Showing posts with label Smolénsk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smolénsk. Show all posts

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 21

Characters Present:

Pierre Bezukhov
Kutúzov

Location:


Borodinó

Pierre arrives at Borodinó, but the battlefield is not what he expected, with the troops on both sides just lurking about in their camps. 

The camps are also not set on either side of a line, but are intermingled, and Pierre asks a nearby officer to explain what their position is. 

A procession comes with some holy men bringing a religious icon, Mary, from Smolénsk.  

Pierre sees Kutúzov bow and kiss the icon, and then have tremendous difficulty rising to his feet because of his great weight.


Wednesday, 6 September 2017

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 8

Characters Present:

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski

Alpátych
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya


Location:

Bald Hill Estate, then Boguchárovo 



When Alpátych returns from Smolénsk, Prince Nicholas finally has the realisation that his household is in danger and everyone goes, except for Princess Mary, who refuses to leave her father, who is insisting on staying to defend Ball Hills.

Prince Nicholas then has a stroke, and becomes paralysed down one side his body, and loses the ability to speak very clearly.  

Princess Mary goes to sit with him, and he manages to tell her that he always thinks of her, thanks her for everything, then asks her to send for Andrew. Mary replies that she had a letter from Andrew saying that Smolénsk was lost, and Prince Nicholas begins to weep. 

Mary goes for a short walk in the garden, and the doctor comes out to say that the old prince has died.

Sunday, 3 September 2017

Volume 2: Book 10 - Chapter 5

Characters Present:

General Bagratión
Prince Andrew Bolkónski
Alpátych

Location:


Near Bald Hill Estate


Prince Andrew takes his regiment along the avenue leading to Bald Hill Estate.  Here he meets Alpátych, who is frightened, and also confirms that Old Prince Nicholas and Princess Mary have gone to Moscow.

He receives a letter from General Bagratión, saying that Smolénsk had fallen, though he didn't understand why, as his men found for 35 hours, and Napoleon's fell back after 14 hours.  General Bagratión goes on to say that the whole army is suspicious of the Imperial aide-de-camp, Wolzogen, and says that he is more Napoleon's man than Alexander's.

All the men go for a swim in the pond as the weather has been hot.