War and Peace

Vasili keeps his promise—Boris Drubetskoy is transferred into the Semyonov Guards. Anna Drubetskaya returns triumphantly to Moscow to bask in her son’s success. She stays with her wealthy relatives the Rostovs. Because Countess Natalya Rostov and her 13-year-old daughter Natasha share a name (Natasha is the diminutive form of Natalya) and a birthday, and because mother and daughter are very close, they throw a joint birthday party. The guests gossip about Pierre’s lack of etiquette and mention that his father is dying. They are unsure whether the illegitimate Pierre or Vasili, the old man’s next nearest relation, will inherit the large estate. The drunken escapades of Pierre, Anatole, and Dolokhov have gotten the young men expelled from Saint Petersburg and sent to Moscow. The Rostovs cannot help but smirk at the raucous stories.

Natasha Rostov bursts into the room accompanied by her cousin Sonya, her brothers Nikolai and Petya, and Boris Drubetskoy. Their excited, giggly conversation contrasts with the stiff, dry chatter of the adults.

Nikolai has given up university to join the military alongside his friend Boris. The adults joke about the children’s affections for one another. Sonya loves Nikolai, who flirts with other women to make her jealous. She leaves the room, and Nikolai guiltily chases after her. Boris and Natasha are also in love. He promises to marry her when she is older. The Rostovs’ eldest daughter Vera is beautiful but unlikable. She chastises the other children for their immature behavior. They accuse her of being cold and emotionless. Meanwhile, Anna Drubetskaya and Countess Rostov discuss their worries about their families and their efforts to ensure that their children succeed. Anna Drubetskaya mentions that her financial situation is so bad that she cannot afford to equip Boris for the military. She hopes that Count Kirill Bezukhov, Boris’s godfather, will provide help.

Later, Anna Drubetskaya and Boris visit Kirill Bezukhov’s home. The count is too ill to receive guests, but they discuss the count’s seemingly imminent death with his potential heir, Vasili. While Anna talks to Vasili, Boris passes a dinner invitation from the Rostovs to Pierre.

Countess Rostov asks her husband for money and gives it to Anna Drubetskaya for Boris. Anna is overcome with emotion and thanks her childhood friend.

During the lavish celebratory birthday dinner at the Rostovs’, Pierre sits awkwardly among the guests. One of them, Marya Akhrosimova—”known in society as le terrible dragon, a lady distinguished not for wealth or rank, but for common sense and frank plainness of speech” (61)—scolds him for his drunken pranks. The men talk about the imminent war with Napoleon. Nikolai states, “we Russians must die or conquer” (67), but his youthful patriotism is forgotten when Natasha and the children talk loudly about dessert. After dinner, the adults play cards. Sonya weeps because she loves Nikolai but cannot see a future in which she can marry her cousin. The young Natasha dances with Pierre.

While Pierre dances at the Rostovs’ party, the condition of his father Count Bezukhov worsens. People prepare for the count’s death, and Vasili has a serious discussion with his sister-in-law about the count’s estate. Vasili knows that a new will written in the last year leaves the count’s entire fortune to Pierre, who could inherit everything if he were legitimate. The count has also written, but not sent, a letter requesting Pierre’s legitimization. Vasili suggests that they find and destroy the letter and the latest will, which are in a secret place beneath the count’s pillow.

Pierre arrives to meet with his dying father. Anna Drubetskaya accompanies him, hoping to secure part of the inheritance for her family. The priests say the final prayers for the dying count. Pierre studies his father as Vasili moves around the room. Priests, doctors, relatives, and servants bustle around the count’s bed.

As Vasili and the count’s daughters gather outside the bedroom, Pierre convinces himself not to be suspicious. However, Anna Drubetskaya notices one of the princesses carrying a will and wrestles it away from her. As they argue, the count dies. The next day, Anna tells Pierre that he needs to stand up for himself—she does not know what might have happened to the will if she had not been there to save it from Vasili and the princesses.

The elderly Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky awaits the arrival of his son Andrei and his daughter-in-law Lisa at their country estate in Bald Hills, where Prince Nikolai lives with his daughter Marya. Prince Nikolai insists that people visit him and refuses to travel to Moscow. He busies himself with intellectual pursuits and the education of his daughter, which Marya does not enjoy.

Marya’s friend Julie Karagina writes recounting the social scene in Moscow, particularly the dinner party at the Rostov house. Julie also mentions that Pierre has been legitimized and inherited his father’s fortune, leaving the princesses and Prince Vasili with “very little” (98). Because Pierre is now rich and titled Count Bezukhov, every woman in Russia has been suggested as a possible wife for him. The letter also tells Marya of the plan to marry her to Vasili’s wayward son Anatole. Marya responds that she has known Pierre since they were children and she has always believed that he has “an excellent heart” (101). She also writes that her deep devoutness makes her duty-bound to uphold any vows of marriage she makes.

Andrei and Lisa arrive at Bald Hills. Lisa chats about her pregnancy, bursting into tears and revealing that she is scared of childbirth. Andrei and his father like one another very much but hide their love behind jokes about politics and war. Prince Nikolai laments the modern politicians who have failed to stand up to Napoleon, though Andrei points out the French tactician’s skill as a commander. Nikolai lists all of Napoleon’s mistakes, demonstrating that he is well informed despite his isolation.

The next day, Marya asks Andrei to show their father more respect and to help Lisa through her difficult time: Lisa craves social interaction, but Andrei insists that she must retreat to the countryside while he is away at war. Marya gives Andrei a religious heirloom to wear to keep him safe. He promises to wear it, even though he does not believe in God. Andrei then visits his father, who gives him a letter of recommendation for Commander-in-Chief Mikhail Ilarionovich Kutuzov (a real historical figure). Andrei makes his father promise that if Andrei dies, his son will grow up at Bald Hills rather than in Moscow with Lisa.