Book 10 RECAP

The war against Russia and France begins.

• Napoleon: Thinks he's invincible, but when his army fails for the first time, he understands the severity and sadness of battle 
• Andrew: Thoughts of death plague him and he is shot at battle
• Pierre: He decides to join the army without knowing a thing about war. He doesn't understand how men fight without fearing death constantly

Important Theme: Blame
                            The French loss is blamed on Napoleon's cold- everyone has an impact on the way an event unfolds. Are things pre-destined or do we forge our own paths? Our actions surely have consequences and lead to the next path we will take.

Book 10, Chapters 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

CHAPTER 31

 Pierre finds himself in the middle of the battle. At first, all the soldiers around him seem annoyed by his presence since he doesn't know what he'd doing. Later on, they seem to not mind his presence. He notices how they all act unaffected by the gunfire and get merrier as the danger approaches. He stumbles around and is shocked by the grapeshot that's fired. He passes out on the ground.

Important Quotes

 "the projectiles that flew over [Pierre], did not see the enemy on the other side of the river, and for a long time did not notice the killed and wounded, though many fell near him. He looked about him with a smile which did not leave his face."

CHAPTER 32

Pierre doesn't know in which direction to run to. He runs into a French soldier and they both fight each other for a bit, now knowing if the other will take them prisoner. The French approach and Pierre realizes that all the soldiers he'd been sitting with before are now dead.

Important Quotes

"[Pierre and the Frenchman] gazed with frightened eyes at one another's unfamiliar faces and both were perplexed at what they had done and what they were to do next. "Am I taken prisoner or have I taken him prisoner?" each was thinking."

Pierre: "Now they will stop it, now they will be horrified at what they have done!" he thought, aimlessly going toward a crowd of stretcher bearers moving from the battlefield.
But behind the veil of smoke the sun was still high"

CHAPTER 33

Napoleon watches the battle of Borodino from his perch. However, he can't make out what is going on very well due to the distance and the smoke. The French and Russians keep on clashing, each making small advances and then falling behind. Eventually, the French rush into Russian forces, trying to save their lives, but ultimately setting the French troops as a whole back.

Important Quotes

"They did not fear getting into trouble for not fulfilling orders or for acting on their own initiative, for in battle what is at stake is what is dearest to man—his own life—and it sometimes seems that safety lies in running back, sometimes in running forward; and these men who were right in the heat of the battle acted according to the mood of the moment."

CHAPTER 34

All the generals ask Napoleon for reinforcements, but at first he sees no need. He thinks his army is invincible. But, soon, he realizes that they are being overtaken and stands in disbelief. He feels a great sense of failure, destruction and mortality.

Important Quotes

 "In former battles [Napoleon] had only considered the possibilities of success, but now innumerable unlucky chances presented themselves, and he expected them all."

CHAPTER 35

Kutuzov is pleased with the outcome of the battle. He knows that it takes the men's spirit to win a war, not a commander. Later on, Wolzogen comes to speak with him with Barclay de Tolly's words, saying that he thinks the Russians should retreat. Kutuzov becomes furious since he knows the Russians have a good shot at winning. He tells Wolzogen to tell Barclay that they will attack the following day.

Important Quotes

"By long years of military experience [Kutuzov] knew, and with the wisdom of age understood, that it is impossible for one man to direct hundreds of thousands of others struggling with death, and he knew that the result of a battle is decided not by the orders of a commander-in-chief, nor the place where the troops are stationed, nor by the number of cannon or of slaughtered men, but by that intangible force called the spirit of the army"

CHAPTER 36

The Russian troops sit restless, ignoring the other men falling around them. They only focus on the seemingly unimportant things around them to distract them from thought of dying. Andrew focuses on a small patch of flowers in some wormwood and suddenly realizes that he loves his life and doesn't want to die. Just then, he is shot in the stomach and peasants bring a stretcher out for him. In the dressing station, many men are dying and someone talks of the victory the Russians have acquired, but Andrew thinks that this victory doesn't mean anything since he is going to die anyway.

Important Quotes

 "When men were killed or wounded, when rows of stretchers went past, when some troops retreated, and when great masses of the enemy came into view through the smoke, no one paid any attention to these things. But when our artillery or cavalry advanced or some of our infantry were seen to move forward, words of approval were heard on all sides."

Andrew:  "But isn't it all the same now?" thought he. "And what will be there, and what has there been here? Why was I so reluctant to part with life? There was something in this life I did not and do not understand."

CHAPTER 37

The doctors begin to work on Andrew's wounds. Next to him he sees another man who is getting his leg amputated. He recognizes him as Anatole. Suddenly, his heart fills with love for Anatole as he remembers why they are connected--through Natasha. He realizes that compassion for all is the best feeling, which is what Mary was always trying to tell him.

Important Quotes

"Hearing those moans Prince Andrew wanted to weep. Whether because he was dying without glory, or because he was sorry to part with life, or because of those memories of a childhood that could not return, or because he was suffering and others were suffering and that man near him was groaning so piteously—he felt like weeping childlike, kindly, and almost happy tears."

