Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy
WAR AND PEACE
PART ONE
In St. Petersburg at this time, in the highest circles, with greater fervor than ever, there was a complex struggle between the parties of Rumyantsev, the French, Maria Feodorovna, the Tsarevich and others, drowned out, as always, by the trumpeting of the court drones. But calm, luxurious, concerned only with ghosts, reflections of life, St. Petersburg life went on as before; and because of the course of this life, it was necessary to make great efforts to recognize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves. There were the same exits, balls, the same French theater, the same interests of the courts, the same interests of service and intrigue. Only in the highest circles were efforts made to recall the difficulty of the present situation. It was told in whispers how the two empresses acted opposite to each other in such difficult circumstances. Empress Maria Feodorovna, concerned about the welfare of the charitable and educational institutions under her jurisdiction, made an order to send all institutions to Kazan, and the things of these institutions were already packed. Empress Elizaveta Alekseevna, when asked what orders she wanted to make, with her characteristic Russian patriotism, deigned to answer that she could not make orders about state institutions, since this concerned the sovereign; about the same thing that personally depends on her, she deigned to say that she will be the last to leave St. Petersburg.
Anna Pavlovna had an evening on August 26, the very day of the Battle of Borodino, the flower of which was to be the reading of the letter from the Eminence, written when sending the image of the venerable saint Sergius to the sovereign. This letter was revered as an example of patriotic spiritual eloquence. It was to be read by Prince Vasily himself, famous for his art of reading. (He also read for the Empress.) The art of reading was considered to consist in pouring out words loudly, melodiously, between a desperate howl and a gentle murmur, completely regardless of their meaning, so that, quite by chance, a howl would fall on one word, and a murmur on others. This reading, like all Anna Pavlovna’s evenings, had political significance. At this evening there were to be several important persons who had to be shamed for their trips to the French theater and encouraged into a patriotic mood. Quite a lot of people had already gathered, but Anna Pavlovna had not yet seen all the people she needed in the living room, and therefore, without starting to read yet, she started general conversations.
The news of the day that day in St. Petersburg was the illness of Countess Bezukhova. The Countess unexpectedly fell ill a few days ago, missed several meetings of which she was an adornment, and it was heard that she did not see anyone and that instead of the famous St. Petersburg doctors who usually treated her, she entrusted herself to some Italian doctor who treated her for some reason. in a new and unusual way.
Everyone knew very well that the illness of the lovely countess was due to the inconvenience of marrying two husbands at once and that the Italian’s treatment consisted of eliminating this inconvenience; but in the presence of Anna Pavlovna, not only did no one dare to think about it, but it was as if no one knew it.
On dit que la pauvre comtesse est tr
L"angine? Oh, c"est une maladie terrible! [Chest disease? Oh, this is a terrible disease!]
On dit que les rivaux se sont reconcili
The word angine was repeated with great pleasure.
Le vieux comte est touchant
Oh, ce serait une perte terrible. C"est une femme ravissante. [Oh, that would be a great loss. Such a lovely woman.]
“Vous parlez de la pauvre comtesse,” said Anna Pavlovna, approaching. - J"ai envoy
Believing that with these words Anna Pavlovna was slightly lifting the veil of secrecy over the countess’s illness, one careless young man allowed himself to express surprise that famous doctors were not called in, but that the countess was being treated by a charlatan who could give dangerous remedies.
Vos informations peuvent
Je trouve que c"est charmant! [I find it charming!] - he said about the diplomatic paper with which the Austrian banners taken by Wittgenstein were sent to Vienna, le h
How, how is this? - Anna Pavlovna turned to him, arousing silence to hear the mot, which she already knew.
And Bilibin repeated the following original words of the diplomatic dispatch he compiled:
“Empereur renvoie les drapeaux Autrichiens,” said Bilibin, “drapeaux amis et
Charmant, charmant, [Lovely, charming,] - said Prince Vasily.
C"est la route de Varsovie peut-
Most gracious Emperor! - Prince Vasily declared sternly and looked around the audience, as if asking if anyone had anything to say against this. But no one said anything. - “The Mother See of Moscow, the New Jerusalem, receives Christ his, - suddenly he struck on the word his, - like a mother in the arms of her zealous sons, and through the emerging darkness, seeing the brilliant glory of your power, she sings in delight: “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes!” - Prince Vasily said these last words in a crying voice.
Bilibin examined his nails carefully, and many, apparently, were timid, as if asking what was their fault? Anna Pavlovna repeated in a whisper forward, like an old woman praying for communion: “Let the impudent and insolent Goliath…” she whispered.
Prince Vasily continued:
- “Let the daring and insolent Goliath from the borders of France carry deadly horrors to the edges of Russia; meek faith, this sling of the Russian David, will suddenly strike down the head of his bloodthirsty pride. This image of St. Sergius, the ancient zealot for the good of our fatherland, is brought to your imperial majesty. I am sick because my weakening strength prevents me from enjoying your most kind contemplation. I send warm prayers to heaven, that the Almighty may magnify the race of the righteous and fulfill your Majesty’s good wishes.”
Quelle force! Quel style! [What power! What a syllable!] - praise was heard for the reader and writer. Inspired by this speech, Anna Pavlovna’s guests talked for a long time about the situation of the fatherland and made various assumptions about the outcome of the battle, which was to be fought the other day.
Vous verrez, [You will see.] - said Anna Pavlovna, - that tomorrow, on the sovereign’s birthday, we will receive news. I have a good feeling.
Anna Pavlovna's premonition really came true. The next day, during a prayer service in the palace on the occasion of the sovereign's birthday, Prince Volkonsky was called from the church and received an envelope from Prince Kutuzov. This was a report from Kutuzov, written on the day of the battle from Tatarinova. Kutuzov wrote that the Russians did not retreat a single step, that the French lost much more than we did, that he was reporting in a hurry from the battlefield, without having yet managed to collect the latest information. Therefore, it was a victory. And immediately, without leaving the temple, gratitude was given to the creator for his help and for the victory.
Anna Pavlovna's premonition was justified, and a joyful and festive mood reigned in the city all morning. Everyone recognized the victory as complete, and some were already talking about the capture of Napoleon himself, his deposition and the election of a new head for France.
Far from business and among the conditions of court life, it is very difficult for events to be reflected in all their fullness and force. Involuntarily, general events are grouped around one particular case. So now the main joy of the courtiers was as much in the fact that we had won as in the fact that the news of this victory fell precisely on the sovereign’s birthday. It was like a successful surprise. Kutuzov’s news also spoke about Russian losses, and Tuchkov, Bagration, and Kutaisov were named among them. Also, the sad side of the event involuntarily in the local St. Petersburg world was grouped around one event - the death of Kutaisov. Everyone knew him, the sovereign loved him, he was young and interesting. On this day everyone met with the words:
How amazing it happened. At the very prayer service. And what a loss for the Kutais! Oh, what a pity!
What did I tell you about Kutuzov? - Prince Vasily now spoke with the pride of a prophet. - I always said that he alone is capable of defeating Napoleon.
But the next day there was no news from the army, and the general voice became alarming. The courtiers suffered for the suffering of the unknown in which the sovereign was.
What is the position of the sovereign! - said the courtiers and no longer praised him as the day before, but now condemned Kutuzov, who was the cause of the sovereign’s anxiety. Prince Vasily on this day no longer boasted of his prot
The general conversation centered around three sad events: the unknown of the sovereign, the death of Kutaisov and the death of Helen.
On the third day after Kutuzov’s report, a landowner from Moscow arrived in St. Petersburg, and news of the surrender of Moscow to the French spread throughout the city. It was terrible! What was the position of the sovereign! Kutuzov was a traitor, and Prince Vasily during the visites de condol
I only wonder how it was possible to entrust the fate of Russia to such a person.
While this news was still unofficial, one could still doubt it, but the next day the following report came from Count Rostopchin:
“The adjutant of Prince Kutuzov brought me a letter in which he demands from me police officers to accompany the army to the Ryazan road. He says that he is leaving Moscow with regret. Sovereign! Kutuzov’s act decides the lot of the capital and your empire. Russia will shudder upon learning of the cession of the city where the greatness of Russia is concentrated, where the ashes of your ancestors are. I will follow the army. I took everything away, I can only cry about the fate of my fatherland.”
