War and Peace1923 · public domain
For a century the default, and still the safe recommendation. The Maudes knew Tolstoy personally and revised their work with him, so it is faithful to his meaning and rhythm without feeling like a chore. It keeps the French of the salons (with translations), preserves Tolstoy’s repetitions rather than tidying them away, and reads as clear, slightly formal English. The Oxford revision by Amy Mandelker updates the transliteration and adds good notes. If you want one War and Peace that is close to Tolstoy and free of gimmicks, this is it.