Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 3

Characters Present:

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski 

Location:

Bald Hill Estate



Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski spends all evening in his study, preparing his final "remarks" which will be sent to the Tsar after he dies. He also wishes to send a note to the governor and orders paper to do it on.

He finally feels ready to go to bed, and has his servant move his bed around the halls, until he finds a place where he hasn't already slept, and spent too much time thinking terrible things. This place is in the corner behind the grand piano.

Prince Nicholas remembers that he received a letter from Prince Andrew at dinner, and it seems to dawn on him how close the French army is, and then he has a flashback to his time in the army.

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 2

Characters Present:

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski 
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
Mademoiselle Bourienne
Dessalles
Michael Ivánovich

Location:

Bald Hill Estate


Prince Nicolas blames Princess Mary for his argument with Prince Andrew, but appears to get over it within a week. He also ends his affair with Mademoiselle Bourienne.

He doesn't acknowledge that the war is happening, and makes plans to make improvements to the estate. 

A letter arrives from Prince Andrew, warning that the battle is extraordinarily close to Bald Hill Estate, but Prince Nicholas doesn't listen, and insists that the French won't make it beyond the Niemen River.

Everyone looks embarrassed.

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 1

Characters Present:

Napoleon Bonaparte
Tsar Alexander
Pfuel
General Bagratión
Petya Rostóv
Toll
Barclay de Tolley
Nevérovski

Location:

Russia

A general discussion of how the emperors approached the war, plus some highlights regarding army movement and town destruction.

Tsar Alexander left the army after a while, so that the men could be focused on one leader. 

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 22

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Count Ilya Rostóv'
Tsar Alexander
Count Rostopchín
A whole lot of new and old military men - some in uniforms from Catherine's reign, some in uniforms from Alexander's reign.

Location: 

Slobóda Palace

Count Rostopchín enters the room to announce that the Emperor will soon join them and they had better come to some agreement.

The nobles all make a hasty agreement to build the army against Napoleon by providing and furnishing ten serfs from every thousand.

Alexander enters, and is overwhelmed with the support, and weeps during his speech.  

Pierre is so moved that he approaches Count Rostopchín, and pledges a thousand men and their maintenance. 

END OF BOOK 9

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 22

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Count Ilya Rostóv
A whole lot of new and old military men - some in uniforms from Catherine's reign, some in uniforms from Alexander's reign.

Location: 

Slobóda Palace


There is an assembly of military men at Slobóda Palace, and the halls are full.

A general discussion takes place as to how the army may best serve Russia.  Pierre disagrees with some people, who, in turn, disagree with him.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 21

Characters Present:

Petya Rostóv

Location: 

Moscow

Petya sneaks out to go and see Tsar Alexander, who has just arrived in Moscow, meaning to petition him directly to join the army.

The crowds are too great though, and Petya gets a crushed.

He is revived by some church people and waits outside the building where the Emperor is eating, for the Emperor to come out and address the crowd.

When Petya returns home, he tells his father that he should be allowed to join the army, or he will run away. The following day, Count Rostóv starts to inquire about safe posts to where Petya could be sent.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 20

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova
Count Pierre Bezukhov
Uncle Shinshín
Natasha Rostova
Count Ilya Rostóv
Sonya Rostova
Countess Natalya Rostova
Petya Rostóv

Location: 

A small dinner party at the Rostóv home

Pierre arrives at the Rostóv's, and enters to find Natasha singing alone.  They have a conversation full of unspoken words and blushing.

They join the rest of the family, who are discussing the war. Petya, who is now 15, begs his father to join the army, but is told that he is too young.

Pierre becomes agitated by Natasha's stares at him, and leaves. Natasha follows him out, asking if she has upset him, and he only manages to kiss her softly before leaving, intending not to return. 

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 19

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova
Pierre Bezukhov


Location: 

Not at the Rostóv's, but somewhere nearby

Pierre realises that he has fallen in love with Natasha Rostova.

He also plays some number games with the French alphabet, and realises that Napoleon's name, when reduced to numbers, becomes reduced to 666, so Pierre concludes that Napoleon is the Antichrist and that the apocalypse will happen soon.

Pierre receives a list from the army of wounded, dead and awarded, and sees Nicholas Rostóv's name on there for bravery, and sends news to the Rostóvs. 

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 18

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Location: 

The Razumóvskis' private chapel


Word has reached Moscow that Napoleon will trample the Russian army soon, and that this is the reason that Alexander is no longer in it. 

Natasha attends a service at the Razumóvskis' private chapel, where she reflects on her previous "bad" self, and her current "good" self.  

The deacon goes into a long monologue of prayer, including the following for the army - "...gird their loins with strength for the fight."

Natasha prays for forgiveness for her and everyone else, and prays for peace and happiness for herself, which is granted.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 17

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova
Count Pierre Bezukhov
Agraféna Ivánovna Belóva


Location: 

The Rostóv home

Natasha's spirits are still a bit low, but recover sligthly when she spends time with Pierre. She doesn't feel that she could fall in love with him though, as he is a married man.

Agraféna Ivánovna Belóva, a country neighbour of the Rostóvs, suggests that Natasha starts to fast and prepare for holy communion, in the lead up to the end of the fast of St Peter.

Natasha attends church and so on, and feels her spirits begin to shift for the better.