Summary of chapters: war and. The history of the creation of the novel “War and Peace”. The main characters of the novel

"War and Peace"

(Epic novel)

Retelling

Volume I

Part one

St. Petersburg 1805. A high-society evening with Anna Pavlovna Scherer, maid of honor and close associate of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Conversation during the entire reception is conducted exclusively in French. The tone is set by the hostess and the official Prince Vasily Kuragin, who was a significant person at court. This is a man who completely lived by the rules of the world, despising everyone and everything except his own person. Talk about Napoleon, this murderer and villain, his revolution. Anna Pavlovna's plan is to marry Vasily's youngest son, Anatole, a "restless" fool, to her relative, the rich princess Marya Bolkonskaya, who, according to rumors, was unhappy living with her father. Marya's father is the old Prince Bolkonsky, who is very rich and stingy.

Scherer's guests are the highest nobility of St. Petersburg. The daughter of Prince Vasily, the beautiful Helen, who was in a cipher and a ball gown, his son Ippolit. Little Princess Liza Bolkonskaya, who went only to small evenings due to her pregnancy. But, despite her position, the princess felt great in this society. Distinctive feature Lisa's is the upper sponge, “with slightly blackened antennae,” which was short and therefore slightly covered her upper teeth, making the princess look like a squirrel. The emigrant is the French Viscount Mortemart, Abbot of Moriot. Ceremony of greeting the aunt of the hostess. Auntie, a small, useless and uninteresting old lady, politely greeted everyone who approached her and talked about the empress’s health. The guests, having performed the ritual, left the old woman with a feeling of deep relief, “so that they would never approach her the whole evening.” Appearance at the evening by Pierre Bezukhov. He was a massive, even fat young man, the illegitimate son of the famous Catherine’s nobleman, Count Bezukhov, who was now dying in Moscow. Pierre was different from everyone else in the living room, with an intelligent, timid, observant and natural look. According to people of high society, Pierre was a man who did not know how to live.

Comparison of an evening at Anna Pavlovna’s with the work of a spinning workshop, and Anna Pavlovna herself with the owner of this workshop, who, “having seated the workers in their places, walks around the establishment, noticing the immobility or the unusual, creaking, too loud sound of the spindle, hurriedly walks, holds back or lets it go in due course. Portrait of Helen: this beautiful woman, in which there is not even a trace of coquetry, she even “as if she was ashamed of her beauty.” The portrait touch that is emphasized in Helen is her marble shoulders. Prince Vasily asks Anna Pavlovna to bring Pierre to reason by teaching him how to behave in social life.

Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubedkaya, an elderly lady who previously sat with her aunt, asks Prince Vasily to lobby the Tsar for the transfer of her son Boris to the guard.

Characteristics of Pierre Bezukhov. He was a clumsy, slightly taller, broad man with huge hands. He was absent-minded, but at the same time good-natured, simple and modest. He constantly smiled his smile, which seemed to say: “Opinions are opinions, and you see what a kind and nice fellow I am.”

Pierre at the Bolkonskys. Family scene between the little princess and Prince Andrei regarding his departure to war. Lisa does not want Prince Andrei to go to war; she believes that here he occupies an excellent position: he is his uncle’s adjutant. She invites him to arrange his career even better. Even in the family circle, the princess speaks in the capriciously playful tone in which she spoke in Anna Pavlovna’s living room. Dinner of Pierre Bezukhov with Prince Andrei. Andrei Bolkonsky's thoughts about himself, marriage and women of the world. Prince Andrei advises Pierre not to marry until old age, so as not to lose “what is good and lofty in you.” Marriage, in his opinion, is a vicious circle from which you cannot escape. And secular women are “selfishness, vanity, stupidity, insignificance in everything.”

