Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 15

Characters Present

Maria Ignatyevna Peronskaya

Natasha Rostova

Location:

The New Years Eve Ball, Petersburg

The Rostóv's finally arrive at the ball with the wealthy old socialite, Maria Ignatyevna Peronskaya, and are greeted equally by the hosts.

Though Natasha feels overwhelmed, this being her first ball, she calms down a bit when she realises that positive whispers are going around regarding to her appearance.

Peronskaya points out who-is-who to Natasha, who spots Prince Andrew Bolkónski across the room.  She is struck by his good looks, and appearance in general. Peronskaya says that she wouldn't waste her time on him, as he is rather proud, but Natasha disagrees.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 14

Characters Present:

The Rostóv family

Location: 

The Rostóv household, Petersburg

Date: 

December 31st, 1809

The Rostóv's have been invited to a socially important New Years Eve ball, to which the Emperor will attend.

The Rostóv women are all racing about trying to get dressed in order to arrive at the ball at 10.30pm.  After many a dress length adjustment, they eventually leave the house at 10.15pm in a carriage. 

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 13

Characters Present:

Countess Natalya Rostova

Natasha Rostova

 Location: 

The Rostóv home, Petersburg

It is bedtime and Natasha runs into her mothers bed and leaps in while her mother is saying her prayers.  The countess affects to be annoyed, but is in truth fond of these occurrences, which happen regularly while Count Rostóv is at his club.

They speak of Boris Drubetskóy and Natalya tells Natasha that she should stop Boris from visiting, as Natasha can not marry him due to his poor finances.  Natasha protests slightly but seems to accept it in good graces. 

The following day, the countess has a quiet word with Boris, who subsequently stops visiting.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 12

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova
Boris Drubetskóy

Location: 

Petersburg

Natasha celebrates her 16th birthday, and remembers that four years ago, her and Boris had made a childish engagement to be married after she turned 16.

Boris returns to Petersburg, and visits the Rostóvs out of politeness.  He cannot afford to marry Natasha due to her families financial woes and their subsequently low social standing, as it would ruin his career. He is also intending to marry a wealthy heiress, who is not named.

Despite Boris' determination to not resume any childish affections with Natasha, he discovers that she has grown into a beautiful young women and starts to spend more and more time at the Rostóv home.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 11

Characters Present:

Lieutenant Berg,
Count Ilya Rostov
Vera Rostova (eldest Rostov daughter)

Location:

Petersburg


Financial matters for the Rostóvs have worsened, and Count Rostóv takes the family to Petersburg, where he seems to take on some kind of administrative position.

Lieutenant Berg proposes to Vera Rostova and the Rostóv family agree, as she is 24 and has not had any proposals prior to this one, despite being relatively attractive.

Berg says that both the groom and bride must bring some money to the marriage, and finally gets sick of waiting to find out what Vera's dowry will be, so goes to ask about it two weeks before the wedding.  The count has been worrying about this for weeks, as most of Vera's dowry was mortgaged or sold. Unable to get out of answering Berg, who says he will have to break off the engagement if he won't tell, the count says that that Vera will have 80,000 Rubles.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 10

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Boris Drubetskóy

Location:

The Berzúkhov household, Petersburg

Pierre makes several entries in his diary, outlining his distaste for his wife Hélèn's friends and his hatred for Boris Drubetskóy who has also joined the Freemasons. 

Pierre goes on to describe his dreams, which indicate that he feels he is not serving God as well as he could.  

Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev (his original sponsor in joining the masons) comes to him in another dream, and tells him that he should be intimate with his wife, as it is wrong to withhold husbandly affections from her.  The next day he receives a letter  from Bazdéev saying that Pierre should have some conjugal visits with his wife.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 9

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Countess Hélène Bezukhova (nee Kuragina)

Location:

The Berzúkhov household, Petersburg

Hélène's exceptional social skills have resulted in the Berzúkhovs becoming highly regarded in the largest social circle in Petersburg - the French circle of Napoleonic alliance.

Pierre notes that Hélène has grown even more beautiful in the two years that they were apart.

He feels anxious about attending Hélène's soirees, which often feature lively conversations around politics and philosophy, as he is worried that her stupidity will be exposed.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 8

Characters Present:

Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev

Hélène Kuragina

Pierre Bezukhov

Location:

Petersburg/Moscow

After his failed speech, Pierre descends into depression.  He also receives word that his wife, Hélène, would like to restore their marriage. 

Pierre goes to visit his mentor Joseph Alexéevich Bazdéev in Moscow for advice, and Pierre is advised to look back to the basic structure of the Masons, and to both forgive his wife and ask for her forgiveness.  Alexéevich also advises Pierre to take a more humble role in the Petersburg Masons, and to quietly guide them away from pride into humility.

Pierre returns to Petersburg, and his wife, Hélène moves back in.