Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 16

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova
Countess Natalya Rostova 
Sonya Rostova
Lots of doctors and healers

Location: 

The Rostóv home, Moscow

Natasha's condition has worsened: she is thin, cannot eat and has little energy.

Countess Natalya Rostov joins her daughter, niece and husband in Moscow, and pays all sorts of medical people to come and see Natasha. There is nothing physically wrong with any of Natasha's organs, vital or otherwise, but they give her a lot of medication anyway, which is slightly harmful. 

One of the doctors notes that Natasha's condition is primarily mental, and sure enough, after some time, her grief begins to fade, and she starts to recover physically. 

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 9 - Chapter 11

Characters Present:

Tsar Alexander
Prince Andrew Bolkónski
Pfuel
Chernyshev
Marquis Paulucci
Prince Peter Mikháylovic Volkónski
General Armfelt
Baron Stein
Wolzogen


Location: 

Bennigsen's quarters

All of the men present have a heated discussion about strategy against Napoleon, who is now regarded with terror.

At the end of the meeting, Prince Andrew is asked where he would like to serve. He chooses to serve in the army instead of serving Tsar Alexander directly, and loses his social standing forever in Russia.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 10

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski
Pfuel - A German theorist general

Location: 

Bennigsen's quarters

Prior to the letter being delivered to Alexander, Prince Andrew is summoned to see him at Bennigsen's quarters to discuss the events in Turkey. 

Andrew meets Pfuel there, who is described as having typical German confidence (which is more repulsive than the other confidences) drawn from a belief in truth and science.

There is then a description of where other nationalities draw their confidence from: the Italians from being excitable; the French for being sure that both men and women find them attractive; the English from being from the best organised state; and finally, the Russians, who draw their confidence from knowing that they do not know anything and do not believe that there is anything to be known.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 9

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Location: 

The Army

Prince Andrew rejoins the army, and learns what each of the eight factions are about.

Anatole Kurágin is still not about, and Andrew learns that he has returned to Petersburg.

One of the factions wishes for Tsar Alexander to quit the army, and a letter is written to that effect.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 8

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski
Anatole Kurágin
General Kutúzov
Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski,
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
Mademoiselle Bourienne
Prince Nicholas Bolkónski

Location: 

Russia, then Turkey, then Bald Hill Estate

Prince Andrew rejoins the army under General Kutúzov, hoping to run unto Anatole, so that he can challenge him to a duel about something new, as to not further tarnish Natasha's name. 

He is unsuccessful, and eventually returns to Bald Hill Estate. Andrew finds everything much the same there: Princess Mary unhappy; his father still cantankerous but now missing a tooth; and Mademoiselle Bourienne still influencing matters where she should have no influence. He does find that his son, Nicholas has grown, and looks much like his late wife.

Prince Andrew has a fight with his father, and leaves the following day to return to the army without saying goodbye, despite Mary begging him to stay and speak to him, as the old prince might die soon.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 7

Characters Present:

Adjutant-General Baláshev
Napoleon Bonaparte 
Bessiérs
Caulauncourt
Berthier

Location: 

Vílna

Despite Baláshev thinking that he would not see Napoleon again, was invited to dine with him and some others that very evening. 

Napoleon is most pleasant throughout the meal, treating Baláshev as one of his own courtiers instead of someone associated with the enemy. 

Eventually Baláshev is taken aside by Napoleon who asks why Alexander has surrounded himself by his personal enemies, to which Baláshev does not reply.

Baláshev thinks that Napoleon is working himself up to another rant, but Napoleon instead tugs Baláshev's earlobe - the highest mark of honour to have bestowed on one by a French emperor. 

The letter that Baláshev takes to Alexander is the last that Napoleon ever sends to him, and it relays the details of Baláshev's interview with him, including the ear-tugging.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 6

Characters Present:

Adjutant-General Baláshev
Napoleon Bonaparte 

Location: 

Vílna

Baláshev is finally taken to see Napoleon, who is cordial to him at first and insists that he has not started the war. 

Baláshev tries to negotiate the Russian position with him several times but gives up as Napoleon descends into a shouty rant about how the Russians will crushed by his magnificent army.

At the end of his rant, Napoleon says that he is still as devoted to Alexander as he was before, and that he shall prepare a letter for Baláshev to take to him.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 5

Characters Present:

Adjutant-General Baláshev
Marshal Davoût

Location: 

A peasant's hut, then Vílna

Baláshev is taken to Marshal Davoút, who is described as being to Napoleon as Arachéev was to Alexander - that is high ranking, but as present as a wolf is in nature, which how he kept his position with gentle, noble Alexander, despite being precise, cruel and cowardly in the face of danger. 

Davoût continues to write at a makeshift desk outside a peasant's hut as Baláshev approaches, and the more animated Baláshev seems, the longer Davoût ignores him.

Eventually Baláshev manages to explain his rank and purpose, which makes Davoût even less respectful, and he takes the missive from Alexander. 

