Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 6

Characters Present:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova 

Natasha Rostova

Count Ilya Rostóv

Sonya Rostova

Location:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's house, Moscow

The Rostóvs have arrived in Moscow, and since they are selling their Moscow home, they are staying with the cantankerous but seemingly kind-hearted Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova .

Prince Andrew is due to arrive at his father's house in Moscow any day, and Natasha will go to meet Princess Mary on the morrow.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 5

Characters Present:

Boris Drubetskóy
Julie Karagina
Anatole Kurágin
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Location: Moscow

Boris Drubestskóy, in his efforts to marry a rich heiress, decides to pursue Julie Karagina over Princess Mary Bolkónskaya - though he is more attracted to Princess Mary, he finds her too weird.

Julie, 27 and never married, has adopted the demeanor of someone who has suffered terrible injustices, which Boris plays up to by writing melancholy poetry to her. 

Boris cannot bring himself to propose as he sees a falseness to Julie's melancholy, until Anatole Kurágin comes to town with the intention of courting Julie. Boris panics and proposes, and they both leave their angst-ridden states and become joyful.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 4

Characters Present:

Count Pierre  Bezukhov

Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Location:

Moscow

The dinner party ends, and Princess Mary and Count Pierre are left alone.  He tells her that Boris Drubetskóy is looking for a wealthy heiress to marry and that she and Julie Karagina are in his sights. 

Mary bursts into tears and says that she would marry anyone.  Pierre tries to find out what is the matter, but she will not elaborate. 

Mary says that she is nervous about meeting Natasha Rostova and that she is worried about her brother and father having a falling out over the upcoming marriage.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 3

Characters Present:

Dr. Métivier
Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
Mademoiselle Bourienne

Location:

Moscow


Mademoiselle Bourienne has arranged for the new, dashing, French doctor, Dr. Métivier, to come and visit the old prince twice a week.

This goes on for some weeks, until the Prince takes exception to the doctor, and throws him out of the house, ranting about Mademoiselle Bourienne bringing a French spy into his midst. 

Prince Nicholas then summons Princess Mary into his rooms, and she gets blamed for everything, and he shouts at her that she must find someone to marry so that she will go away.

A dinner party is held, and Prince Nicholas rants about the French for a while, and then complains about the doctor.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 2

Characters Present:

Prince Nicholas Bolkónski 

Princess Lisa Bolkónskaya

Mademoiselle Bourienne

Location:

Moscow

Old Prince Nicholas has moved Princess Lisa and Mademoiselle Bourienne to Moscow with him.

Dementia seems to be kicking in - the old prince tends to fall asleep randomly in addition to having a short term memory; and rants frequently about past events. 

Lisa is terribly unhappy with being in Moscow, away from her religious people and is rather lonely.  She catches Mademoiselle Bourienne kissing her father, and gets upset about her father being taken advantage of. 

Her father responds by making Mademoiselle Bourienne even more important in the household, by having all the footmen and so on respond to her needs before Lisa's.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 1

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Location: 

Petersburg then Moscow

Pierre falls into a pit of depression after Prince Andrew Bolkósnki and Natatasha Rostova get engaged, and starts to drink heavily.

His wife, Hélène is embarrassed by his behaviour and sends him to Moscow.

In Moscow, Pierre becomes much happier, giving freely to charities.  He now spends his time reading, drinking and socialising.  He is still unhappy with his wife though, who he describes as unfaithful and stupid.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 12

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Nicholas Rostóv

Sonya Rostova

Countess Natalya Rostova

Count Ilya Rostóv

Location:

The Rostóv home

Nicholas makes the resolve to marry Sonya, and everyone is happy except for the Countess, who was evidently hoping for the money from the match with her friend's daughter.  Nicholas returns to his regiment but intends to leave the army as soon as possible.

Natasha is depressed by the letters that she receives from Prince Andrew and resents that he is out enjoying the world, while she lives only for him, waiting for him to return.

Count Ilya Rostóv goes to Moscow with Natasha and Sonya to sell the Moscow townhouse to prepare some kind of dowry for Natasha. 