Having received this report, the sovereign sent the following rescript to Kutuzov with Prince Volkonsky:
“Prince Mikhail Ilarionovich! Since August 29 I have not had any reports from you. Meanwhile, on September 1st, through Yaroslavl, from the Moscow commander-in-chief, I received the sad news that you had decided to leave Moscow with the army. You yourself can imagine the effect this news had on me, and your silence aggravates my surprise. I am sending with this the adjutant general, Prince Volkonsky, in order to find out from you about the situation of the army and about the reasons that prompted you to such sad determination.”
Nine days after leaving Moscow, a messenger from Kutuzov arrived in St. Petersburg with official news of the abandonment of Moscow. This messenger was the Frenchman Michaud, who did not speak Russian, but quoique
The Emperor immediately received the messenger in his office, in the palace of Kamenny Island. Michaud, who had never seen Moscow before the campaign and who did not speak Russian, still felt moved when he appeared before notre tr
Although the source of M. Michaud's chagrin [grief] must have been different from that from which flowed the grief of the Russian people, Michaud had such a sad face when he was brought into the Tsar's office that the Tsar immediately asked him:
M"apportez vous de tristes nouvelles, colonel? [What news did you bring me? Bad, Colonel?]
Bien tristes, sire,” answered Michaud, lowering his eyes with a sigh, “l"abandon de Moscou. [Very bad, Your Majesty, abandonment of Moscow.]
Aurait on livr
Michaud respectfully conveyed what he was ordered to convey from Kutuzov - namely, that it was not possible to fight near Moscow and that, since there was only one choice left - to lose the army and Moscow or Moscow alone, the field marshal had to choose the latter.
The Emperor listened in silence, without looking at Michaud.
L"ennemi est-il en ville? [Has the enemy entered the city?] - he asked.
Oui, sire, et elle est en cendres
But this lasted only one minute. The Emperor suddenly frowned, as if condemning himself for his weakness. And, raising his head, he addressed Michaud in a firm voice.
“Je vois, colonel, par tout ce qui nous arrive,” he said, “que la providence exige de grands sacrifices de nous... Je suis pr
Seeing the tranquility of his tr
Sire, me permettrez-vous de vous parler franchement en loyal militaire? [Sir, will you allow me to speak frankly, as befits a real warrior?] - he said to gain time.
Colonel, je l "exige toujours," said the sovereign. "Ne me cachez rien, je veux savoir absolument ce qu"il en est. [Colonel, I always demand this... Don’t hide anything, I definitely want to know the whole truth.]
Sire! - said Michaud with a thin, barely noticeable smile on his lips, having managed to prepare his answer in the form of a light and respectful jeu de mots [play on words]. - Sire! j"ai laiss
This was just what Michaud was waiting for to insert his play on words.
Sire,” he said with a respectful playfulness of expression, “ils craignent seulement que Votre Majest
Ah! - the sovereign said calmly and with a gentle sparkle in his eyes, hitting Michaud on the shoulder. - Vous me tranquillisez, colonel. [A! You reassure me, Colonel.]
The Emperor, with his head down, was silent for some time.
Eh bien, retournez
Colonel Michaud, n "oubliez pas que je vous dis ici; peut-
Sire! - he said. - Votre Majest
The Emperor bowed his head and released Michaud.
While Russia was half conquered, and the inhabitants of Moscow fled to distant provinces, and militia after militia rose to defend the fatherland, it involuntarily seems to us, who did not live at that time, that all Russian people, young and old, were busy only with to sacrifice oneself, save the fatherland or cry over its destruction. Stories and descriptions of that time, without exception, speak only of self-sacrifice, love of the fatherland, despair, grief and heroism of the Russians. In reality this was not the case. It seems to us that this is so only because we see from the past one common historical interest of that time and do not see all those personal, human interests that the people of that time had. Meanwhile, in reality, those personal interests of the present are so much more significant than general interests that because of them, a general interest is never felt (not even noticeable at all). Most people of that time did not pay any attention to the general course of affairs, but were guided only by the personal interests of the present. And these people were the most useful figures of that time.
Those who tried to understand the general course of affairs and wanted to participate in it with self-sacrifice and heroism were the most useless members of society; they saw everything inside out, and everything they did for the benefit turned out to be useless nonsense, like the regiments of Pierre, Mamonov, plundering Russian villages, like lint plucked by the ladies and never reaching the wounded, etc. Even those who, loving to be clever and express their feelings, they talked about the present situation in Russia, involuntarily bearing in their speeches the imprint of either pretense and lies, or useless condemnation and anger at people accused of something for which no one could be guilty. In historical events, the most obvious is the prohibition of eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Only unconscious activity bears fruit, and the person who plays a role in a historical event never understands its significance. If he tries to understand it, he is struck by its futility.
The significance of the event that was taking place in Russia at that time was all the more unnoticeable, the closer human participation was in it. In St. Petersburg and provincial cities distant from Moscow, ladies and men in militia uniforms mourned Russia and the capital and talked about self-sacrifice, etc.; but in the army that was retreating beyond Moscow, they almost didn’t talk or think about Moscow, and, looking at its conflagration, no one swore revenge on the French, but thought about the next third of their salary, about the next stop, about the Matryoshka doll and the like...
Nikolai Rostov, without any goal of self-sacrifice, but by chance, since the war found him in the service, took a close and long-term part in the defense of the fatherland and therefore, without despair and gloomy conclusions, looked at what was happening in Russia at that time. If they had asked him what he thought about the current situation in Russia, he would have said that he had nothing to think about, that Kutuzov and others were there for that, and that he had heard that the regiments were being recruited, and that they would probably fight for a long time , and that under the current circumstances it would not be surprising for him to receive a regiment in two years.
Because he looked at the matter this way, he not only accepted the news of his appointment on a business trip for repairs for the division in Voronezh without regret that he would be deprived of participation in the last struggle, but also with the greatest pleasure, which he did not hide and which his comrades understood very well.
A few days before the Battle of Borodino, Nikolai received money and papers and, sending the hussars ahead, went to Voronezh by mail.
Only those who have experienced this, that is, have spent several months without ceasing in the atmosphere of military, combat life, can understand the pleasure that Nicholas experienced when he got out of the area that the troops reached with their forages, supplies, and hospitals; when he, without soldiers, wagons, dirty traces of the presence of the camp, saw villages with men and women, landowners' houses, fields with grazing cattle, station houses with fallen asleep caretakers. He felt such joy as if he had seen it all for the first time. In particular, what surprised and pleased him for a long time were women, young, healthy, each of whom had less than a dozen officers looking after her, and women who were glad and flattered that a passing officer was joking with them.
In the most cheerful mood, Nikolai arrived at the hotel in Voronezh at night, ordered himself everything that he had been deprived of for a long time in the army, and the next day, having shaved clean and putting on a dress uniform that had not been worn for a long time, he went to report to his superiors.
The head of the militia was a civil general, an old man who, apparently, was amused by his military rank and rank. He angrily (thinking that this was a military quality) received Nicholas and significantly, as if having the right to do so and as if discussing the general course of the matter, approving and disapproving, questioned him. Nikolai was so cheerful that it was just funny to him.
From the chief of the militia he went to the governor. The governor was a small, lively man, very affectionate and simple. He pointed out to Nikolai those factories where he could get horses, recommended to him a horse dealer in the city and a landowner twenty miles from the city who had the best horses, and promised all assistance.
Are you Count Ilya Andreevich's son? My wife was very friendly with your mother. On Thursdays they gather at my place; “Today is Thursday, you are welcome to come to me easily,” said the governor, dismissing him.
Directly from the governor, Nikolai took the saddlebag and, taking the sergeant with him, rode twenty miles to the landowner's factory. Everything during this first time of his stay in Voronezh was fun and easy for Nikolai, and everything, as happens when a person is well disposed, everything went well and went smoothly.
