TV enthusiasts who enjoy a good historical drama can now watch James Norton in the BBC adaptation of War and Peace, which is streaming on another UK platform.
James Norton Stars in War and Peace
The compelling 2016 historical drama, starring actor James Norton, is currently enjoying a resurgence on free UK streaming platform U. For anyone who hasn't discovered it yet, the series War & Peace is well worth adding to the watchlist. Based on Leo Tolstoy's renowned 1869 novel, the BBC adaptation tells the story of three young Russian nobles whose lives are shaped by romance, heartbreak and the upheaval of Napoleon's invasion of Russia.
War & Peace was previously brought to television by the BBC in 1972, with Anthony Hopkins taking on the role of Pierre Bezukhov. He was joined by Morag Hood as Natasha Rostova and Alan Dobie as Andrei Bolkonsky. The 20-episode adaptation earned acclaim for its ambitious production values at the time and close connection to Tolstoy's original novel.
The newer version is just as dramatic and compelling as the first. Set during the turbulent Napoleonic Wars, the drama follows Pierre Bezukhov (Paul Dano), Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (James Norton) and Natasha Rostova (Lily James) as they navigate personal and political turmoil in imperial Russia. Pierre is described as a "hot-headed" newcomer in society, who is "brimming with ideas but hopelessly lost as he seeks meaning in his life". Meanwhile, his friend, Andrei, is a "cynical prince" who longs to be out of his marriage and on the battlefield.
Parts of the synopsis read: "Both their fates are bound to the beautiful, captivating and kindhearted Natasha Rostova (Lily James) – only a teenager when the series begins, but desperate to grow up and experience the world. Over eight years of peace and war that will change Russia and its people forever, we meet a vast cast of unforgettable characters, from peasants and soldiers to society hostesses and even Napoleon himself. But again and again, through marriages and affairs, battlefields and ballrooms, births and deaths, we will keep returning to Pierre, Andrei and Natasha as they confront life's great questions of love and destiny."
Fans loved the series which first aired on the BBC. War & Peace received good reviews at the time, with one viewer writing on Rotten Tomatoes: "Great adaptation, excellent visuals, excellent cast. The battle sequences were intense and grisly. Be warned if you're squeamish." Another added: "I loved it. The acting, the pacing, the cinematography. It was great."
War & Peace is available to watch on U.
