CHAPTER 1
Year 1812
The progress of the war is explained. Those working under Emperor Alexander are divided because Barclay and Bagration, two leading figures in the war, do not want to work together. Napoleon enters Russia, unaware of the harsh winter which leads to the beginning of his fall.
CHAPTER 2
The Old Prince Nicholas reprimands Mary about having told Andrew about him and Madame Bourienne. He blames her for driving him away. Later on, they get a letter from Andrew explaining that they are not safe in Bald Hills anymore because the French army is approaching. The Old Prince doesn't want to hear this and insists that they are safe.
Important Quotes
"Of the war Princess Mary thought as women do think about wars. She feared
for her brother who was in it, was horrified by and amazed at the strange
cruelty that impels men to kill one another, but she did not understand
the significance of this war, which seemed to her like all previous wars."
"The chief reason Princess Mary did not realize the full significance of
this war was that the old prince never spoke of it"
CHAPTER 3
The Old Prince works on his will. He thinks of the old times when he was in the army, wishing to live in the past again instead of the present.
Important Quotes
Prince Nicholas: "Oh, quicker, quicker! To get back to that time and have done with all the
present! Quicker, quicker—and that they should leave me in peace!"
CHAPTER 4
Dessalles, Andrew's sons' tutor, after reading the letter from Andrew tells Mary to send their servant, Alpatych to Smolensk to inquire about Bald Hill's safety. Alpatych goes and notices that everyone there seems to not be moving, despite the far off cannons and gunshots. Everyone seems to be in denial that the war is upon them. He speaks to the governor who hands him a letter saying that everything is under control however, soon after, soldiers invade Smolensk. Alpatych runs into Andrew as he is trying to leave town and Andrew warns that they must leave Bald Hills.
Important Quotes
"All the interests of his life for more than thirty years had been bounded
by the will of the prince, and he never went beyond that limit. Everything
not connected with the execution of the prince's orders did not interest
and did not even exist for Alpatych."
"Why are they leaving the town?" asked Alpatych.
"That's what I say. Folks are foolish! Always afraid of the French."
"Women's fuss, women's fuss!" said Alpatych."
CHAPTER 5
Andrew goes to Bald Hills to reminisce after his father, son, and sister retreat to Moscow. There are soldiers bathing in his pond and he is disgusted by their white flesh. He notices little girls stealing plums from his trees and he lets them, aware of the other side of the war-- the civilians. A letter is written by Bagration warning Arakcheev to not trust the Minister Barclay de Tolly, whom he despises. He says that Barclay is a coward for having the Russian troops retreat from Smolensk so fast.
Important Quotes
"A new sensation of comfort and relief came over him when, seeing
these girls, he realized the existence of other human interests entirely
aloof from his own and just as legitimate as those that occupied him.
Evidently these girls passionately desired one thing—to carry away
and eat those green plums without being caught—and Prince Andrew
shared their wish for the success of their enterprise."
Andrew: "Flesh, bodies, cannon fodder!" he thought, and he looked at his own naked
body and shuddered, not from cold but from a sense of disgust and horror
he did not himself understand, aroused by the sight of that immense number
of bodies splashing about in the dirty pond."
Bagration (about Barclay): "the
whole army feels great suspicion of the Imperial aide-de-camp Wolzogen. He
is said to be more Napoleon's man than ours, and he is always advising the
Minister. I am not merely civil to him but obey him like a corporal,
though I am his senior. This is painful, but, loving my benefactor and
sovereign, I submit."
CHAPTER 6
There are two main circles of gossip about the war: Helene's circle and Anna Pavlovna's. Both have disagreeing views and Prince Vasili is in the middle of these views, changing his opinion to please either side (his daughter and his friend). At first, Vasili speaks badly of Kutuzov who is rumored to take over Barclay's position in the war. However, once he is appointed as Prince, Vasili changed his mind and speaks well of him.
Important Quotes
"In Hélène's
circle the war in general was regarded as a series of formal
demonstrations which would very soon end in peace"
Vasili: "I don't speak of [Kutuzov's] capacity as a general, but at a
time like this how they appoint a decrepit, blind old man, positively
blind? A fine idea to have a blind general! He can't see anything. To play
blindman's bluff? He can't see at all!"
Vasili: "Prince Vasíli repeated the words supposed to have been spoken by
Kutúzov to the Emperor. "I can neither punish him if he does wrong nor
reward him if he does right."
"Oh, a very wise man is Prince Kutúzov! I have known him a long time!"
CHAPTER 7
Napoleon continues his campaign after Smolensk, heading towards Vyazma. There, he meets Rostov's servant, the half-drunk Lavrushka, who does not really have ties to either side of the war and therefore speaks freely to Napoleon and answers all his questions.
Important Quotes
"A good chessplayer
having lost a game is sincerely convinced that his loss resulted from a
mistake he made and looks for that mistake in the opening, but forgets
that at each stage of the game there were similar mistakes and that none
of his moves were perfect. He only notices the mistake to which he pays
attention, because his opponent took advantage of it. How much more
complex than this is the game of war"
Lavrushka: "He knew very well that this was Napoleon, but Napoleon's presence could no
more intimidate him than Rostóv's, or a sergeant major's with the rods,
would have done, for he had nothing that either the sergeant major or
Napoleon could deprive him of."
"Napoleon rode on, dreaming of the Moscow that so appealed to his
imagination, and "the bird restored to its native fields" galloped to our
outposts, inventing on the way all that had not taken place but that he
meant to relate to his comrades."
CHAPTER 8
Mary and the old prince have refused to leave Bald Hills, despite what Andrew thinks. They have remained there where the prince then has a stroke. Mary wishes for his death so that she can be free. Soon after, the old prince calls Mary into the room and tells her that he is sorry for everything and calls her his "dearest"---kind words which he's never said to her before. Mary instantly regrets wishing for him to die and cries. However, the prince soon passes away after having a second stroke.
Important Quotes
"He declared that
he did not wish to remember her existence and warned her not to dare to
let him see her. The fact that he did not, as she had feared, order her to
be carried away by force but only told her not to let him see her cheered
Princess Mary. She knew it was a proof that in the depth of his soul he
was glad she was remaining at home and had not gone away."
Mary: "Thoughts that had
not entered her mind for years—thoughts of a life free from the fear
of her father, and even the possibility of love and of family happiness—floated
continually in her imagination like temptations of the devil."
Prince Nicholas: "Thank you... daughter dear!... for all, for all... forgive!... thank
you!... forgive!... thank you!..." and tears began to flow from his eyes.
"Call Andrew!" he said suddenly, and a childish, timid expression of doubt
showed itself on his face as he spoke."
CHAPTER 9
The peasants in Bogucharovo are uprising. Everything is falling into chaos and not even Andrew's previous attempts to free them make them happy. Alpatych speaks to the leader of the serfs, Dron, who is a respected, strong man. Even he doesn't know what to do and cries that the serfs have lost control. Alpatych says he'll speak to the police about this.
Important Quotes
"Alpatych did not insist further. He had managed people for a long time and
knew that the chief way to make them obey is to show no suspicion that
they can possibly disobey."
CHAPTER 10
Everyone warns Mary to leave Bogucharovo after Prince Nicholas's death. At first, she refuses, but soon realizes the danger she's in. She calls for Dron and asks him where the horses are for her to go. He tells her that they have all died and that everybody is starving. She tells him to give the serfs all their grains. Dron keeps on asking her to discharge her from her service, which she doesn't understand why.
Important Quotes
"To Princess Mary it was strange that now, at a moment when such sorrow was
filling her soul, there could be rich people and poor, and the rich could
refrain from helping the poor."
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