Andrew:  "Compassion, love of our brothers, for those who love us and for those who hate us, love of our enemies; yes, that love which God preached on earth and which Princess Mary taught me and I did not understand—that is what made me sorry to part with life, that is what remained for me had I lived. But now it is too late. I know it!"

CHAPTER 38

Napoleon is distraught as he looks upon the battlefield. He only finds comfort in the fact that, for every dead French soldier, there were five dead Russians. Napoleon blames the war on himself, seeing himself as such an influential figure who could start and end a war.

Important Quotes

"the news that some twenty generals he knew personally had been killed or wounded, and the consciousness of the impotence of his once mighty arm, produced an unexpected impression on Napoleon who usually liked to look at the killed and wounded, thereby, he considered, testing his strength of mind."

Napoleon: "Never to the end of his life could he understand goodness, beauty, or truth, or the significance of his actions which were too contrary to goodness and truth, too remote from everything human, for him ever to be able to grasp their meaning."

CHAPTER 39

The soldiers continue to fight, against their will. The Russians lost half of their army and the French were too proud to use any other their guards against them. Both sides were in terrible condition, but the Russian spirit did not let the French overtake Moscow.

Important Quotes

"the question arose in every soul: "For what, for whom, must I kill and be killed?... You may go and kill whom you please, but I don't want to do so anymore!"

Book 10, Chapters 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

CHAPTER 24

 Andrew reflects on the upcoming war. He thinks of his own death and of all the things he loved: women, his dead father, and the fatherland. He thinks that he is sure to die in battle the next day.

Important Quotes

 Andrew: "for the first time in his life the possibility of death presented itself to him—not in relation to any worldly matter or with reference to its effect on others, but simply in relation to himself, to his own soul—vividly, plainly, terribly, and almost as a certainty."

Andrew:  "To die... to be killed tomorrow... That I should not exist... That all this should still be, but no me...."

CHAPTER 25

Andrew talks to Pierre and some others about the war. Later, he keeps telling Pierre that he hates the French and that none of them should be taken captive--they should all be killed. He thinks of Natasha before bedtime and remembers the story of how she got lost in the forest. He feels that he is unlovable, but claims that that is his fate. Pierre feels that this will be the last time he sees Andrew.

Important Quotes

Andrew: "Success never depends, and never will depend, on position, or equipment, or even on numbers, and least of all on position."
Pierre: "But on what then?"
Andrew: "On the feeling that is in me and in him," he pointed to Timokhin, "and in each soldier."

Andrew:  "The French have destroyed my home and are on their way to destroy Moscow, they have outraged and are outraging me every moment. They are my enemies. In my opinion they are all criminals. And so thinks Timokhin and the whole army. They should be executed!"

Andrew:  "I not only understood her, but it was just that inner, spiritual force, that sincerity, that frankness of soul—that very soul of hers which seemed to be fettered by her body—it was that soul I loved in her... loved so strongly and happily..." and suddenly he remembered how his love had ended. "He did not need anything of that kind."

CHAPTER 26

The men prepare Napoleon for battle. They bring him a surprise, a portrait of his son, "the King of Rome." Napoleon gets ready to take over Moscow.

Important Quotes

Napoleon: "No prisoners!" said he, repeating the aide-de-camp's words. "They are forcing us to exterminate them. So much the worse for the Russian army"

CHAPTER 27

Napoleon sends each general orders on how to proceed in the war. However, none of his plans are able to come to fruition and Napoleon is too far away from the war scene to give new orders.

CHAPTER 28

The French loss at Borodino was not blamed on Napoleon, but on all the minute details that may have hindered him in any way. For example, some historians attribute the loss to the cold he had that day, which they said hindered the war effort. Everything is interrelated and people act on their own free will, according to certain people.

Important Quotes

"Many historians say that the French did not win the battle of Borodino because Napoleon had a cold, and that if he had not had a cold the orders he gave before and during the battle would have been still more full of genius and Russia would have been lost and the face of the world have been changed."

"To the question of what causes historic events another answer presents itself, namely, that the course of human events is predetermined from on high—depends on the coincidence of the wills of all who take part in the events, and that a Napoleon's influence on the course of these events is purely external and fictitious."

"At the battle of Borodino Napoleon shot at no one and killed no one. That was all done by the soldiers. Therefore it was not he who killed people. The French soldiers went to kill and be killed at the battle of Borodino not because of Napoleon's orders but by their own volition."

CHAPTER 29

Napoleon continues to prepare for the war. He has a cold and mentions that the human body is merely a machine for living.

Important Quotes

Napoleon: "  Yes, our body is just a machine for living, that is all."

CHAPTER 30

Pierre watches the beginnings of battle unfold. He follows the general down to the crossing on horseback, not really knowing what to do or how to ride.



 
 

Book 10, Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

CHAPTER 17

 Although Moscow is in great danger, the people there seem to ignore it. Julie Drubetskaya holds a party where Pierre and others talk about the recent events of society. They talk of how the young Rostov saved Mary from the rioting peasants and how there is another romance cooking.