Baláshev is led around with the French for a few days, and is eventually taken back to the very house in Vílna that he had been dispatched from four days earlier, to have an audience with Napoleon.  The French had taken the village. 

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 4

Characters Present:

Tsar AlexanderAdjutant-General Baláshev, 
Murat, who has recently been crowned the King of Naples by Napoleon
Marshal Davoût

Location: 

Rykónty, then a mile and a half beyond, and then onto the next village.

At 2am, Alexander gives Baláshev his letter to be delivered to Napoleon.

Baláshev leaves immediately, and finds a French outpost in Rykónty.  The men there say they will take him to Napoleon, and he is instead taken to Murat, who seems to be a stupid and smug kind of person.

Murat argues that Alexander is the agressor, not Napoleon, and after some time, eventually wishes Baláshev well in completing his mission.

Baláshev, hoping he will now be taken to Napoleon, as it is now close to lunchtime, is instead taken onto the next village, to meet Marshal Davoût.

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 9 - Chapter 2

Characters Present:

Napoleon Bonaparte

Location: 

Dresden, Posen, Thorn, Danzig, Königsberg, Vilkavisski forest, and finally, crossing the Niemen river

This chapter describes Napoleon's travels through several places, and the enthusiasm with which he is met.

He eventually arrives at the Nieman river where some Polish Uhlans are camped. 

An old colonial of the Uhlans enthusiastically asks the aid-de-camp to swim across the river in front of Napoleon, instead of finding a ford.  

Forty Uhlans and some of their horses drown, but the colonel and a few of his men make it and the colonel is later promoted to Napoleon's Legion d'honneur.

Napoleon requests that their stocks of forged Russian money be prepared for use in Russia.

Volume 2: Book 9 - Chapter 1

Characters Present:

Napoleon Bonaparte
Tsar Alexander

Year: 1811-12

This chapter is a discussion of what led millions of men to kill millions of other men, particularly during the war between Alexander and Napoleon. 

Was it Alexander and Napoleon? Or the millions of men who chose to kill each other?

It is surmised that the responsibility was not with any party, as much like the many reasons an apple falls from a tree - the wind; a withered stalk; or because the boy below wills it to - it just happened involuntarily. 

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 22

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Natasha Rostov

Location:
Location:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's home

Pierre returns to the Rostóvs, and sees Natasha, who looks pale and fragile. 

He approaches her, and she begs him to ask Prince Andrew to forgive her.

Though in his mind he at first despises her, he is overcome with love and pity, and agrees to do as she asks. 

END OF BOOK 8

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 21

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Natasha Rostova
Prince Andrew Bolkónski
Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova

Location:
Location:

Moscow: Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's home, and then, the Bolkónski home.


Pierre goes to inform Márya that Anatole has left Moscow and discovers that Natasha is deathly ill, having taken arsenic upon learning of Anatole's marriage.  

According to Márya, she panicked and told Sonya, so they were able to give her an antidote in time.

Prince Andrew arrives back in Moscow, and learns much through rumour, and that Natasha has broken things off with him.  

He summons Pierre, and gives him letters from Natasha, and her portrait, to return to her. 

Old Prince Nicholas and Princess Mary are both smugly satisfied that the engagement is over.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 20

Characters Present:

Count Pierre Bezukhov
Countess Hélène Bezukhova
Anatole Kurágin

Location:
Location:

Moscow


Pierre, furious, sets out to find Anatole and discovers that rumours of Anatole and Natasha's elopement have started to spread around town.

Pierre finally learns that Anatole is at his estates, which are also occupied by his wife, Hélène. 

When he arrives he tells Hélène that where she is, evil is, for her hand in trying to corrupt Natasha. 

Pierre finds Anatole, shakes him in a rage, and tells him to only chase women like his sister, and not to ruin the lives of maids such as Natasha.  Anatole cannot see the wrong in what he was doing, but after extracting some money out of Pierre, agrees to leave for Petersburg in the morning.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 19

Characters Present:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova
Natasha Rostova 
Count Pierre Bezukhov
Count Ilya Rostóv

Location:
Location:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's house

Pierre, who has just returned to Moscow, since leaving to avoid his wife Hélène, receives a summons to Márya's house.

Márya tells him about Natasha and Anatole, and beseeches him to make Anatole, who is his brother-in-law, leave Moscow as soon as possible. 

Natasha refuses to believe that Anatole is already married and makes Pierre swear on his honour that it is true.  She asks to be left alone.

Count Ilya Rostóv is depressed and baffled over Natasha breaking things off with Prince Andrew Bolkónski, and tells Pierre that it is hard to look after his daughters without his wife around.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 18

Characters Present:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova
Natasha Rostova 
Sonya Rostova

Location:
Location:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's house

Márya had found Sonya weeping in the hall, and had made her reveal the letter and Natasha's plans. 

Márya confronts Natasha and tells her that Anatole and the others escaped the ambush.

Natasha insists that Anatole is a great man, and Márya calls him a scoundrel, and wonders why he had tried to keep everything secret, since Natasha had not been kept under lock and key. 