The landowner to whom Nikolai came was an old bachelor cavalryman, a horse expert, a hunter, the owner of a carpet, a hundred-year-old casserole, an old Hungarian and wonderful horses.
Nikolai, in two words, bought for six thousand and seventeen stallions to select (as he said) for the horse-drawn end of his renovation. Having had lunch and drunk a little extra Hungarian, Rostov, having kissed the landowner, with whom he had already gotten on first name terms, along the disgusting road, in the most cheerful mood, galloped back, constantly chasing the coachman, in order to be in time for the evening with the governor.
Having changed clothes, perfumed himself and doused his head with cold milk, Nikolai, although somewhat late, but with a ready-made phrase: vaut mieux tard que jamais, [better late than never] came to the governor.
It was not a ball, and it was not said that there would be dancing; but everyone knew that Katerina Petrovna would play waltzes and ecosaises on the clavichord and that they would dance, and everyone, counting on this, gathered at the ballroom.
Provincial life in 1812 was exactly the same as always, with the only difference that the city was livelier on the occasion of the arrival of many wealthy families from Moscow and that, as in everything that happened at that time in Russia, it was noticeable some kind of special sweepingness - knee-deep sea, tryn-grass in life, and even in the fact that that vulgar conversation that is necessary between people and which was previously conducted about the weather and about mutual acquaintances, was now conducted about Moscow, about the army and Napoleon .
The society gathered from the governor was the best society in Voronezh.
There were a lot of ladies, there were several of Nikolai’s Moscow acquaintances; but there were no men who could in any way compete with the Cavalier of St. George, the hussar repairman and at the same time the good-natured and well-mannered Count Rostov. Among the men was one captured Italian - an officer of the French army, and Nikolai felt that the presence of this prisoner further elevated the importance of him - the Russian hero. It was like a trophy. Nikolai felt this, and it seemed to him that everyone was looking at the Italian in the same way, and Nikolai treated this officer with dignity and restraint.
As soon as Nicholas entered in his hussar uniform, spreading the smell of perfume and wine around him, he himself said and heard the words spoken to him several times: vaut mieux tard que jamais, they surrounded him; all eyes turned to him, and he immediately felt that he had entered into the position of everyone’s favorite that was due to him in the province and was always pleasant, but now, after a long deprivation, the position of everyone’s favorite intoxicated him with pleasure. Not only at stations, inns and in the landowner’s carpet were there maidservants who were flattered by his attention; but here, at the governor’s evening, there was (as it seemed to Nikolai) an inexhaustible number of young ladies and pretty girls who were impatiently waiting for Nikolai to pay attention to them. Ladies and girls flirted with him, and from the first day the old women were already busy trying to get this young rake of a hussar married and settled down. Among these latter was the governor’s wife herself, who accepted Rostov as a close relative and called him “Nicolas” and “you.”
Katerina Petrovna really began to play waltzes and ecosaises, and dances began, in which Nikolai even more captivated the entire provincial society with his dexterity. He surprised even everyone with his special, cheeky style of dancing. Nikolai himself was somewhat surprised by his manner of dancing that evening. He had never danced like that in Moscow and would even have considered such an overly cheeky manner of dancing indecent and mauvais genre [bad taste]; but here he felt the need to surprise them all with something unusual, something that they should have accepted as ordinary in the capitals, but still unknown to them in the provinces.
Throughout the evening, Nikolai paid most of his attention to the blue-eyed, plump and pretty blonde, the wife of one of the provincial officials. With that naive conviction of cheerful young people that other people's wives were created for them, Rostov did not leave this lady and treated her husband in a friendly, somewhat conspiratorial manner, as if they, although they did not say it, knew how nicely they would get together - then there is Nikolai and this husband’s wife. The husband, however, did not seem to share this conviction and tried to treat Rostov gloomily. But Nikolai’s good-natured naivety was so boundless that sometimes the husband involuntarily succumbed to Nikolai’s cheerful mood of spirit. Towards the end of the evening, however, as the wife's face became more ruddy and livelier, her husband's face became sadder and paler, as if the share of animation was the same in both, and as it increased in the wife, it decreased in the husband .
Nikolai, with a never-ending smile on his face, sat slightly bent in his chair, leaning close over the blonde and telling her mythological compliments.
Briskly changing the position of his legs in tight leggings, spreading the smell of perfume from himself and admiring both his lady and himself, and the beautiful shapes of his legs under the tight kichkirs, Nikolai told the blonde that he wanted to kidnap a lady here in Voronezh.
Which one?
Lovely, divine. Her eyes (Nikolai looked at his interlocutor) are blue, her mouth is coral, white... - he looked at her shoulders, - Diana's figure...
The husband approached them and gloomily asked his wife what she was talking about.
A! Nikita Ivanovich,” said Nikolai, standing up politely. And, as if wanting Nikita Ivanovich to take part in his jokes, he began to tell him his intention to kidnap a certain blonde.
The husband smiled gloomily, the wife cheerfully. The good governor's wife approached them with a disapproving look.
Anna Ignatievna wants to see you, Nicolas,” she said, pronouncing the words in such a voice: Anna Ignatievna, that it has now become clear to Rostov that Anna Ignatievna is a very important lady. - Let's go, Nicholas. After all, you allowed me to call you that?
Oh yes, ma tante. Who is this?
Anna Ignatievna Malvintseva. She heard about you from her niece, how you saved her... Can you guess?..
You never know I saved them there! - said Nikolai.
Her niece, Princess Bolkonskaya. She is here in Voronezh with her aunt. Wow! how he blushed! What, or?..
And I didn’t think, completeness, ma tante.
Okay, okay. ABOUT! what are you like!
The governor's wife led him to a tall and very fat old woman in a blue cape, who had just finished her card game with the most important persons in the city. This was Malvintseva, Princess Marya's maternal aunt, a rich childless widow who always lived in Voronezh. She stood paying for the cards when Rostov approached her. She narrowed her eyes sternly and importantly, looked at him and continued to scold the general who had won against her.
“I’m very glad, my dear,” she said, holding out her hand to him. - You are welcome to me.
After talking about Princess Marya and her late father, whom Malvintseva apparently did not love, and asking about what Nikolai knew about Prince Andrei, who also apparently did not enjoy her favors, the important old woman let him go, repeating the invitation to be with her.
Nikolai promised and blushed again when he bowed to Malvintseva. At the mention of Princess Marya, Rostov experienced an incomprehensible feeling of shyness, even fear.
Leaving Malvintseva, Rostov wanted to return to dancing, but the little governor’s wife put her plump hand on Nikolai’s sleeve and, saying that she needed to talk to him, led him to the sofa, from which those who were there came out immediately, so as not to disturb the governor’s wife.
You know, mon cher,” said the governor’s wife with a serious expression on her kind little face, “this is definitely the match for you; Do you want me to marry you?
Who, ma tante? - Nikolai asked.
I'm wooing the princess. Katerina Petrovna says that Lily, but in my opinion, no, is a princess. Want? I'm sure your maman will thank you. Really, what a lovely girl! And she's not that bad at all.
“Not at all,” Nikolai said, as if offended. “I, ma tante, as a soldier should, do not ask for anything and do not refuse anything,” said Rostov before he had time to think about what he was saying.
So remember: this is not a joke.
What a joke!
“Yes, yes,” the governor’s wife said, as if speaking to herself. - Here's what else, mon cher, entre autres. Vous
“Oh, no, we’re friends,” Nikolai said in the simplicity of his soul: it never occurred to him that such a fun pastime for him could not be fun for anyone.
“What a stupid thing I said, however, to the governor’s wife! - Nikolai suddenly remembered at dinner. “She’ll definitely start wooing, and Sonya?..” And, saying goodbye to the governor’s wife, when she, smiling, once again told him: “Well, remember,” he took her aside:
But to tell you the truth, ma tante...
What, what, my friend; Let's go sit here.
Nikolai suddenly felt the desire and need to tell all his innermost thoughts (those that he would not have told his mother, sister, friend) to this almost stranger. Nikolai later, when he recalled this impulse of unprovoked, inexplicable frankness, which, however, had very important consequences for him, it seemed (as it always seems to people) that he had found a stupid verse; and yet this outburst of frankness, together with other minor events, had enormous consequences for him and for the whole family.