End of Book 7

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 11

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv

Sonya Rostova

the Rostóv family

the Rostóv family servants 

Pelegéya Danílovna Melyukóva (a neighbour to the Rostóvs, widow)

Location:

Pelegéya Danílovna Melyukóva's home

The Rostóvs arrive in great merriment at Pelegéya Danílovna Melyukóva's home, and dance and sing and do performances.  Peelgéya's children join in with the festivities.

Nicholas looks over to Sonya, who he realises is beautiful, and goes outside for some fresh air and to wonder what has been holding him back.  Sonya follows him out, and they kiss.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 10

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Sonya Rostova

Nicholas Rostóv

the Rostóv family

Location:

The Rostóv home, Otrádnoe 

It is still Christmas day and the Rostóv children are gathered around, quietly reminiscing about their childhood.

Natasha is still depressed but is convinced to sing. During her performance, the servants come out dressed as mummers, and put on lively performances.

 The Rostóvs also decide to dress up, and then decide to go and visit their neighbours, the Melyukóvas.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 9

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

the Rostóv family

servants

Location: 

The Rostóv home, Otrádnoe

It is Christmas again and Natasha  is missing Prince Andrew Bolkósnki.

She sulks around the house, being petulant and ordering the servants about like a spoilt child.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 8

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv

Countess Natalya Rostova

Sonya Rostova (discussed)

Julie Karágina (discussed)

Location:

The Rostóv home, Otrádnoe

The Rostóv family are still experiencing great financial difficulty, and Nicholas hears his parents speaking of selling the ancestral home in Moscow.

The countess decides that the only way out of this difficulty is for Nicholas to marry a wealthy heiress.  She writes to the Karágina family, and requests a match between Nicholas and their daughter, Julie.  The match is approved, as long as Julie agrees, and it is suggested that Nicholas travel to Moscow to meet her. 

Nicholas can't decide if he wants to marry for love or if he is still in love with his poor cousin Sonya and doesn't end up going to Moscow, even though it would save the family.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 7

Characters Present:

Uncle Rostóv

Nicholas Rostóv

Natasha Rostova

Petya Rostóv

Location: 

Uncle Rostóv's house in a little village called Mikháylovna

It is close to dinner time, and the hunting party find themselves close to Uncle Rostóv's home, and he invites Nicholas, Natasha and Petya for supper.  Uncle Rostóv's serfs marvel at Natasha being on a horse, and carrying hunting equipment.

A delicious supper is prepared the housekeeper, Anísya Fëdorovna, and while eating, Uncle Rostóv and Nicholas remark on Natasha's energy and how admirably manlike it is.  

After dinner, Anísya Fëdorovna plays some Russian folk-songs on guitar, and Natasha dances not like a countess, but like she has the spirit of the Russian people in her.

At 9pm, two traps arrive, sent from the Rostóv home, to bring Natasha, Nicholas and a now sleeping Petya home.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 6

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv

Ilágin

the hunting party

Location:

In the woods on the Rostóv estate

The hunting party come across two other hunters, one of whom is called Ilágin. A fight almost starts, as the  hunters are on the Rostóv land and someones hounds collected a fox that the others hounds had killed.

The misunderstanding is settled, and Ilágin invites the Rostóv hunting party to join them in a hunt for hares on their land.  The Rostóv hunting party accept, and Nicholas and Ilágin exchange compliments regarding the quality of each others hounds.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 5

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv
Daniel (no other name or position given)
the hunting party

Location:

In the woods at the Rostóv Estate

Nicholas sits on his horse, listening to the sounds of the hunt.  He can hear wolves howling, but to his ear, it sounds like something has gone horribly wrong.

A few moments pass and an old female wolf comes out of the scrub, not expecting to see him there.  Nicholas' dogs attack, but the wolf gets away.  It is then caught by Daniel's dogs, and he pounces on it. 

Nicholas goes to stab the wolf, but Daniel instead gags it, and they carry it back on the back of a horse.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 4

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv

Count Ilya Rostóv

Natasha Rostova

Pétya Rostóv (the youngest Rostóv)

Uncle Rostóv

others

Location:

In the woods at the Rostóv Estate

The hunt is organised, and the family, groomsmen and gamekeepers set out to hunt a wolf. 

