War and Peace

Andrei has vengeance on his mind. He harbors a grudge against Anatole for destroying his engagement to Natasha Rostov. He pursues Anatole to Saint Petersburg and intends to challenge him to a duel, but he arrives too late: Anatole has joined the army and been sent out of Russia. Andrei meets with his friend General Kutuzov and agrees to join the old general’s staff. Kutuzov will take command of a unit in the region where Anatole is hiding. By the time Andrei and Kutuzov arrive, however, Anatole has already returned to Moscow.

Andrei refuses to give up his pursuit. He requests a transfer to the western part of the army, now stationed in Bucharest. Kutuzov agrees and arranges for Andrei to be a part of a unit under the command of Barclay de Tolly (a real historical figure). In the meantime, Andrei takes leave to return home to Bald Hills. He is stunned by how little the estate has changed in the three years he has been away. However, the people inside the house are quite different. His father and his sister are at war. Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky and Mademoiselle Bourienne have joined forces against Marya, the staff, and the old prince’s nurses. When Andrei tries to intervene on his sister’s behalf, his father becomes enraged and sends him from the property. Andrei is upset about what has happened to his sister and feels guilty about his father’s decline. He also spends time with his young son. The episode with his family makes Andrei reconsider his lust for revenge. He loses any sense that there is purpose or meaning to the world.

Andrei joins Barclay de Tolly in June. He does not have a specific role in the unit, but he observes the troops and meets with the high command. De Tolly’s army is one of three main parts of the Russian military. General Bagration and General Tormasov command the other two. The men who surround the tsar are divided into factions and give him competing advice. The German faction adheres to strict military theory and the science of warfare; other factions favor a more spontaneous approach, while a third set seeks to find a middle ground between these two positions. The opportunists who hang around the emperor hoping to further their own personal status or somehow achieve glory make up yet another faction. All the factions compete for the tsar’s attention. The lack of cohesion, Andrei worries, is a threat to the army’s success.

The tsar invites Andrei to the war council. The meeting reminds Andrei of the time before the Austerlitz campaign four years earlier. Andrei does not believe in the science of warfare. He believes that random factors such as the moral strength of soldiers cannot be planned. The generals discuss the genius of Napoleon with apparent awe. Their impression of the French emperor does not match Andrei’s memory of the short man who inspected the dead after battle. Andrei reflects on what it means to be a leader. A true leader, in his opinion, cannot be a genius. The endless details and alternatives will distract a thoughtful man, while a less intelligent man will be more focused on his end goal. Thus, the less intelligent man will plan more successfully. The tsar asks Andrei where he would like to be stationed, and Andrei asks to be sent to the front line.

Nikolai Rostov learns that his sister Natasha has ended her engagement to Andrei Bolkonsky. He is relieved that he is stationed with the army and cannot return home to deal with the situation. Instead, he writes to Sonya. He is still certain that he will marry her, and he promises to do so when he next returns home. Nikolai’s squadron prepares for battle. Just before dawn, they are ordered to attack the French soldiers. A young soldier named Ilyin is now a part of the unit. He looks up to Nikolai, believing him to be a hero. The relationship between Nikolai and Ilyin reminds Nikolai of his own admiration for Denisov. The Russian soldiers ride into battle, and Nikolai feels the thrill of warfare again. Coming up against a Frenchman, Nikolai lifts his sword, but when he sees the expression of fear on the French soldier’s face, he can no longer kill the man. Nikolai is overcome with a sudden rush of doubt. He reconsiders the idea of war, his place on the battlefield, and the nature of bravery. Nikolai takes the French soldier prisoner. After the battle, he is awarded the cross of Saint George, the highest honor in the Russian military, for his immense courage.

Natasha is overcome with sadness. Her suicide attempt leaves her seriously ill. Her family moves into their Moscow home, and she lies in bed throughout the long, hot summer while she gradually recovers her strength. However, she can no longer laugh or sing without breaking into tears. The only times that she feels revived are when Pierre visits. She also finds solace in religion, praying every day for repentance.

Pierre realizes that he is in love with Natasha. His love for her fills his days as she recovers from her suicide attempt. But when she is no longer in need of his pity or sympathy, he does not know what to do. An acquaintance tells Pierre that the Bible contains a coded prophecy that foretells of the arrival of an ominous beast named Emperor Napoleon. However, when Pierre realizes that his own name also fits the code, he feels a universal connection between himself, the Great Comet, his love for Natasha, and the war with France. Pierre believes that an imminent crisis will result in his greatest achievement and happiness. He is tempted to join the army, but instead, he waits for his mission in life to become clear.

One day, Pierre visits the Rostovs for dinner and overhears Natasha singing for the first time since her suicide attempt. While he listens, her younger brother Petya jumps at Pierre and begs the older man to help him secure a place in the army. Petya’s parents are annoyed at his desire to join the military. Something about Natasha’s presence makes Pierre feel uncomfortable. He decides to leave the dinner early, but Natasha asks him why. Mumbling a half-hearted response, Pierre looks Natasha directly in the eye and comes close to revealing his love. Natasha blushes. She understands his feelings for her. Pierre leaves the Rostovs and decides that he cannot visit them or Natasha again.

Petya is adamant about his desire to join the army, so he writes for permission from the emperor. A large crowd gathers outside the Kremlin palace in Moscow to await the tsar’s return. Petya joins the crowd and is nearly trampled in the chaos. At home, he threatens to run away if he is not allowed to join the army. Eventually, Count Rostov relents. He asks his friends about the least dangerous positions that might be suitable for his youngest son.

Pierre is one of the many nobles in the palace when Tsar Alexander returns. Many of these men have preplanned speeches that they deliver with passion, calling on the army and the peasants to make sacrifices in the name of the country. Pierre cannot ignore their remarks. He stands up and delivers his own speech. In his reserved, intellectual, and halting fashion, he calls on the tsar’s counselors to think before they act. His call for a more measured approach is met with anger. The other nobles shout at him, and a riot nearly ensues. The tsar requests that every nobleman recruit and equip 10 men from every 1,000 in their region. The tsar thanks the men for their support. The audience weeps, including Pierre. He feels a sudden and intense desire to sacrifice everything for his country and for the tsar.