That's it, ma tante. Maman has long wanted to marry me to a rich woman, but the thought alone disgusts me, marrying for money.
“Oh yes, I understand,” said the governor’s wife.
But Princess Bolkonskaya, that’s another matter; firstly, I’ll tell you the truth, I like her very much, she’s after my heart, and then, after I met her in this situation, it’s so strange, it often occurred to me that this was fate. Think especially: maman has been thinking about this for a long time, but I had never met her before, somehow everything happened like this: we didn’t meet. And at a time when Natasha was her brother’s fiancée, because then I would not have been able to think about marrying her. It’s necessary that I met her exactly when Natasha’s wedding was upset, and then that’s it... Yes, that’s what. I haven't told this to anyone and I won't tell it. And only to you.
The governor's wife shook his elbow gratefully.
Do you know Sophie, cousin? I love her, I promised to marry her and I will marry her... Therefore, you see that this is out of the question,” Nikolai said awkwardly and blushing.
Mon cher, mon cher, how do you judge? But Sophie has nothing, and you yourself said that your dad’s affairs A very bad. And your maman? This will kill her, for one. Then Sophie, if she is a girl with a heart, what kind of life will she have? The mother is in despair, things are upset... No, mon cher, you and Sophie must understand this.
Nikolai was silent. He was pleased to hear these conclusions.
Still, ma tante, this can’t be,” he said with a sigh, after a short silence. - Will the princess still marry me? and again, she is now in mourning. Is it possible to think about this?
Do you really think that I will marry you now? Il y a mani
What a matchmaker you are, ma tante... - said Nicolas, kissing her plump hand.
Arriving in Moscow after her meeting with Rostov, Princess Marya found there her nephew with his tutor and a letter from Prince Andrei, who prescribed them their route to Voronezh, to Aunt Malvintseva.
Volume four
St. Petersburg life, “concerned only with ghosts, reflections of life,” went on as before. Anna Pavlovna Scherer had an evening at which a letter from Metropolitan Plato to the sovereign was read and the illness of Helen Bezukhova was discussed. The next day, news was received about the abandonment of Moscow; after some time, Colonel Michaud arrived from Kutuzov with news of the abandonment and fire of Moscow; During a conversation with Michaud, Alexander said that he himself would stand at the head of his army, but would not sign peace. Meanwhile, Napoleon sends Loriston to Kutuzov with a peace proposal, but Kutuzov refuses “any deal.” The Tsar demands offensive action, and, despite Kutuzov’s reluctance, the Battle of Tarutino was given.
On an autumn night, Kutuzov receives news that the French have left Moscow. Until the very expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia, all of Kutuzov’s activities are aimed only at keeping troops from useless offensives and clashes with the dying enemy. The French army melts as it retreats; Kutuzov, on the way from Krasny to the main apartment, addresses the soldiers and officers: “While they were strong, we did not feel sorry for ourselves, but now we can feel sorry for them. They are people too." Intrigues against the commander-in-chief do not stop, and in Vilna the sovereign reprimands Kutuzov for his slowness and mistakes. Nevertheless, Kutuzov was awarded George I degree. But in the upcoming campaign - already outside Russia - Kutuzov is not needed. “The representative of the people's war had no choice but death. And he died."
Nikolai Rostov goes for repairs (to buy horses for the division) to Voronezh, where he meets Princess Marya; he again has thoughts about marrying her, but he is bound by the promise he made to Sonya. Unexpectedly, he receives a letter from Sonya, in which she returns his word to him (the letter was written at the insistence of the Countess). Princess Marya, having learned that her brother is in Yaroslavl, with the Rostovs, goes to see him. She sees Natasha, her grief and feels closeness between herself and Natasha. She finds her brother in a state where he already knows that he will die. Natasha understood the meaning of the turning point that occurred in Prince Andrei shortly before her sister’s arrival: she tells Princess Marya that Prince Andrei is “too good, he cannot live.” When Prince Andrei died, Natasha and Princess Marya felt “reverent tenderness” before the mystery of death.
The arrested Pierre is brought to the guardhouse, where he is kept along with other detainees; he is interrogated by French officers, then he is interrogated by Marshal Davout. Davout was known for his cruelty, but when Pierre and the French marshal exchanged glances, they both vaguely felt that they were brothers. This look saved Pierre. He, along with others, was taken to the place of execution, where the French shot five, and Pierre and the rest of the prisoners were taken to the barracks. The spectacle of the execution had a terrible effect on Bezukhov, in his soul “everything fell into a heap of meaningless rubbish.” A neighbor in the barracks (his name was Platon Karataev) fed Pierre and calmed him down with his gentle speech. Pierre forever remembered Karataev as the personification of everything “Russian good and round.” Plato sews shirts for the French and several times notices that among the French there are different people. A party of prisoners is taken out of Moscow, and together with the retreating army they walk along the Smolensk road. During one of the transitions, Karataev falls ill and is killed by the French. After this, Bezukhov, at a rest stop, has a dream in which he sees a ball, the surface of which consists of drops. Drops move, move; “Here he is, Karataev, spilled over and disappeared,” Pierre dreams. The next morning, a detachment of prisoners was repulsed by Russian partisans.
Denisov, the commander of a partisan detachment, is going to unite with a small detachment of Dolokhov to attack a large French transport with Russian prisoners. A messenger arrives from a German general, the head of a large detachment, with an offer to join for joint action against the French. This messenger was Petya Rostov, who remained for the day in Denisov’s detachment. Petya sees Tikhon Shcherbaty, a man who went to “take the language” and escaped pursuit, returning to the detachment. Dolokhov arrives and, together with Petya Rostov, goes on reconnaissance to the French. When Petya returns to the detachment, he asks the Cossack to sharpen his saber; he almost falls asleep and dreams of music. The next morning, the detachment attacks a French transport, and during a shootout Petya dies. Among the captured prisoners was Pierre.
After his release, Pierre is in Oryol - he is sick, the physical deprivations he experienced are taking their toll, but mentally he feels a freedom he has never experienced before. He learns about the death of his wife, that Prince Andrei was alive for another month after being wounded. Arriving in Moscow, Pierre goes to Princess Marya, where he meets Natasha. After the death of Prince Andrei, Natasha became isolated in her grief; She is brought out of this state by the news of Petya’s death. She does not leave her mother for three weeks, and only she can ease the countess’s grief. When Princess Marya leaves for Moscow, Natasha, at the insistence of her father, goes with her. Pierre discusses with Princess Marya the possibility of happiness with Natasha; Natasha also awakens in love for Pierre.
Summary of War and Peace Volume 4
Part 1
In St. Petersburg, guests gathered at Anna Pavlovna Sherer’s place to listen to the patriarch’s message, which Prince Vasily read, and to gossip. The main news was the illness of Helen Bezukhova, everyone believed that she was simply pretending, since she could not marry two lovers at once. The next day, everyone learns that the Russians won the Battle of Borodino over the French, and on the same day the news spreads around the city that Helen Bezukhova has died. The official cause of death was considered to be that she died of a sore throat, but everyone in the community was convinced that she had committed suicide by taking a large amount of medication.
Three days later in St. Petersburg they learn that Russian troops have left Moscow. An envoy from Napoleon comes to Kutuzov with a proposal to make peace, but Emperor Alexander said that there could no longer be any peace.
Nikolai Rostov goes to Voronezh to buy horses for the army, and there he unexpectedly meets Marya Bolkonskaya. He really likes Marya, and he understands that he would like to marry her, but he cannot break his promise to Sonya. Marya finds out that Andrei, with a serious abdominal wound, is in Yaroslavl with the Rostovs and immediately goes to see him. The common grief brings Natasha and Marya together, Andrei dies, and the two of them experience this loss.
The prisoner Pierre is brought for questioning by the French General Davout, he is accused of arson and espionage, and is sentenced to death. Those sentenced in pairs were brought to the pit, shot and immediately buried. Pierre looked at this spectacle without fear of death, but then Bezukhov was announced that he had been pardoned, and he was taken away to the prisoners of war.
