Book 8, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

CHAPTER 1

 years 1811-12

Pierre has become more and more depressed after Natasha and Andrew's engagement. He moves back to Moscow and starts drinking and partying again. He keeps asking himself what his purpose is and what the world is coming to. He had wanted to save the world and become his own Napoleon, but he still hadn't done anything grand, except freeing the serfs. Each day, he ponders the meaning of life.

Important Quotes

"Sometimes he consoled himself with the thought that he was only living this life temporarily; but then he was shocked by the thought of how many, like himself, had entered that life and that club temporarily, with all their teeth and hair, and had only left it when not a single tooth or hair remained"

"To Pierre all men seemed like those soldiers, seeking refuge from life: some in ambition, some in cards, some in framing laws, some in women, some in toys, some in horses, some in politics, some in sport, some in wine, and some in governmental affairs. "Nothing is trivial, and nothing is important, it's all the same—only to save oneself from it as best one can," thought Pierre. "Only not to see it, that dreadful it!"

CHAPTER 2

Prince Nicholas Bolkonski and Mary also move to Moscow. There, Mary becomes even more isolated, knowing that she'll never marry and even her friend Julie who used to correspond with her, doesn't pay much attention to her. Mary feels herself becoming bitter like her father and hates herself for that. She also despises the fact that her father and the Frenchwoman, Madame Bourienne are having an affair. Her father seems to favor the Frenchwoman over his own daughter.

Important Quotes

Mary: "Having put him in the corner she would herself begin to cry over her cruel, evil nature, and little Nicholas, following her example, would sob, and without permission would leave his corner, come to her, pull her wet hands from her face, and comfort her."

Mary (about her father):  "He is old and feeble, and I dare to condemn him!" she thought at such moments, with a feeling of revulsion against herself."

CHAPTER 3

The chapter opens with Prince Nicholas banishing the French doctor, Metivier, from his house, claiming that he's a French spy. He blames Mary for letting him in. Later on at dinner, he discusses all the events between the Russians and the French with some men, including Boris and Rostopchin. All the men agree that the French are taking over and must be stopped.

CHAPTER 4

Pierre approaches Mary after dinner and tells her that she should marry Boris since he is looking for a wife (currently he is courting Julie, her friend). Mary says that she'd marry anyone at that point to get away from her father. They also talk about Andrew and Natasha and Mary tells Pierre her plan of getting close with Natasha so that her father might grow to like her faster.

Important Quotes

Mary: "Oh, my God, Count, there are moments when I would marry anybody!" she cried suddenly to her own surprise and with tears in her voice. "Ah, how bitter it is to love someone near to you and to feel that..." she went on in a trembling voice, "that you can do nothing for him but grieve him, and to know that you cannot alter this. Then there is only one thing left—to go away, but where could I go?"