There is great excitement in the air, though Nicholas frowns at Natasha and Petya for being too frivolous. 

They spot a wolf, and the hounds take off after it.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 3

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv

Location:

The Rostóv home

Winter is setting in, and Nicholas has decided to go hunting, which is one of his great passions.  

Natasha runs in while he is planning to insist that he doesn't go.  Nicholas tells her that they are going wolf-hunting, and he goes anyway.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 2

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv

Mítenka (the Rostóv's steward who manages financial affairs)

Count Ilya Rostóv

Location:

The Rostóv home

Nicholas Rostóv arrives home and spends the first few days being sullen, knowing that he will have to look into what he calls "the stupid financial affairs" of the family.

He storms over to the lodge, where the chief steward, Mítenka, is housed, and shouts at him for some time, calling him a liar and a thief, amongst other unflattering things.

Nicholas returns to the house and his father, Count Ilya Rostóv comes to see him.  The count stands up for the steward, and says gently that Nicholas may have made a mistake in not turning the page in the ledger, where he would see that a previously thought missing 700 rubles had appeared.   

Nicholas maintains that Mítenka is not to be trusted but says that perhaps he should not be involved with the family business dealings.

Volume 2: Book 7 - Chapter 1

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv

The Rostóv family

Location:

Somewhere with the Pávlograd regiment

Nicholas Rostóv is glad to be back with his regiment, where he has taken over command of the squadron from Denísov, instead of being embroiled in the complications of civilian life.

He receives several letters from his mother, beseeching him to return home, as the family affairs are a mess.

Nicholas resists for a time, until he receives a final letter from his mother saying that things have gotten so bad that they might have to sell the estate.  He immediately takes leave and  returns home.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 26

Characters Present:

Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski

Mademoiselle Bourienne

Location:

Bald Hill Estate

Princess Mary receives a letter from her brother, declaring his engagement to Natasha Rostova, apologising for not telling her earlier.

She shows the letter to their father, who goes off in a rant about how Prince Andrew should only marry once he, Old Prince Nicholas, is dead.  He goes on to exclaim that he would like to marry Mademoiselle Bourienne so that Princess Mary and Prince Andrew could have a step-mother.

Princess Mary feels bit down, and influenced by her religious people, she decides to go on a pilgrimage. She changes her mind the next morning, feeling like a sinner, because she loves her father and her tiny nephew more than God.

End of Book 6

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 25

Characters Present:

Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski

Julie Karagina

Location: 

Bald Hill Estate

Old Prince Nicholas' health worsens in the year that Prince Andrew travels abroad, and he is in a much worse temper than usual and acts quite horribly toward Princess Mary.  Recent politics involving the celebration of Napoleon Bonaparte have also gotten the old prince all riled up.

Princess Mary writes to her friend, Julia Karagina, to offer condolences over the recent loss of Julie's brother. 

She also writes that she doesn't think that the rumours of Prince Andrew being betrothed to Natasha Rostova could be true, for they are completely different people and Prince Andrew would never marry again.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 24

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Location:

The Rostóv home

Prince Andrew Bolkónski spends all of his time at the Rostóv home in the weeks leading up to his departure. 

He and Natasha get to know each other a bit better during this time, and it seems that their relationship now feels real as opposed to fake, as it did before.

Prince Andrew insists that the betrothment be kept quiet, so that Natasha would not be shamed should she change her mind about the whole thing while he is gone. 

They discuss Prince Andrew's son, Prince Nicholas, and much to Natasha's disappointment, Prince Andrew decides that it is best if the baby stays with his grandfather.

The family get along well with Prince Andrew.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 23

Characters Present:

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski

Prince Andrew Bolkósnki

Natasha Rostova

Countess Natalya Rostova

Location:

Bald Hill Estate/The Rostóv home

Prince Andrew returns to his father's home to ask permission to marry Natasha.  The old prince grants his permission, but on the condition that Prince Andrew travels abroad for a year.  Prince Andrew agrees and after three weeks, returns to the Rostóv home.

