War and Peace

by Leo Tolstoy

An Amateur’s Progress

Progress Report Number 2

April 21, 1998

My Signet Classic soft cover edition is divided into four books within a single volume. I am now at the end of Book II (p. 726 of 1456). The Britannica set of Great Books edition (as well as Cliff Notes) divides the work into Parts 1-15, with two epilogues. My Book II ends at the midway point of the book, and it comprises Parts 4-8 of the Great Books edition.

Whereas most of Book I was set during war time, Book II deals mainly with the same major characters during a time when peace has been concluded between France and Russia during the period of 1806-1812.

Lisa Bolkonsky has been living in her father-in-law’s home with her husband’s sister, Princess Marya. As the days for Lisa’s delivery of their first child drew near, news reached their home of Prince Andrei’s probable death in battle at Austerlitz. Lisa was not told this for two weeks. Prince Andrei made an unexpected and timely return on the evening of Lisa's delivery. Although she was assisted by a doctor and a midwife, Lisa died during childbirth after seeing her husband upon his safe return for only a brief minute or two during labor.

Prince Andrei left most of the nursery duties for his son in the hands of his sister and a wet-nurse. He even moved out of the house to settle on a nearby estate his father set aside for him as an advance on his inheritance. He was very melancholy following his near-death experience, and he had no desire to perform any furthur military or civic duty. He remaind that way until a visit by his old friend, Pierre Bezukhov and a chance meeting with Natasha Rostova.

Pierre told Prince Andrei how, until recently, he felt his life was miserable due to his unhappy marriage which led to jealousy and even a duel with Dolokhov, a man he nearly killed. Pierre told how his discovery of life’s meaning, through his conversion to Freemasonry, had led him into all kinds of new activity, like freeing the serfs on his estates. The discussion Prince Andrei and Pierre had about whether it would be good or bad for the serfs to be free was the first time since his return from the war that Prince Andrei was stirred up by concerns outside himself and his family.

In the spring of 1809, Prince Andrei went to visit the Ryazan estates as trustee for his son’s recent inheritance. While there, dealing with Count Ilya Andreyevich Rostov, the marshal for that region, he chanced upon Rostov’s daughter, Natasha, as she was playing and talking joyously with other young girls. Andrei was drawn into an inner "turmoil of youthful thoughts and hopes, contrary to the whole tenor of his life," in seeing this beautiful girl with such a positive outlook on life. He concluded that "life is not over at 31." He began to take interest in reforming the military regulations, and became a close associate of Speransky, the administrative secretary and assistant to Emperor Alexander I.

At a Grand Ball where the Emperor made an appearance, the same Grand Ball that was the first for our heroine, Natasha, Prince Andrei was again struck by Natasha’s beauty, and was formally introduced to her by Pierre Bezukhov, a friend of the two families. Prince Andrei and Natasha enjoyed several dances together, and the two fell in love. Natasha’s family was somewhat scared of this romance, Prince Andrei being so much older than Natasha (age 16), of so prominent a family, and indeed, a very important man in his own right. Nevertheless, after a short courtship, Prince Andrei proposed marriage, and it was agreed upon. Unfortunately, Prince Andrei’s father was not in favor of this union, and he commanded a year’s engagement during which time Natasha would free to choose another to wed if she desired, and no public announcement would be made of the engagement until the year was up.

The Rostov family continued to be a happy one, in spite of financial woes and the pall of Natasha’s having to wait through that year-long engagement, in the absence of her betrothed, who was away in Italy at a health resort. Natasha’s brother, Nikolai, spent a couple of military leaves at their home, one before and one after the engagement. On the first one, he brought home his Hussar (calvary) Captain Denisov. The two had a terrific time--like two soldiers would on a leave. Denisov was so taken with Natasha that he proposed marriage to her. Her parents refused permission. Though he was a nice and honorable man, he was too old for her and completely out of her class. He was not too ruffled by this disappointment, but continued on good terms with Nikolai as they returned to their military unit. Nikolai was later summoned home by his mother for a second leave so that he could help his father with financial management that was bringing ruin upon the family. Nikolai hadn’t the slightest idea how to do this, but came home anyway, and there can be found here some excellent wolf, fox, and hare hunting scenes described by Tolstoy. Nikolai pursued his childhood romance with his cousin, Sonya, who lived with the Rostovs. This is very much against the wishes of the Rostovs, but mostly because they had hoped to salvage their financial straits by arranging a prosperous marriage for Nikolai.