Part 2
Kutuzov tried to save the army and therefore avoided battles; he understood that even though they defeated the French at Borodino, they needed to restore strength for further battles and make sure of the enemy’s strength. In Tarutino, the Russian soldiers had a good rest, gained strength, since there was a lot of food, and therefore, when the Cossacks discovered that the French left flank was not protected, an attack began, in which the Orlov-Denisov Cossacks distinguished themselves, the French fled. After the Battle of Tarutino, Napoleon decided to retaliate and began preparing for an offensive.
For a whole month Pierre had been in captivity and endured all the hardships without a murmur. He was always looking for the meaning of life and only here was he able to think it all over. His neighbor Platon Karataev helps Pierre endure the hardships of imprisonment and always encourages him with the right word. Soon the prisoners are taken out of Moscow, Plato falls ill on the way and is killed by the French, Pierre feels an emptiness in his heart from the loss of his recently acquired friend.
The French troops are moving towards Smolensk, Kutuzov knows that certain death awaits the French there and therefore, in order not to lose his soldiers, he resisted the advance of the Russian troops in every possible way.
Part 3
“The club of the people’s war rose with all its formidable and majestic strength and, without asking anyone’s tastes or rules, with stupid simplicity, but with expediency, without considering anything, it rose, fell and nailed the French until the entire invasion was destroyed.”
On August 24, Denis Davydov assembles the first partisan detachment, and soon there are about a hundred such detachments, one of them is led by Dolokhov. Davydov and Dolokhov decide to attack the French convoy with Russian prisoners and a load of cavalry items. Tikhon Shcherbaty, a man from the enemy column, leaves to take his tongue, and at this time an officer arrives from the general, in whom Denisov recognizes Petya Rostov, and Petya remains in the detachment. Then the partisans see Tikhon running towards the camp, and the French are shooting after him. Tikhon reports that he took the tongue prisoner yesterday, and today he wanted to grab another one, but he was quickly discovered and he had to run away. Dolokhov arrives and takes Petya with him on reconnaissance. In the morning, the partisans attack the convoy, a shootout ensues and Rostov is killed; Pierre Bezukhov is among the prisoners.
Winter had come in Russia, the French, not accustomed to such severe frosts, looked pitiful: freezing and exhausted from hunger, they fell dead right next to the fires.
Part 4
After the death of Andrei Bolkonsky, Marya and Natasha became very close friends, they grieved for him together, and could not even think about the future. But soon Marya had to return to business and start raising little Prince Nicholas. Natasha didn’t want to communicate with anyone, she avoided everyone and spent whole days sitting on the sofa looking out the window, regretting her unfulfilled happiness and marriage with Andrei. Trouble came to the Rostov house: they brought a letter about the death of Petya, for the countess the death of her youngest son was a strong blow, she immediately fell ill, and Natasha had to look after her. A month later, the Countess became absolutely indifferent to what was happening, she became very old, one would think that her soul died along with her son, but Natasha, on the contrary, lost her apathy, as she realized that love for her loved ones lived in her, and a thirst for life awoke in her . Natasha became very weak while she was caring for her mother, and the count invites her to go to Moscow with Marya to consult with doctors and rest.
Kutuzov incurs the disfavor of Emperor Alexander and many nobles because he does not want to go to Europe, considering it stupid to lose soldiers after the enemy has fled. And although Alexander awards Kutuzov the St. George Cross of the first degree, everyone knows that this is only to maintain decency. Soon Kutuzov dies.
After his release, Pierre comes to Oryol; all the hardships he suffered in captivity affect his health and he falls into a fever for two months. After recovery, the manager comes to him and talks about the losses they suffered during the war, about the destroyed houses in Moscow and that Helen left him a lot of debts. Pierre goes to Moscow, where all the residents are already coming to start building and renovating their houses and to pay off the debts of his late wife. Pierre meets with his old friends and goes to Princess Marya to ask her about Andrei's affairs and death. While talking with Marya, he takes a closer look at her companion and suddenly, very embarrassed, recognizes Natasha in her. After this, Pierre began to visit them very often, but did not dare to tell Natasha about his feelings. Marya guessed everything and assured Pierre that Natasha loved him too. Bezukhov leaves for St. Petersburg on business, leaving Natasha in bewilderment, since before leaving he never confesses his love to her.
PART 1
Unlike Moscow, St. Petersburg lived in the old way. All the same evenings, balls, intrigues, etc. At one of Anna Pavlovna’s evenings they talked about Helen’s illness. She allegedly had a sore throat. But everyone knew that the disease was connected with the dilemma of two men, who to marry. And, of course, they talked about the situation of the fatherland.
After some time, Helen died of a sore throat, although it was rumored that she drank a lot of medicine.
Nikolai Rostov took a long and devoted part in the war. He was sent on a business trip to Voronezh. There he meets Anna Ignatievna Malvintseva, Marya Bolkonskaya's aunt. In a conversation with Anna Ignatievna about Marya, Nikolai experiences very unusual feelings. And he admitted to Anna Ignatievna that he liked Marya, he thought about her and understood that this was his destiny, but he promised to marry Sonya. Anna Ignatievna promises to arrange everything. When Marya and her nephew came to Aunt Malvintseva, Rostov arrived a couple of days later. Marya was all lit up when she met Nikolai. All her inner beauty came out. And Rostov realized that she was the best thing he had ever seen. And after meeting Marya, all the pleasures that Nikolai had in life lost their meaning.
After a short period of time, Marya tries to find any news about her brother, who is not on the list of those killed. And Nikolai receives a letter from Sonya, in which the girl returns his freedom to him. He also receives a letter from his mother, in which he learns about the complete ruin of the count's family. And my mother also writes that Nikolai Bolkonsky is traveling with them. Nikolai tells Marya about Andrei, and she goes to Yaroslavl. And Nikolai returns to the regiment. It turned out that Sonya was forced to write the letter by the countess. Since, due to ruin, it was the only way to marry his son to a rich girl. And Sonya, in the hope that Natasha and Andrei would get married, and because of their relationship, Nikolai would not be able to marry Marya, sent this letter.
Meanwhile, Pierre is captured by the French. He is taken to Marshal Davout, who believes that Pierre is a spy. Davout orders Pierre to be executed. At the treasury, 2 people are shot. They shot two couples and were leading the fifth, then he realized that he had been brought to be present at the execution. He was later told that he was forgiven and sent to a prisoner of war barracks. There he met Platon Karataev - Pierre’s most vivid memory in captivity. During Per's 4-week stay in captivity, Plato told Bezukhov many different stories, decorated with sayings and beautiful words.
Marya went to look for her brother. When she arrived, she hugged Natasha and realized from her face that there was no chance of Andrei’s recovery. And when Marya went to her brother, she tried to find for herself the answer to the question “what is she to blame for?” And Andrei himself looked at her coldly and hostilely. Andrei felt that he was slowly dying. He felt the fear of death twice, the first time when the grenade was spinning like a top next to Bolkonsky, and the second time when he saw Natasha, being wounded, and he wanted to be with her. But death still triumphed over life. It seemed to Bolkonsky that death had come to him. He was in a feverish state. All thoughts were about Natasha, about love, about eternity. With Prince Andrei there were Natasha and Marya. He was confessed, given communion and blessed.
PART 2
One of the important events of 1812 was the movement of Russians from the Ryazan to the Kaluga road and to the Tarutino camp. At the council in Fili, it was decided to retreat back to the Nizhny Novgorod road. And some factors influenced the army to deviate to the south and move from the Tula to the Kaluga road, to Tarutino. Then Napoleon offered peace to Kutuzov, but then in Tarutino the Russian troops became stronger and larger in number. And the offensive became necessary.
Despite the hostility of Kutuzov and his chief of staff Bennigsen, on October 4 Kutuzov signed the disposition. It was sent to General Ermolov, but he went on a spree. In the morning, Kutuzov arrived to where the column should advance. But they said that they had not received any orders to attack and then the operation was postponed for a day.
