Book 11, Chapters 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

CHAPTER 18

 Pierre had ended up in Moscow after the battle and went to his old benefactor's house to stay. There, he met Gerasim, an old man, who supplied him with peasants clothing and a rifle. Pierre also received a letter from Helene informing him about everything.

*Is Pierre dressing as a peasant to get out of fighting the battle at Three Hills?*

Important Quotes

Pierre:  "He felt that everything was now at an end, all was in confusion and crumbling to pieces, that nobody was right or wrong, the future held nothing, and there was no escape from this position."

CHAPTER 19

 Napoleon reached Moscow and is in awe of how beautiful and full of life it is. Little does he know that everyone has abandoned the city and all that's left are drunks on the streets. He contemplates overtaking Moscow, but out of respect for Alexander and his own image, doesn't.

Important Quotes

"The view of the strange city with its peculiar architecture, such as [Napoleon] had never seen before, filled Napoleon with the rather envious and uneasy curiosity men feel when they see an alien form of life that has no knowledge of them. "

"Every Russian looking at Moscow feels her to be a mother; every foreigner who sees her, even if ignorant of her significance as the mother city, must feel her feminine character, and Napoleon felt it."

 Napoleon: "One word from me, one movement of my hand, and that ancient capital of the Tsars would perish. But my clemency is always ready to descend upon the vanquished. I must be magnanimous and truly great. But no, it can't be true that I am in Moscow," he suddenly thought. "Yet here she is lying at my feet, with her golden domes and crosses scintillating and twinkling in the sunshine. But I shall spare her."

CHAPTER 20

Moscow is compared to an abandoned bee hive. Napoleon is informed of its abandonment.

Important Quotes

"In a queenless hive no life is left though to a superficial glance it seems as much alive as other hives."  

CHAPTER 21

The soldiers keep on looting stores on the way to Moscow. A shop-owner runs out to implore the guards to make their soldiers stop robbing, but they continue to do so.

CHAPTER 22

A young officer apparently related to the Rostovs goes to their old house to see if his uncle is still there. The Rostovs have already left, but their housekeeper, Mavra Kuzminichna, greets him and gives him some money.