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.