Volume 3: Book 12 - Chapter 2

Characters Present:

Anna Pávlovna
Prince Vasilí Kurágin
others

Location: 

Anna Pávlovna's house, Petersburg


Anna returns from the Emperor's birthday celebrations with news of Kutúzov's resistance against the French.  Rumours are swirling that Napoleon has been captured and that the French have surrendered.  News that Moscow has been given up unsettles everyone. 

News also arrives late in the evening that Countess Hélène Berzúkhova committed suicide by taking too many pills given to her by the Queen of Spain's physician, to treat her angina. Apparently, she had become paranoid that the old count that had married knew that she had written a letter to her other husband, Pierre. 

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 6

Characters Present:

Countess Hélène Berzúkhova

Location:

Petersburg


Hélène has been having an affair with two men, a young Spanish prince, and an older French gentleman.

She is put in an awkward position when she discovers that they are both in Petersburg, but rather than try to conceal that they both exist to one another, she admits it, and convinces the younger one to marry her.  The prince notes that she is still technically married to Pierre, and she says that he was never a husband to her.

While he is off getting advice from the a church, she goes to her country house, and sees her other lover, Monsieur de Jobert who convinces her to convert to Catholicism, which goes nicely with her plans. 

An abbot is brought to Hélène, and after she confesses, she starts to get around wearing virginal white, though it still sounds like she is showing her bosom off a bit. 

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 6

Characters Present:

Anna Pávlovna
Countess Hélène Berzúkhova
General, Prince, Commander-in-Chief Kutúzov
Prince Vasíli Kurágin
Barclay de Tolley

Location:

Petersburg


The social circles are all gossiping about the war, and  Anna Pávlovna's circle has contradictory gossip to Countess Hélène Berzúkhova's social circle.

Prince Vasíli goes to visit Anna Pávlovna on several occasions, and General Kutúzov tends to be the topic of conversation.

Apparently Barclay de Tolley is doing a terrible job at commanding the army, but Kutúzov seems to be ok, though no one really commits to this idea.

Then, Kutúzov gets promoted to Prince Kutúzov, and then, on the same day, also promoted to Commander-in-Chief Kutúzov, even though the Tsar doesn't really like him. Kurágin says that he has always thought that Kutúzov was a man of great merit.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 3

Characters Present:

Tsar Alexander
Countess Hélène Berzúkhova
Borís Drubetskóy
Adjutant-General Baláshev

Location: 

A party at Count Bennigsen's country house in Zakret, in the Vílna province. 

Borís sees Adjutant-General Baláshev approach Alexander. He is unable to move from his position, thus he is the first to learn that Napoleon has crossed the Nieman river, and that Alexander is affronted that Napoleon hadn't even declared war before entering Russia.

Borís hears Alexander exclaim "I will not make peace as long as a single armed enemy stands in our country!".  Alexander is pleased with this turn of phrase, which quickly becomes famous, and he repeats a specifically anti-French version of it later in a letter to Field Marshall Prince Saltykóv.

Alexander then writes to to Napoleon, telling him that they are at war, unless it was a misunderstanding, in which case, Napoleon should just go back over the river. 

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 13

Characters Present:

Countess Hélène Berzúkhova
Natasha Rostova, 
Sonya Rostova

Count Ilya Rostóv
Anatole Kurágin

Location:
Location:

Countess Hélène Berzúkhova's house


The Rostóvs attend the impromptu ball at Hélène's house, and Count Ilya Rostóv wants to leave as soon as possible, due to the loose types that are in attendance.

Natasha is flustered and attracted to Anatole, who dances with her several times, and declares that he is madly in love with her. 

Natasha goes to straighten her dress in a dress straightening room, and Hélène takes her into a little sitting room.  Anatole arrives, Hélène leaves, Anatole once again proclaims his love, and steals a kiss.

Sonya walks in and catches them, and the Rostóvs leave without having the late supper.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 12

Characters Present:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova
Countess Hélène Berzúkhova
Natasha Rostova, 

Location:
Location:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's house


The day after the opera, Hélène visits Natasha at Márya Dmítrievna's house. 

Natasha is quite taken with Hélène, and agrees to go to an event in the evening at her house.

It is revealed that Hélène finds it amusing to try and bring Natasha and her brother, Anatole together. Natasha is embarrassed, but thinks it must not be very serious since the matter is being treated so lightly by the countess. 

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 10

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Countess Hélène Berzúkhova
Anatole Kurágin

Location:
Location:

The Opera

Hélène introduces Anatole to Natasha.  

Natasha and Anatole speak, but the weight of Anatole's gaze on Natasha's face, shoulders and neck makes her intensely uncomfortable.  

Anatole invites Natasha to a costume party, and she does not commit to going.

She is confused about the attraction between them, and feels that she has betrayed Prince Andrew somehow. 

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 9

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Countess Hélène Berzúkhova

Prince Anatole Kurágin

• 
  

Location:

The Opera


Natasha is at first irritated by the spectacle of scantily clad socialites at the opera, and feels that the singing and costumes on stage are too garish.

She finally settles in and begins to enjoy it, and notices that Prince Anatole Kurágin has arrived.  Natasha notes that he is very handsome, and that he cannot stop staring at her. 

Hélène, who is practically bare-chested at this point, joins Natasha for a conversation.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 8

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Count Ilya Rostóv

Sonya Rostova
Countess Hélène Berzúkhova
Boris Drubeskóy
Julia Karagin

• 
  

Location:

The Opera


The Rostóvs go to the opera in the evening, despite Natasha still being upset from earlier events.

The other opera attendees believe that Natasha's beauty is even greater since her time in the country.

The Rostóvs are greeted by Countess Hélène Berzúkhova, and Count Rostóv tells her that he will visit her.

Natasha remarks on Hélène's beauty.

They also see Boris Drubetskóy and Julia Karagina kanoodling.