As the year of her engagement drew near to completion, Natasha traveled with her father and Sonya to Moscow to meet the Bolkonsky family and so that Count Ilya Rostov could sell their big house. Besides, they needed to buy a trousseau for Natasha. Her mother, Countess Natalya Rostova, was too ill to make the trip.

Natasha and her father visited Prince Andrei’s home unannounced. The old Prince Nikolai refused to see them at all, but Princess Marya did receive them. Count Ilya excused himself so the Princess and his daughter could get better acquainted. It was a very awkward visit, especially with Mademoiselle Bourienne in the room with them the whole time. No one even brought up Prince Andrei during the entire interview. At one point, the old Prince stormed in wearing his pajamas, and excused himself saying he didn’t realize his daughter had company. Later, Princess Marya sent a letter to Natasha in apology.

The Rostov family stayed in Moscow with a friend or distant relative, Marya Dmitrievna, a very pious and socially prominent woman of independent means. This woman handled the purchase of Natasha’s trousseau while Count Ilya concluded his real estate deal. She also got them tickets to an opera for entertainment. It is there that Natasha was admired and sought after by Prince Anatol Kuragin, the brother of Pierre’s wife, Princess Elena, who is the social rage of all Petersburg and Moscow. We’ve met Anatol before. Remember his behavior when he went with his father to meet Prince Andrei’s sister, Marya, and their father in Book I? Well, he hasn’t changed.

Anatol moved in on Natasha like a real snake. He had this way of looking into her eyes that made her feel there was no "moral barrier" similar to what she had perceived with all other men she had met. This was very uncommon and puzzling to Natasha, especially being engaged. She made no protest as Anatol payed her an undue amount of attention, and he pressed her arm and hand warmly as he helped her into her carriage at the conclusion of the evening. Natasha din’t know what she should do. She felt that she had somehow violated Prince Andrei’s trust by allowing Anatol to go so far with her. She wished her mother were there to help her with this quandary.

When Natasha received a clandestine letter from Anatol, she was convinced of his love for her. When Sonya discoverd the letter, she confronted Natasha in unbelief with the strange circumstances of all the secrecy surrounding Anatol’s dealings with her. Natasha insisted on his pure motives and his ardent love for her, and she became angry with Sonya. Without consulting her father or mother, Natasha answered Princess Marya’s letter saying that the marriage was now impossible.

Anatol planned an elopement, and Sonya surmised this was his plan. She alerted Marya Dmitrievna, who set a trap to detain Anatol. Unfortunately, Anatol escaped, but word of the attempted elopement leaked out. Natasha tried to poison herself. As a friend of the Rostovs and the Bolkonskys, Pierre was consulted. He tried to intercede on Natasha’s behalf with Prince Andrei, but he was stiffly rebuffed in this attempt. The Bolkonskys would have nothing further to do with Natasha. It was a tragic end to this engagement that seemed destined to end in a marriage so full of promise.

Pierre Bezukhov emerged as a really good man in this book. He was often somewhat of a bumbling fool who made no attempt to appear prominent at his wife’s numerable soirees and social functions. Because he lacked perseverance, he was inept at executing his commendable plans for freeing his serfs. He couldn't seem to overcome his carnal ways with the ladies while carousing with the boys. He did try to live according to the creed of Freemasonry, however, and he was a man who placed a high priority on satisfying the demands of friendship, honor, and decency.

Copyright 1998, Herman Fontenot

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