Márya says that she will stay quiet about Natasha's dishonourable behaviour.

Natasha goes into a kind of shock, and takes to her bed.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 17

Characters Present:

Anatole Kurágin
Fedor Ivanovich Dólokhov
Balagá (Anatole's roguish driver)

Location:
Location:

Dólokhov's house then Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's house

Anatole has celebratory drinks with Dólokhov and Balagá, and they all sit down before leaving, as Russian tradition dictates they do prior to commencing a long journey. 

They drive to Márya's house, where a maid ushers them into a courtyard.

It turns out to be an ambush, and Márya's giant footman, Gabriel, invites Anatole to see his mistress. 

Dólokhov calls out that they have been betrayed.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 16

Characters Present:

Anatole Kurágin
Fedor Ivanovich Dólokhov

Location:
Location:

Dólokhov's house

Anatole has moved into Dólokhov's house. 

Dólokhov has arranged the details of Natasha's abduction: a driver to take them to Warsaw, passports, a defrocked priest and two gambling associates to act as witnesses to the fake marriage.

Dólokhov asks Anatole to reconsider, but he won't. 

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 15

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova
Sonya Rostova

Location:
Location:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's house

Sonya finds the letter from Anatole to Natasha and confronts Natasha.  Natasha cannot keep her love for Anatole a secrete from Sonya any longer, and reveals all.

Sonya tells Natasha that she doesn't trust Anatole, and that he is dishonourable, and they have a massive argument.

Natasha sends a letter to Mary Bolkónskaya, refusing her brother, Prince Andrew.

A second letter is delivered from Anatole, and Sonya, listening at the door, learns that Natasha intends to run away to elope with him that very evening.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 14

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova, 

Count Ilya Rostóv
Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova


Location:


Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's house

M

Márya reports her visit to Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski to the Rostóvs. 

After being shouted at by him, she has concluded that the family would best return to Otrádnoe to wait for Prince Andrew's return. 

Márya also delivers a warm, conciliatory letter from Princess Mary to Natasha.  

As Natasha sits to reply, she is brought a love letter from Anátole, and she becomes almost convinced that she must break things off with Prince Andrew.

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 11

Characters Present:

Anatole Kurágin
Fedor Ivanovich Dólokhov

Location:
Location:

Moscow

Anatole has been sent to Moscow by his father to be an adjutant to a commander-in-chief, as he had been spending too much money drinking and socialising in Petersburg.

The chapter describes Anatole as a rake who only seduces married women now, after being forced to marry a young Polish women a few years before.

Anatole confides in Dólokhov his intentions to sleep with Natasha, and as usual, has no consideration of the consequences of his actions to anyone else.

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. 

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 7

Characters Present:

Natasha Rostova

Count Ilya Rostóv

Sonya Rostova

Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Location:

Bald Hill Estate


Count Ilya Rostóv takes Natasha to visit Old Prince Nicholas Bolkónski.  

Princess Mary takes a disliking to Natasha as she is young, fashionable and beautiful.  Natasha takes umbridge with Princess Mary, for being old, dry and unfriendly. 

Old Prince Nicholas takes a long time to come down to greet Natasha, and when he eventually does, swears that he had no idea that the Rostóvs were there.

Natasha is upset with the way that she has been received, and wishes that Prince Andrew would arrive.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 6

Characters Present:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova 

Natasha Rostova

Count Ilya Rostóv

Sonya Rostova

Location:

Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova's house, Moscow

The Rostóvs have arrived in Moscow, and since they are selling their Moscow home, they are staying with the cantankerous but seemingly kind-hearted Márya Dmítrievna Akhrosímova .

Prince Andrew is due to arrive at his father's house in Moscow any day, and Natasha will go to meet Princess Mary on the morrow.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 5

Characters Present:

Boris Drubetskóy
Julie Karagina
Anatole Kurágin
Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Location: Moscow

Boris Drubestskóy, in his efforts to marry a rich heiress, decides to pursue Julie Karagina over Princess Mary Bolkónskaya - though he is more attracted to Princess Mary, he finds her too weird.

Julie, 27 and never married, has adopted the demeanor of someone who has suffered terrible injustices, which Boris plays up to by writing melancholy poetry to her. 

Boris cannot bring himself to propose as he sees a falseness to Julie's melancholy, until Anatole Kurágin comes to town with the intention of courting Julie. Boris panics and proposes, and they both leave their angst-ridden states and become joyful.

Volume 2: Book 8 - Chapter 4

Characters Present:

Count Pierre  Bezukhov

Princess Mary Bolkónskaya

Location:

Moscow

The dinner party ends, and Princess Mary and Count Pierre are left alone.  He tells her that Boris Drubetskóy is looking for a wealthy heiress to marry and that she and Julie Karagina are in his sights. 

Mary bursts into tears and says that she would marry anyone.  Pierre tries to find out what is the matter, but she will not elaborate. 

Mary says that she is nervous about meeting Natasha Rostova and that she is worried about her brother and father having a falling out over the upcoming marriage.