The Cossacks attacked the French, resulting in 1,500 prisoners, 38 guns, banners and much more. Another column advancing from the front, led by Kutuzov, should attack the French. But Kutuzov did not move, and when they advanced, some stopped. As a result, Kutuzov received a diamond sign, and Bennigsen received diamonds and 100,000 rubles.
Napoleon, in turn, acted very stupidly and detrimentally for his army. He left the army in Moscow until October, giving the troops the opportunity to plunder the city. Then, hesitating whether or not to leave the garrison, leave Moscow, approach Kutuzov, not start a battle, go to the right, again without trying to break through, go not along the road along which Kutuzov approached, but go back to Mozhaisk and along the ruined road to Smolensk. And the consequences of these mistakes were just as disastrous.
Napoleon offered peace to Alexander, but his ambassadors were not accepted. After the execution of the imaginary burners of Moscow, the second half also burned down. Napoleon called for discipline and order, but the robberies did not stop. He promised to resume worship, but despite attempts, nothing worked. Churches were looted. Napoleon invites hardworking artisans to the city, but they do not come. People fled Moscow, realizing that the longer they stayed there, the more dangerous it became. They tried to grab what they had acquired, and Napoleon did the same. The position of the entire French army was like that of a wounded animal.
Pierre was still a prisoner. And it was here that he was able to find peace. He dreamed of freedom, learned to appreciate such things as water, drink, sleep, warmth, conversation with a person. And only then, having been in captivity for 4 weeks, I agreed with the earlier words of Andrei Bolkonsky, “happiness can only be negative.”
Napoleon again offered peace to Kutuzov, but he was again refused. The Russians learn about the flight of the French. And they send an army led by Dokhturov to attack the French. At this time, the captured Frenchman says that the French left Moscow for the 5th day. And when this news reached Kutuzov, he cried with happiness. Until the very end of the campaign, Kutuzov showed cunning and tactics in every way possible. As a result, all the French wanted to be captured so that all the horrors and misfortunes would end.
PART 3
It is impossible not to mention guerrilla warfare. Since the partisans destroyed the army piece by piece. The partisans, among whom were Denisov and Dolokhov, became aware of the French transport. Denisov decides to take him. Here Peter Rostov appears. At dinner, the situation of the French army becomes known, and Dolokhov is going to go check it out. Petya begs to go with him. There a shootout ensued, as a result of which Petya was shot in the head. And Denisov and Dolokhov were able to recapture some Russian prisoners, among whom was Pierre. Pierre understood a lot during the prisoners' march, and discovered a lot for himself, for example, that there is nothing terrible in life.
From October 28, when frosts began, the flight of the French only took on a more tragic character, with people freezing and roasting to death at the fires. And those who continue to ride in fur coats and carriages with the stolen goods of the emperor, kings, and dukes.
The goal of the Russian army was not to cut off and catch Napoleon with his marshals and army. The people had one goal - to cleanse their land from invasion.
PART 4
The death of Andrei Bolkonsky brought Marya and Natasha very close, but they still spoke little. Natasha suffered from the death of Andrei, but the sudden news of Petya’s death gave her the boost of energy that was necessary to support her deeply depressed mother. Meanwhile, Marya is caring for Natasha herself and they become friends, and very close ones at that. Marya left for Moscow at the end of January, and Natasha is going with her at the insistence of her father, so that she can be examined by a doctor.
Meanwhile, the Russian army pursued the French. And I was very tired from the hard and long hike.
On November 5, Kutuzov toured the troops and addressed them with gratitude for their faithful service. The sovereign told Kutuzov to continue the war abroad, but Kutuzov did not consider this advisable. And Alexander the First was very dissatisfied with this. And gradually Kutuzov’s power passed to Alexander. And Kutuzov died in April 1813 in Sile-Zim, in the small town of Bunzlau.
Pierre returned from captivity, he had changed a lot. He already has a different look and ability to listen. He is also no longer short-tempered. Having learned about Bolkonsky’s death, seeing Petya’s corpse and accepting the news of Helen’s death, he perceived everything as the next will of God.
Moscow, meanwhile, begins to live. People are moving in, and in 1813 there were already more residents there than were leaving. Trade is being restored, burned areas are being repaired, services are being held in churches. Pierre then goes to Moscow, where his feelings for Natasha gain strength. She is happy about this, just as Marya is happy about it. Pierre and Natasha explained to each other. But Pierre left for St. Petersburg, having first asked Marya for help in matchmaking.
EPILOGUE
It's 1819. That terrible time was 7 years ago.
Alexander was the first to give his power to miserable people, without bringing any good to his people.
Natasha married Pierre in 1813. In the same year, her father died, who before his death asked for forgiveness for not being able to avoid ruin.
Nikolai was able to change the financial situation of the family. He resigned and came to Moscow. He had an inheritance in the form of debts, which were more than his father's estate was worth. But he accepted it because he respected and loved his dad.
In 1814, Nikolai married Marya Bolkonskaya and moved with his mother, Sonya and his beloved wife to Bald Mountains. And in 3 years he was able to earn money himself, without the participation of his wife’s wealth, to pay off his debts. After another 3 years, he bought an estate near the Bald Mountains. And in 1820 he bought his father’s estate. And his income grew from supporting the peasants.
By 1820, Natasha and Pierre had three daughters and a son. This family was quite happy. Natasha subjugated her husband. He did everything she wanted regarding social life, and she, in return, did whatever her husband wanted at home. And this made Pierre happy. Pierre expressed his position regarding government. After all, with the current government at that time there was only an approach to disaster. And he wanted honest people to unite and fight against lawlessness. Apparently, this is how the “Decembrists” movement appeared.
According to the author, “It is not individuals who move and make history, but the masses of people, guided by common interests. And a leader will be more successful if he can capture these interests.”
- Natasha Rostova- the main character of the novel "War and Peace". In the fourth part of the second volume, this is a young girl who is waiting for Andrei Bolkonsky. He promised to marry her after he arrived from abroad. She is cheerful, beautiful, talkative, friendly, loves hunting, hopes for future happiness, yearning for the object of her first girlish love.
- Nikolay Rostov- brother of Natalia Rostova. This chapter describes how he returned from the army on leave because his mother asked for it due to the fact that troubles befell the family: his father’s illness and the threat of ruin of the estate. Nikolai accepted this news with disappointment, because he was already accustomed to his army duties and communicating with friends. He did not want to go from the clear world to where there was nonsense and confusion, but still he had to overcome himself. At home, Nikolai showed himself to be a loving brother and caring son. Recently, he began to show signs of attention to his cousin Sonya Rostova and even intended to propose to her, despite the fact that the mother wanted to marry her son to Julie Karagina in order to improve the financial condition of the estate.
- Countess Natalya Rostova- a very rich secular woman, mother of Nikolai and Natalia. She loves her family, raises children, receives guests. Recently, the family’s financial situation has been collapsing, so Natalya decides to marry her son to a rich and wealthy girl, Julie Karagina. But Nikolai is categorically against such a party, which greatly upsets the poor mother and provokes her to be rude towards her niece Sonya Rostova, with whom he is in love and wants to propose. In the last chapter of the fourth part it is said that Natalya Rostova suffered from an illness, due to which she remained in the village while Ilya Rostov and his children left for Moscow.
- Count Ilya Rostov- the father of the Rostov family, a kind, rich man who receives many guests, organizes balls, carnivals, and hunts with hounds. Recently, he was on the verge of ruin, but did not want to realize the seriousness of the situation, continuing to do the same as before. “There was the same hunting, even increased by Nicholas, the same fifty horses and fifteen coachmen in the stable; the same dear gifts to each other on name days and ceremonial dinners for the entire county; the same count whists and bostons, behind which he, fanning out cards to everyone, allowed himself to be beaten by hundreds every day by his neighbors, who looked at the right to form Count Ilya Andreich’s game as the most profitable lease.”
- Sonya Rostova- the niece of Countess Rostova, a very beautiful, quiet, reasonable, kind, self-sacrificing girl who knows how to love and wants to be loved. Nikolai Rostov is in love with her. Unfortunately, the mother is against her son marrying a woman without a dowry, so she cruelly reproaches the girl and, oppressing her, greatly upsets her. Nikolai, wanting to protect his beloved, attracts his sister Natalya, who makes her mother promise not to offend her sister and friend anymore.
