Volume 3: Book 12 - Chapter 7

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Location: 

A church


Nicholas goes to church, and sees Mary praying with her whole being, and feels more in love with her than before.

Mary has heard that her brother, Prince Andrew, has been wounded, and is about to set off to be with him.

Nicholas is depressed as he continues to stand by his childhood promise to marry his cousin, Sonja Rostova, and prays to god to release him from the promise.  God works super quickly on this one, and Nicholas receives a letter from Sonya about ten minutes after his prayer.  Sonya has released him from his promise.

Volume 3: Book 12 - Chapter 6

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv
Anna Ignátyevna Malvínyseva
Catherine Petróvna
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Location: 

Anna Ignátyevna Malvínyseva's house


The setting up of Mary and Nicholas has begun, and Nicholas visits Mary.  Mary blossoms into a beautiful woman upon meeting Nicholas again.  

As Mary's father died so recently, it is inappropriate for them to become betrothed, but Catherine and Anna keep relaying romantic information between the two of them. 

Nicholas is struggling, as even though he is in love with her, and doesn't think about her in the same terms as the targets of his flirtations, he also is unable to think of Mary as his wife.

Volume 3: Book 12 - Chapter 5

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv
Nikíta Ivánich and his wife
Anna Ignátyevna Malvínyseva
Catherine Petróvna

Location: 

Provincial Russia, Catherine Petróvna's house

Nicholas is called away from his shameless flirting to speak with Anna Ignátyevna Malvínyseva, who happens to be an aunt of Princess Mary Bolkonskaya. It also happens that Princess Mary is travelling with her aunt.

Nicholas and Anna speak briefly, and he is quickly dismissed.  Catherine Pretróvna calls Nicholas aside, and asks if he would like to be set up with Princess Mary.   Nicholas explains the complication of Sonya to her, but then concurs that he does like Princess Mary very much. 

Volume 3: Book 12 - Chapter 4

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv
Catherine Petróvna

Location: 

Provincial Russia, Catherine Petróvna's house

Nicholas is released from the camps and fighting, and is sent to inspect provincial Russia, where he inspects local militias and buys horses. 

He is invited to Catherine Petróvna's house, and he arrives late, and finds that is an impromptu ball in progress. 

All of the women want his attention, but he ends up flirting with a plump blonde woman who is married.  Her husband is not pleased.

Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 12

Characters Present:

Countess Natalya Rostova
Count Ilya Rostóv
Petya Rostóv
Natasha Rostova

Location:

Moscow


Natalya has spent months in a panic, as both of her sons, Nicholas and Petya have been away fighting.  She is, however, happy about Nicholas wanting to marry Princess Mary, as it could help the Rostov family financially.

Ilya finds a way to calm her by having Petya transferred for further training in Moscow, and by arranging other posts which don't actually involve fighting.

Since Petya has been home, he and Natasha have become silly.  They run up and down the halls of the house laughing, despite the household having to pack up because the French are coming.

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 17

Characters Present:

Julie Drubetskaya
Pierre Bezukhov

Location:

Moscow at a social gathering, hosted by Julie Drubetskaya 

The people at the gathering gossip about the French, who are getting closer to Moscow, and decide that they, the people in polite society, should all stop speaking French now.

The Rostov family come up in conversation, and Julie tells Pierre that she knows that there is a romance between him and Natasha. Pierre denies it.

They then discuss Nicholas Rostov's rescue of Princess Mary Bolkónskaya, and the budding romance between them.

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 14

Characters Present:

Princess Mary Bolkonskaya
Nicholas Rostóv
Dron


Location:

Boguchárovo 

Nicholas calls for Dron, the leader of the peasant's to be brought to him, and Dron is subsequently locked in a cupboard while Nicholas rallies the peasants to load Princess Mary's carts.

He has a conversation with Princess Mary before she departs, and they, unbeknownst to one another, fall in love. Dron is released from the cupboard.

Nicholas feels agitated by the taunts by his comrades, but only because he doesn't know what to do about Sonya, his cousin, to whom he is betrothed.  

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 13

Characters Present:

Princess Mary Bolkonskaya
Nicholas Rostóv
Ilyín
Alpátych

Location:

Boguchárovo 

Nicholas and Ilyín ride into Boguchárovo, which has been between opposing armies for a few days.

Alpátych approaches them, and asks them for help: the peasants will not allow Princess Mary to leave, threatening to unharness her horses if she tries.  They have however, stated that they will serve her, as before, if she stays.

Nicholas goes to speak with Princess Mary, and he seems quite taken with her fragility.  She explains to him what has happened, and he assures her that she will have a safe passage away from the village.

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 7

Characters Present:

Napoleon Bonaparte
Lavrúshka
Thiers
Nicholas Rostóv

Location:

Russia, Moscow

This chapter details the French historian, Thiers' account of Napoleon's battle-journey through Russia.  He says that Napoleon was drawn to Moscow against his will, by the Russian forces. 

It also details a conversation had between Napoleon and the Cossack, Lavrúska, where Napoleon pretends not to be Napoleon, and Lavrúska pretends not to know that he is Napoleon.

They have a circular conversation about who will win the war, then they part ways. 

Lavrúska returns to his master, Nicholas Rostóv, who takes him on a horse-ride around some neighbouring villages to Ilyín. 

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 15

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv



Location: 

Somewhere near Ostróvna

Rostóv leads a charge on some French dragoons, and captures an officer, who has a dimple on his chin. 

He feels depressed and confused over the whole affair.

To add to his confusion, he is awarded a St. Georges Cross, and given command of a hussar battalion.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 14

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv
Ilyín


Location: 

A tavern, somewhere near Vilna, then on a march to Ostróvna


It is 3am, and everyone is still up drinking.  

The quartermaster appears and tells them that they have to get ready to move to Ostróvna. 

They march, and then end up in a battle with the French.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 13

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv
Ilyín
Mary Hendríkovna
Dr Hendríkov


Location: 

A tavern, somewhere near Vilna 

Nicholas and and Ilyín arrive at the tavern, and find Mary Hendríkovna, who is married to the present, but sleeping, regiment doctor.

All of the soldiers flirt with Mary, and she enjoys the attention.  Her husband wakes up from pretending to be asleep, and is cranky about the flirting.  All of the officers find it hilarious.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 12

Characters Present:

Nicholas Rostóv
Zdrzhinski
Ilyín


Location: 

Somewhere near Vilna 

Nicholas is still in the army, and receives a letter from his father, Count Ilyá Rostóv, explaining what had happened to Natasha, and begging him to return home.

Nicholas replies that he cannot leave the army, and in a separate letter to Sonya, says that he would love to leave the army to come and be with her, but he cannot for he would be shamed by his fellow army men. 

It begins to rain, and Nicholas and his protégé, Ilyín, construct a make-shift shelter, and are visited by Zdrzhinski, who is a close-talker who begins to tell a braggy tale about his last enemy encounter.

Nicholas gets irritated, and Ilyín declares that he cannot take anymore of the rain (supposedly), and runs off to find better shelter.  He returns moments later, and rescues Nicholas to a nearby tavern, and Zdrzhinski leaves.

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 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.