03:36
8. Chapter 10 - 00:04:52
9. 'You should speak to the Chief of the Village!' - 00:03:28
10. 'Good-day to you. Mother!' - 00:02:43
11. Chapter 11 - 00:02:54
12. 'He's kissed his dog and licked the jug!' - 00:03:53
13. Daddy Eroshka bowed down before the icons… - 00:03:17
14. Chapter 12 - 00:02:43
15. 'You, an old man – and say such things,' replied Olenin. - 00:03:18
16. Chapter 13 - 00:04:22
17. 'Have you come for long?' asked a woman… - 00:05:00
18. The soldiers passed by in silence… - 00:03:24
19. The approaching footsteps of a woman… - 00:03:49
20. Chapter 14 - 00:05:54

The Cossacks (more info)
Leo Tolstoy,


1. Chapter 15 - 00:05:49
2. Eroshka, rousing himself, raised his head… - 00:04:28
3. Chapter 16 - 00:05:01
4. 'May Christ save you!' said the old man… - 00:04:08
5. They were silent for a while. - 00:04:39
6. Chapter 17 - 00:03:36
7. The dumb woman's face flushed with pleasure… - 00:03:51
8. Chapter 18 - 00:04:48
9. Daddy Eroshka gazed at his feet… - 00:03:45
10. The cornet bowed, shook hands with Olenin, and went out. - 00:03:37
11. 'But how about this? When I was walking up…' - 00:04:12
12. Chapter 19 - 00:03:51
13. Having picked up the pheasants they went on. - 00:03:56
14. Chapter 20 - 00:04:29
15. He felt his pheasants, examined them… - 00:03:50
16. He took up his gun… - 00:03:29
17. Chapter 21 - 00:05:36
18. 'Which of you is Luka Gavrílov?' asked the captain. - 00:05:06

The Cossacks (more info)
Leo Tolstoy,


1. Chapter 22 - 00:05:02
2. It had grown quite dark… - 00:03:56
3. Olenin looked out of the window… - 00:03:48
4. Chapter 23 - 00:04:22
5. Once during the summer… - 00:04:12
6. Chapter 24 - 00:04:41
7. Olenin felt surprised that Beletski… - 00:05:01
8. It was growing dusk and Olenin began thinking… - 00:04:24
9. Olenin sent Beletski's orderly… - 00:03:50
10. Chapter 25 - 00:03:42
11. Olenin no longer felt awkward… - 00:03:37
12. Chapter 26 - 00:03:01
13. Olenin had entered into the life of the Cossack village… - 00:03:49
14. Chapter 27 - 00:03:53
15. He darted into the yard past Olenin's very window… - 00:03:10
16. Chapter 28 - 00:03:39
17. Olenin looked at him again, smiled, and went on writing. - 00:03:20
18. The peculiar sound of his voice made Olenin look round. - 00:04:17

The Cossacks (more info)
Leo Tolstoy,


1. Chapter 29 - 00:04:24
2. The air above the vineyard smelt unpleasant… - 00:04:14
3. Chapter 30 - 00:03:02
4. 'Do tell me just this once what has passed between you…' - 00:03:31
5. Chapter 31 - 00:03:29
6. He was ill at ease alone with Maryanka… - 00:03:06
7. Chapter 32 - 00:04:00
8. Olenin recognised Nazarka, and was silent… - 00:03:18
9. Chapter 33 - 00:04:10
10. 'Three months have passed since I first saw…' - 00:04:13
11. 'I tried to throw myself into that kind of life…' - 00:05:05
12. Chapter 34 - 00:03:46
13. A few minutes later some visitors arrived… - 00:04:12
14. Chapter 35 - 00:04:58
15. Beletski's hut looked out onto the square. - 00:04:51
16. Chapter 36 - 00:03:08
17. Lukashka had appeared particularly merry. - 00:03:58

The Cossacks (more info)
Leo Tolstoy,


1. Chapter 37 - 00:05:31
2. Chapter 38 - 00:03:44
3. 'Why did you not tell me sooner?' said Beletski. - 00:03:58
4. And through the darkness her eyes gleamed brightly… - 00:04:24
5. Chapter 39 - 00:04:14
6. Chapter 40 - 00:04:28
7. The men rode almost silently. - 00:04:30
8. Chapter 41 - 00:04:37
9. The Chechens with their red hair… - 00:03:42
10. Chapter 42 - 00:03:39
11. 'Was it very painful?' repeated Olenin… - 00:04:11
12. 'Listen to me, and keep farther away…' - 00:04:27

Reviews

Adventure Comes To Life (Mar 28, 2010)
Reviewer:Mark H
When you think of Tolstoy, you most likely think of his epic novels, like Anna Karenina or War and Peace. You probably don't think of his shorter pieces like The Cossacks, a shorter novella that is considered to be the author's autobiography. The book centers around an unhappy Muscovite nobleman named Dmitri Olénin who joins the army in search of adventure and purpose in his life. He winds... When you think of Tolstoy, you most likely think of his epic novels, like Anna Karenina or War and Peace. You probably don't think of his shorter pieces like The Cossacks, a shorter novella that is considered to be the author's autobiography. The book centers around an unhappy Muscovite nobleman named Dmitri Olénin who joins the army in search of adventure and purpose in his life. He winds up in the Caucasus and is intrigued by the geography and the simple people who live there. Along the way, he discovers himself and falls in love for the first time, and in turn discovers the pain love can bring. We meet a cast of characters that includes the manly Cossack soldier Lukashka, the beautiful Cossack girl Maryanka, and the larger-than-life grandfather figure, Uncle Yeroshka, each of who play an important role in the life education of Olénin.

Since this has always been one of my favorite books, I was curious to see how it translated into the audiobook format. The voice work is done by Jonathan Oliver, an English actor who has over a decade of experience reading audiobooks for the blind. At first, I was a little thrown by his English accent, as I know many Russians personally, and I always lent a Russian accent to The Cossacks characters in my mind. But as the story progressed, I got used to Oliver's accent and it became very natural sounding, as he took on the life of the characters. He also did a wonderful job of changing out his vocal style as each different character spoke, making it easy to tell who was speaking as the conversations took place. I especially liked his portrayal of Uncle Yeroshka, the colorful old man of the Cossack village who takes Olénin under his wing. Oliver's voice bellows and rings out with intensity, bringing the character to life in incredible fashion. Oliver is obviously very familiar with the story as well as Tolstoy in general, and he adds touches here and there to make the story even more special. For example, he reads the descriptive sections with the same enthusiasm as the speaking roles, painting a perfect picture of the Cossack village and the activities of its inhabitants as they go about daily life. He also sings their songs with a convincing air, staying in character the whole time.

As far as classic literature goes, this one is an easy listen. It is not too long, and the story moves quickly, filled with adventure and a touch of innocent romance. Plus, it is a great introduction to Tolstoy without getting lost in the epic length of some of his other works. Highly recommended. (read more)