Chapter first
Man has an inherent desire for idleness, despite the fact that he must work tirelessly, following the moral law. “If a person could find a state in which, being idle, he would feel useful and fulfilling his duty, he would find one side of primitive bliss,” says the author in the work. And this state of impeccable idleness, according to Leo Tolstoy, is enjoyed precisely by the military class.
After 1807, Nikolai Rostov already commanded a squadron in the Pavlograd regiment. He became hardened and kind, was loved by all his fellow soldiers, and was quite happy with life.
Therefore, when his mother called him home, complaining that things were going badly on the estate, he was upset because he did not want to leave where he lived quietly and calmly. One of the letters from his relatives especially upset Nikolai - the one where it was reported about Natasha Rostova’s engagement to Andrei Bolkonsky. At first he was even tempted to go home, but then put these thoughts aside. As it turned out, they still had to go home after a letter from their mother, who reported on the troubles that befell the family: the threat of losing their estate, their father’s illness.
But it was difficult for Rostov to change his mind: after all, he was already accustomed to moving among his fellow soldiers and making plans regarding the army. And then suddenly it is necessary to “go from this clear, good world somewhere to where everything was nonsense and confusion.”
And now Nikolai is at home. An enthusiastic meeting took place, and the young man began to settle back into his native walls. His brother Petya and sister Natasha grew up and became stronger: a thirteen-year-old, handsome and cleverly playful boy and a girl who was unrecognizable. Natalya told Nikolai that she was going to marry Andrei Bolkonsky, but saw that her brother was unhappy that the wedding was postponed for a year. He was surprised how Natalya could be calm, because she was in love with Andrei, and saw some kind of catch in the upcoming marriage.
Chapter two
At first Nikolai did not want to interfere in the affairs of the household and was angry that he was called home. Out of frustration, he went to Mitenka and not only scolded him strongly, but also kicked him out with the words: “Get out! so that your spirit, you bastard, is not here!
The Countess, having learned about what had happened in the outbuilding, thought that now their condition should improve, but she was afraid to disturb her son, who, still angry with Mitenka, was smoking pipe after pipe. However, Nikolai’s father, Ilya Andreevich, called his son to his place the next day and gently noted that he was wrong about Mitenka and that he was not a thief or a deceiver.
One day, Nikolai’s mother called and reported Anna Mikhailovna’s bill of exchange for two thousand, asking for advice on what to do with it. Rostov, getting angry and saying that he loved neither Anna Mikhailovna nor Boris, tore up the bill in front of Countess Natalya.
Chapter Three
Autumn was beginning, and for Nikolai these were the most favorable days to enjoy hunting to the fullest. He took a commoner, the hunter Danila, as his partner, but did not expect that both Natasha and Petya would express a desire to go to the forest. It was hard for him just to think about it.
Chapter Four
Count Ilya Andreevich also decided to go hunting. An hour later everyone was standing at the porch, getting ready to go on the road. Finally, we set off on the road: “Fifty-four dogs were bred out of all the hounds, under which six people went out as riders and catchers.” Having met an old man on the way, we said hello and started talking, calling him “uncle.” The old hunter, in turn, expressed displeasure that children were taken on such a serious matter. While hunting, they became excited, especially when the dogs were set against the wolf. But they couldn’t catch the beast; it “went into the bushes.”
Chapter Five
Nikolai Rostov was fired up with a desire to catch the wolf at all costs, but nothing worked for him. He even prayed to God, begging Him to make sure that “the seasoned one would come out and that Karai, in front of his uncle, who was looking over there, would smack him in the throat with a death grip.” But nothing happened. Nikolai complained that he was always unlucky in everything, when he suddenly realized that there was still a chance to go hunting for a wolf. After a difficult struggle between the dogs and the wild beast, to the great joy of Nikolai Rostov, they managed to take the wolf alive and show the prey to everyone. The hunter Danilo played a big role in this.
Chapter Six
Natasha and Petya stayed hunting, and Ilya Andreevich went home. The hunt went on because it was still early. “They had just got the hounds, Nikolai heard the rare rutting of a dog he knew - Volthorne; other dogs joined him, then falling silent, then starting to chase again.” The hunter, who was standing in the hole, saw a strange red fox. The dogs rushed after her, but, as it turned out, not only the Rostov hunters were thirsty for this prey. Some time later, a fight broke out between “uncle’s” hunters and strangers. Nikolai, without speaking to the hunter, asked Natalya and Petya to wait for him and went to the place where this hostile Ilagin hunt took place. The landowner Ilagin, contrary to rumors about his unkind and intractable disposition, turned out to be a courteous gentleman who even wanted to punish the hunters responsible for the fight so that they would not poison from under the dogs, and wanted to get to know Rostov. In order to assuage the guilt of his hunter, Ilagin invited Nikolai to his eel, where, as he claimed, there were many hares. In addition, Rostov began to praise Ilagin’s dogs, which aroused even greater affection for himself. They started talking, and the new hunter turned out to be a good conversationalist.
The hunt for the Rostovs made a good impression. Natasha was especially happy, who “joyfully and enthusiastically squealed so shrilly that her ears were ringing.”
Chapter Seven
When Ilagin said goodbye to Nikolai, Rostov found himself at such a far distance from home that he accepted his uncle’s offer to spend the night with him, in Mikhailovka. The men of the house, as well as dozens of curious women, ran out to watch the hunters approach. The uncle, who got off his horse, examined his household, shouted, commanding that the extra ones go away and do everything for the reception of guests and the upcoming hunt. Through the front hall, the uncle led his new acquaintances into a small hall with a folding table and red chairs, then into a living room with a birch round table and a sofa, then into an office where there was a tattered sofa, and on the walls hung portraits of Suvorov, his mother, his father, and himself - in military uniform. In the office, the uncle invited the guests to sit comfortably. Petya, Nikolai and Natasha undressed and sat on the sofa. Petya immediately fell asleep. Suddenly Anisya Petrovna, the uncle’s wife, entered the room. She was “a fat, ruddy, beautiful woman of about forty, with a double chin and full, rosy lips.” She carried a tray with all sorts of food, on which there was a herbalist, and liqueurs, and mushrooms, and cakes of black flour on yuraga, and honeycomb honey, and boiled and sparkling honey, and apples, and raw and roasted nuts and nuts in honey, and chicken and ham. The hostess hospitably and gladly offered food to the guests. Uncle told Mitka the coachman to play the balalaika. He played very beautifully, so beautifully that he involuntarily surprised the guests. But it turned out that my uncle also knew how to play the guitar. Natasha, Nikolai, and other guests liked his performance. Natasha once again asked: “Lovely, lovely, uncle! More more". Finally, she began to dance, and those who saw this admired the grace of the girl, who knew how to understand everything that was... in every Russian person.
When the uncle sang his favorite hunting song, everyone was touched in their hearts. Natasha was delighted with her uncle's singing. “At ten o’clock a line, a droshky and three horsemen, sent to look for them, arrived for Natasha and Petya.” The Countess and Count did not know where their children were and were very worried. On the way, Natasha sang the tune of the song “Like powder from the evening” and was happy. Nikolai was also glad that he had such a sweet sister.
Chapter Eight
Count Ilya Andreevich no longer worked as a leader, because this position was associated with large expenses. Alas, things did not improve for him. The parents talked secretly and restlessly, consulting among themselves about the sale of the rich family home of the Rostovs. Natasha and Nikolai often witnessed these conversations. Life in Otradnoye was quieter than before, however, the huge house and outbuilding were always full of people, so more than twenty people sat down to eat. These were either their own people, or those who were needed by Rostov as workers, or simply people who were better off or more profitable to live with the count than at home. Hunting by Nicholas was also increased.
The Count tried not to think that he was confused in matters. On the contrary, he felt powerless to change anything and therefore simply lived as before, convincing himself that nothing had happened.