Prince Andrew arrives at the Rostóv home and asks Countess Natalya Rostova for permission to marry Natasha.  Permission is granted, but Countess Rostova doesn't seem super happy about it, seeing how unhappy Natasha has been in recent weeks due to Prince Andrew's silence and absence.

Prince Andrew finally asks Natasha, who sobs with joy, but expresses some dismay at the prospect of a years separation.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 22

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Count Pierre Bezukhov

Location:

The Rostóv home/Count Pierre Berzúkhov's home

Prince Andrew Bolkónski goes to the Rostóv home for the day on invitation of Count Rostóv. 

He spends the entire day with Natasha and all of the Rostóv family can see the romance developing.

Natasha later confides to her mother that she is in love. 

Prince Andrew goes to visit Pierre, who is depressed about his wife, to reveal his plan to marry Natasha.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 21

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Nastasha Rostova

Vera Berg (nee Rostova)

Count Pierre Bezukhov

Location:

The Berg apartments

Pierre notices Natasha Rostova sitting quietly in the corner, looking rather plain, until Prince Andrew Bolkónski arrives, when she comes to life and looks beautiful again.

Vera Berg, having noticed their attraction at the ball starts to meddle, and makes Andrew rather uncomfortable.

Pierre interrupts, and Andrew makes a joke and then pulls Pierre to the side and says that he would like a private word.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 20

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov

Vera Berg (nee Rostova)

Colonel Adolf Berg

Location:

The Berg apartments

The newly-wed couple are now settled into their apartments in Moscow and intend to throw a small party.

Colonel Adolf Berg pays a visit to the Bezukhov household.  Upon being rejected for an audience with Countess Hélène Berzúkhova, he visits Pierre and invites him to the party.  

Pierre can see that his wife Hélène has cruelly rejected the invitation because she considers the Bergs beneath her social station. Pierre agrees to attend and though he is generally late to things, arrives at the party five minutes early. 

Though the party starts off awkwardly with Vera and Adolf disagreeing as how to entertain their prestigious guest, things relax after other people begin to arrive.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 19

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

The Rostóv family

Location:

The Rostóv home

The day after the dinner, Prince Andrew goes about visiting households that he has not yet visited, including the Rostóv home.

He goes there to renew his acquaintance and to also refresh his impressions of Natasha.  Prince Andrew finds her as delightful as before. 

Prince Andrew returns to his home, feeling refreshed and happy.  It doesn't occur to him that he is in love, but he suddenly feels hope for the future and decides to sort out his son's education and to travel around Europe.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 18

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Michael Mikháylovich Speránski

Location:

Speránski's  home

On the day following the ball, Prince Andrew reflects on the pleasant evening that he had, and remembers Natasha Rostóv fondly.

In his office, Prince Andrew has trouble settling in to do his work and regrets having accepted to attend a quiet dinner at Michael Mikháylovich Speránski's home.

Prince Andrew goes to the dinner, and discovers that he doesn't like Speránski nearly as much as he thought he did, and is bored and mildly disgusted by the whole evening.  He leaves, feeling disillusioned with all of the work that he has been putting into legal reforms and the crowd of people he had been associating with.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 17

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Prince Andrew Bolkónski
Count Ilya Rostóv

Location:

The New Years Ball, Petersburg

After dancing with Prince Andrew, Natasha is asked by so many young men to dance that she scarcely has time to rest between each dance.

She finally gets to dance with Prince Andrew again, who is becoming so enamoured by her innocent charm and excitement that he starts to think that he wants to marry her.

Natasha's father, Count Rostóv invites Prince Andrew to visit them.

Volume 2: Book 6 - Chapter 16

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Count Pierre Bezukhov

Countess Natalya Rostova

Location:

The New Years Ball, Petersburg

Natasha despairs as she is left alone with her family against a wall, and is close to tears as nobody is asking her to dance. 

Across the room, Prince Andrew Bolkónski is partaking in some boring political conversations, and mentions to Count Pierre Berzúkhov that he would like to dance soon.  Pierre points out young Natasha standing forlornly across the room, and Prince Andrew excitedly crosses over and asks Countess Natalya Rostova if he can ask Natasha to dance.   Permission is granted, and Natasha very keenly joins Prince Andrew, who becomes ever more enamored with her.