Important Quotes

"two voices that speak with equal power in the human soul: one very reasonably tells a man to consider the nature of the danger and the means of escaping it; the other, still more reasonably, says that it is too depressing and painful to think of the danger, since it is not in man's power to foresee everything and avert the general course of events, and it is therefore better to disregard what is painful till it comes, and to think about what is pleasant. In solitude a man generally listens to the first voice, but in society to the second."

CHAPTER 18

Pierre contemplates joining the war, but continuously talks himself out of it. Things in Moscow worsen and he witnesses a Frenchman being flogged by a group of Russians. After that, he decides to join the army and leaves Moscow in a rush. He feels fulfilled by sacrificing everything to become a war hero.

Important Quotes

Pierre: "he felt such particular delight in sacrificing everything. He was not occupied with the question of what to sacrifice for; the fact of sacrificing in itself afforded him a new and joyous sensation."

CHAPTER 19

The battles of Borodino and  Shevardino Redoubt between the French and the Russians are described. Both sides are ill-equipped and the Russian general, Kutuzov, is too prideful to choose a better position for the war than the one he had already chosen before.

CHAPTER 20

Pierre rides out to inquire about joining the army. One his way, he sees many soldiers who are wounded and lying on carts. They all sing and seem happy, despite their wounds. When Pierre talks to the doctor he meets there, the doctor tells him how many men typically die in battle. Pierre is baffled by the number and doesn't understand how the soldiers could think of anything except death itself.

Important Quotes

 Pierre: "They may die tomorrow; why are they thinking of anything but death?"

CHAPTER 21

Pierre goes to a lookout point to see the progress of the war and where the Russian army is. There, he sees some more soldiers carrying an icon of the Smolensk Mother of God. All of them are praying, chanting and singing to it. He sees Kutuzov bow to the icon and kiss it as well.

CHAPTER 22

Pierre runs into Boris who tells him to talk to Kutuzov if he wants to fight. Kutuzov seems unimpressed and not interested in Pierre's request to join the army, but tells him to tag along. Pierre also runs into Dolokhov who asks his forgiveness (after the duel they had years prior).

Dolokhov: "I beg you to forgive me." Pierre looked at Dólokhov with a smile, not knowing what to say to him. With tears in his eyes Dólokhov embraced Pierre and kissed him."

CHAPTER 23

Pierre follows along next to the commander Bennigsen who is quite condescending towards him since Pierre knows little to nothing about battle. Bennigsen orders an ambush troop to move forward into defense, which was not supposed to happen. Pierre knowing nothing of war, goes along with the plan.

 

 

Book 10, Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

CHAPTER 11

Mary's servant girl comes to tell her that all the peasants are outside waiting for her, but not to go to them. Mary still goes out and offers them all the family's grain and shelter to which they refuse. She wonders why they'd refuse her generous offer. They only keep repeating that "we don't agree."

Important Quotes

 Mary: "Ours is a common misfortune and we will share it together. All that is mine is yours," she concluded, scanning the faces before her."

CHAPTER 12

Mary thinks about her father's death and wonders what other things he would have had to say. She remembers how he called her "dearest" and begins to cry.

Important Quotes

"not the face she had known ever since she could remember and had always seen at a distance, but the timid, feeble face she had seen for the first time quite closely, with all its wrinkles and details, when she stooped near to his mouth to catch what he said.
"Dear-est!" she repeated again."

CHAPTER 13

 Rostov, Alpatych, Ilyin, and Lavrushka ride into Bogucharovo where they meet drunk and rioting peasants. There, Rostov meets Mary who is very distressed and he comforts her, taking this moment to prove his manliness.

Important Quotes

 "This meeting immediately struck Rostóv as a romantic event. "A helpless girl overwhelmed with grief, left to the mercy of coarse, rioting peasants! And what a strange fate sent me here! What gentleness and nobility there are in [Mary's] features and expression!"

CHAPTER 14

Nicholas Rostov does all he can to ensure Mary's safety and passage out of Bogucharovo. She begins to fall in love with him and he with her, knowing that she'd be the perfect match for him since she is not only beautiful and kind to him, but also rich. He gets angry with himself, though, for forgetting Sonya.

Important Quotes

 Mary: "Ashamed as she was of acknowledging to herself that she had fallen in love with a man who would perhaps never love her, she comforted herself with the thought that no one would ever know it and that she would not be to blame if, without ever speaking of it to anyone, she continued to the end of her life to love the man with whom she had fallen in love for the first and last time in her life. "

CHAPTER 15

Andrew meets Denisov for the first time as they go to discuss war matters with Kutuzov. Both are reminded of Natasha in each others' company. Denisov tells Kutuzov of his military plan to attack the line of communication, but Kutuzov seems bored with the matter.

CHAPTER 16

Kutuzov and Andrew speak of Andrew's fathers' death and of the war. Kutuzov tells Andrew that he will not declare battle unless everyone wants it. Andrew trusts Kutuzov because he's Russian and because he seems like the kind of man who will not act for himself, but for everyone's good.

Important Quotes

Kutuzov:   "Everything comes in time to him who knows how to wait."

Kutuzov:  "When in doubt, my dear fellow, do nothing."

Book 10, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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."