Volume 3: Book 12 - Chapter 1

Characters Present:

Anna Pávlovna
Bilíbin
Prince Vasilí Kurágin
others

Location: 

A soiree at Anna Pávlovna's house, Petersburg


High society in Petersburg has carried on much as before, but with more tension than usual between some key social circles. 

Gossip ensues at Anna's house, including news that Countess Hélène Berzúkhova has angina, due to the stress of having two husbands.

It is the Emperor's birthday on the morrow, and Anna has received an invitation. 

Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 7

Characters Present:

Countess Hélène Berzúkhova
Marya Dmítrievna Akhrosimova
Prince Vasilí
Bilíbin
Princess Kurágina (Hélène's mother) 

Location:

Petersburg

Hélène wants to distract society gossip from the fact that she already has a husband, so puts emphasis on the problem of having to choose between two suitors.

Marya tells her at a social function that the same (having two affairs, plus a husband) is already done in brothels, but Marya does not carry much social influence in Petersburg, so nobody pays much attention.

Prince Vasilí says that she should make up her own mind, and Bilíbin, Hélèn's friend, suggests that she marry the old count first, so that when he dies, she will get his money, and then she can marry the young Spanish prince.

Hélèn's mother worries that she won't be able to get a divorce, because of the bible.

Hèléne writes a letter to Pierre at his home, even though he is still at Borodíno, asking for a divorce. 

Volume 1: Book 5 - Chapter 9

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski 

Prince Nicholas Andréevich (Bolkónski's baby son)

A letter from Bilíbin

Location:

Bald Hills Estate

Sketch Map III. 1807 Campaign [1]

Prince Andrew receives a letter from Bilíbin, in which Bilíbin rants on and on about all the things that the Russian army is doing wrong.  Prince Andrew reads it and then feels happy when he realises that he doesn't care.

He goes into the nursery to check on his son, and sees the nurse looking unhappy.  Prince Andrew races over to the cot, thinking that his son must be dead, and finds him asleep but a bit sweaty.  Prince Andrew is relieved as this is the most important thing that he has left now.

[1] Tolstoy L, 1993, War and Peace, Wordsworth Editions Ltd, Hertfordshire, p.295

Volume 1: Book 3 - Chapter 11

Characters Present:

Sketch Map II of Austerlitz [1]

Tsar Alexander

Napoleon Bonaparte

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Prince Dolgorúkov 

Bilíbin

General Kutúzov

Location: 

Wischau/Austerlitz 

Tsar Alexander sends Prince Dolgorúkov, as a slight, to meet with Napoleon, who has requested a truce. 

The army march for two days and 180,000 men (French and allies combined) fight the Battle of Austerlitz. 

Prince Andrew and Prince Dolorúkov gossip about Napoleon's character, and argue about what the next strategic move should be, and Bilíbin tells them that they are both wrong because of several people and their locations, which he lists.  

General Kutúzov comes out of a meeting first with Count Tolstóy, and when asked by Prince Bolkónski what tomorrows battle will look like, replies that Count Tolstóy had responded to the same question with "My dear General, I am engaged with rice and cutlets, look after military matters yourself."

[1] Tolstoy L, 1993, War and Peace, Wordsworth Editions Ltd, Hertfordshire, p.205

Book 2 - Chapter 12

Characters Present:

Emperor Francis
Prince Andrew Bolkónski
Bilíbin

Location: 

Palace, then Bilíbin's house

Bolkónski has his audience with the Emperor, and the Emperor's enthusiasm for the victory over Mortier seems to ingratiate Bolkónski to the rest of the court.

Bolkónski returns to Bilíbin's house to see a carriage hurriedly being packed with luggage.  Bilíbin races out and says that Thabor Bridge in Vienna was taken by the French before it could get blown up, and that the Russians were tricked by the French into to not doing so. 

Consequently, the French are now on the move to Brünn and the inhabitants of Brünn are now on the run to Olmütz.  Bilíbin invites Bolkónski to go with him to Olmütz, but Bolkönksi declines and starts packing to return to the army.

Book 2 - Chapter 10

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Bilíbin - A diplomat and Prince Andrew's Russian acquaintance

Location:

Bilíbin's house in Brünn

Prince Andrew is staying with his acquaintance Bilíbin.  They are discussing the war, and Prince Andrew expresses his disappointment with the lack of enthusiasm regarding their victory over Mortier. 

Bilíbin explains that the failures of the campaigns by Archdukes Karl and Ferdinand; the abandonment and subsequent occupation of Vienna; the death of Schmidt;  and the failure of Kutusóv's army to even capture Mortier made their victory look pretty insignificant to the Austrians. He does, however, note that at least the myth of Bonaparte's invincibility has been broken. 

There is to be a meeting between the King of Prussia and the Emperor Alexander, and Bilíbin notes that if Prussia joins the allies, there will be war.