Countess Natalya tried to find a way out of a difficult situation and thought that Nikolai’s marriage to a rich girl would save the situation. She found him a bride and was very afraid that her son would refuse and the chance would be lost. This party was Julie Karagina. Nikolai's mother sought his opinion about marriage, hinted at the necessity of this, but Nikolai said directly that for him love was more important than the financial situation of the bride, even if she was from a poor family. Nikolai still did not go to Moscow, and the countess did not resume the conversation about marriage, seeing that her son was getting closer and closer to Sonya Rostova, a girl without a dowry. Natalya was angry, sometimes she found fault with her poor niece, but she could not do anything. The fourth letter was received from Andrei Rostov, where he reported that he was already on his way to Russia.
Chapter Nine
Christmas time arrived, but nothing special happened: the usual holidays with their peculiarities: boring congratulations from neighbors and courtyard servants, everyone wearing new dresses. When the third day of the holiday passed, after lunch, the Rostovs went to their rooms. It was the most boring time of the day, Nikolai, who went to see his neighbors in the morning, fell asleep in the sofa room, Ilya Andreevich was resting in the office. Sonya Rostova sat in the living room and sketched a pattern. Suddenly Natasha came up to her mother with a sad face and began to complain that she missed Andrei a lot. “I need it,” she repeated. Frustrated, Natasha began to give orders to the servants, trying to give them a lot of work, but they did not carry out anyone’s orders as willingly as they did this young lady. Finally, the girl went into the hall, and, taking the guitar, began to play, plucking the strings. Sonya came into the room, and Natalya asked to wake up Nikolai so she could play the guitar for her brother. The girl was burdened by the monotony of life and was bored. She “felt with horror the disgust that rose in her against everyone at home because they were still the same.”
Chapter Ten
Dejected and upset, Natasha asked her brother a question: “It happens to you that it seems to you that nothing will happen - nothing; what was all that was good? And it’s not just boring, but sad?” Nikolai answered in the affirmative and even said that the blues came over him at the most unexpected moment: when everyone is cheerful, but it seems to you that nothing makes sense and you need to die. Sister and brother, as well as Sonya Rostova, shared childhood memories and reassured each other. They touched on the topic of eternity, and Dimmler, who approached the young people with a contemptuous smile, remarked: “Yes, but it’s difficult for us to imagine eternity,” to which Natasha objected: “Today it will be, tomorrow it will be, it will always be, and yesterday it was and yesterday it was " Finally, the girl began to sing her mother’s favorite piece, and, despite the fact that she had not wanted to sing before, she performed it amazingly, causing tenderness to those listening. Countess Natalya plunged into memories, worried about her daughter’s upcoming marriage to Andrei Bolkonsky, Sonya Rostova dreamed of being as charming as her cousin. Suddenly the singing was interrupted by the voice of Petya Rostov’s younger brother, who ran into the room and said: “The mummers are coming.” At first Natasha was so upset that she began to cry a lot, but later, in costumes and in a good mood, everyone began to participate in the masquerade. Finally, they decided to go to Melyukova, a widow with children of various ages, also with governesses and tutors, who lived four miles from Rostov. The sleigh was harnessed to three horses, and everyone, except the head of the family, Ilya Andreevich, cheerful and satisfied, set off on the road.
Chapter Eleven
Pelageya Danilovna Melyukova was sitting in the living room and entertaining her daughters, when suddenly a noise was heard in the front door. Hussars, ladies, witches, payassas, and bears entered the hall, clearing their throats and wiping their faces frosted with frost. Candles were quickly lit. Pelageya Danilovna, having cleared the place for the guests and prepared refreshments for the gentlemen and servants, without taking off her glasses, with a restrained smile, walked among the mummers, looked at them closely and did not recognize anyone: not only the Rostovs and Dimmler, but “neither her daughters nor those their husbands’ robes and uniforms that they were wearing.” We played a lot, had fun, and had a lot of fun. Nikolai Rostov drew attention to Sonya and looked at her with completely new eyes, realizing that he had fallen in love. They met leaving the house at the barn. Feelings surged in the young people, and the kiss was a confirmation of the emerging love between two hearts.
Chapter Twelve
On the way back from Pelageya Danilovna, everyone tried to position themselves so that Sonya could sit with Nikolai. Natalya's brother admitted to her that he had decided to propose to the girl. Arriving home, they began to guess near the mirror, and Sonya claimed that she saw Andrei Bolkonsky, Natalya’s fiancé. “When will he return? When I see him! My God! how I’m afraid for him and for myself, and for everything I’m afraid...” the girl asked and still couldn’t find an answer.
Chapter Thirteen
After Christmas, Nikolai Rostov announced to his mother his firm decision to marry Sophia, but for the first time he felt that the countess was unhappy, that she would not let him go so easily. And so it happened. Ilya Andreevich tried to persuade his son, but seeing that this would have no effect at all and feeling guilty before Nikolai, he could not be angry with him. But the mother, although she no longer touched on this topic in conversation with Nikolai, one day called Sonya into her office and cruelly told her what she thought about the upcoming unequal marriage, which is why the girl was sad and not herself. The discord between Nikolai and his mother continued, each tried to insist on his own, once Natalya even had to intervene in the matter of reconciliation, and she brought it to the point that Nikolai received a promise from his mother that Sonya would not be oppressed, and he, in turn, , will not do anything secretly from his parents.
Dear readers! We invite you to familiarize yourself with L.N. Tolstoy’s novel “War and Peace” chapter by chapter.
At the beginning of January, Nikolai left for the regiment, and the Rostov house became sadder than usual. The Countess fell ill, and Natasha found it increasingly difficult to experience the separation from Andrei Bolkonsky. She wrote him monotonous, classic dry letters, to which she did not attach any importance. Natalya’s health was not improving, but it was no longer possible to postpone the trip to Moscow. “The Countess remained in the village, and the Count, taking Sonya and Natasha with him, went to Moscow at the end of January.”
Features of the creation of the novel “War and Peace” by L. N. Tolstoy
Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy’s large-scale novel “War and Peace” took six years to create, from 1863 to 1869. Writing it required titanic efforts and hard work from the author, which he recalled in his drafts. Five thousand two hundred covered pages that have been preserved in the writer’s archive clearly testify to the history of the creation of the epic novel.
But what was the impetus for the creation of the novel “War and Peace”? It all started with the writing in 1856 of a work about the Decembrist, who was returning from Siberian exile to Russia. The first chapters of the new novel “The Decembrists,” in which the author shows the hero’s youth, which coincided with the terrible times of the Patriotic War of 1812, the writer read to Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev at the beginning of 1861.
And 1863 is considered to be the date of birth of the novel “War and Peace.” During the first year, the author worked hard on the beginning of the work. He hoped to express in this book everything that ached in his soul, that he wanted to tell his readers. It is noteworthy that in Leo Tolstoy’s archive fifteen options for creating the beginning of the novel have been preserved. The author's deep interest in history, as well as in philosophical and socio-political issues, lay at the heart of the concept of this great work. The main question of that era was the question of the role of the people in the history of Russia, about their destinies. And the work on the novel reflected the search for answers to these pressing and pressing questions.
The writer’s hopes for the early birth of his brainchild were not justified, and the first chapters began to appear in print only in 1867, and were not yet entitled “War and Peace”, in addition, they were subsequently subjected to harsh editing. Initially, the author titled his plan to capture the history of the country in literary form “Three Times,” but time passed and the writer abandoned this title, because in this case the novel had to begin with a description of the War of 1812. The second version, “1805,” was also rejected because it did not correspond to the author’s plan. The third title, “All's Well That Ends Well,” in which the writer wanted to focus the reader's attention on the happy ending of the work, also did not fit. But this title failed to reflect the scale of the work as a whole. The final title of the novel, War and Peace, was published in 1867. The word “world” means the entire universe, the entire world, the entire human race.
The last volume of the epic novel was published in December 1869, thirteen years after the idea of writing a novel about the exiled Decembrist arose.
Nowadays, the novel “War and Peace” is read by people of all ages - young people, old people, and children. It is studied at school, essays are written, TV series and films are staged. Perhaps another century will pass, and this work of Leo Tolstoy will be as important and vital for humanity as in the first years of its publication.