Moscow. Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya in the Rostovs' house. Count and Countess of Rostov. The Countess is a woman of about forty-five, with an oriental complexion, who had twelve children. The Count is a man who loves and knows how to live, who spoke to all guests the same way and in Russian. Reception of congratulatory visits on the occasion of the name day at the Rostov two Natalias - mother and daughter. Visit of the Kuragin mother and daughter. A conversation about the main city news - the illness of old Count Bezukhov and his illegitimate son, who was expelled from St. Petersburg, about the fate of the huge inheritance that will remain after the death of old man Bezukhov. Pierre was sent to Moscow, and Dolokhov was demoted to the army for hooliganism. They brought a bear with them to the actresses. The police arrived to calm the angry young people. So they caught the policeman, tied him with his back to the bear and let him swim into the Moika. Pierre is now in Moscow, in his father's house. Count Kirill Vladimirovich had many illegitimate children, but Pierre was his favorite. Everyone is wondering who will get the inheritance: Pierre or Prince Vasily, who is the heir to the Bezukhov estate through his wife.

Chapter VIII.

The youth of the Rostov house: Natasha, Nikolai - a student, the eldest son of the count and countess, Petya - the youngest son, Sonya - the count's fifteen-year-old niece and Boris Drubetskoy - an officer, the son of Princess Anna Mikhailovna - in the living room. A group of young people led by Natasha Rostova runs in here. Natasha is ugly, with a big mouth, black eyes. She was at that age “when a girl is no longer a child, and a child is not yet a girl.” The story of the Mimi doll. Boris said that he knew this Mimi as a young girl, but in five years she grew old, and her head was cracked all over her skull. This story made all the young people laugh very much and, no longer able to contain their laughter, they ran away from the living room. Only Sonya and Nikolai remained here.

In the living room. Count's niece Sonya. She is a small, petite brunette, with long eyelashes and soft

glance. She has black braided hair and a yellowish skin tone. Her movements were soft, flexible, gentle, her habits were cunning, but restrained, which made her resemble a cat. In love with Nikolai. The count's conversation with his guest about Nicholas's entry into military service. Nikolai leaves the university, believing that he has a calling military service, but his parents don’t want to let him go. The conversation turns to education. The Count says that he and the Countess spoiled Natasha and did not forbid her anything. Therefore, the Countess adds, Natasha does not hide anything from her mother. Faith. This is the eldest daughter of the Rostovs, beautiful, intelligent, an excellent student, a magnificent voice, but for some reason she was always out of place.

Natasha Rostova hides in the flower shop, hoping to wait for Boris here, but witnesses a scene of jealousy between Sonya and Nikolai. Scene of jealousy: Sonya became jealous of Nikolai and Julie Karagina. Nikolai says that he only loves Sonya. Kiss from Nikolai and Sonya. Natasha calls Boris to the flower shop. Her offer to Boris to kiss the doll. Natasha kisses Boris. Talk about love between them. Boris says that he loves Natasha, and he will propose, but he must wait another four years. They agree that when Natasha turns 16, Boris will ask for her hand in marriage. Natasha is happy.

Couples in love in the sofa: Sonya with Nikolai and Natasha with Boris. Sonya sat close to Nikolai, who was copying out poems for her that he had written for the first time. Natasha and Boris were sitting by the window, talking, but fell silent when Vera entered. Quarrel with Vera. Vera, angry at the happiness of the young people, tries in every possible way to offend them, saying unpleasant things to Natasha. Natasha is offended, Vera remains satisfied and does not consider herself guilty. A conversation between two childhood friends: Countess Rostova complains of a disorder, Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya talks about her son’s placement in the guard and complains about her financial circumstances.

government - she has nothing to outfit Boris with. The princess needed 500 rubles for this, and she had only 25. Her hopes were for the inheritance of Count Bezukhov, since Boris is his godson. Anna Mikhailovna is going to go to Bezukhov, Rostova tells her to invite Pierre to the name day.

Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya and her son Boris go to visit the sick Count Bezukhov. On the way, Anna Mikhailovna tells her son to remember that his future fate depends on Count Bezukhov. Their meeting there with Prince Vasily Kuragin. Prince Vasily Sergeevich is not at all happy to see Count Drubetskaya in the house, since he “was afraid to find in her a rival in Count Bezukhov’s will,” and wants her to leave as soon as possible. But Anna Mikhailovna, thanks to her skill, remains in the house. In the count's house, everyone expects only the worst; the count is getting worse every hour. Anna Mikhailovna decides to go after the patient. Boris Drubetskaya sends to visit Pierre.

Chapter XIII.

Pierre Bezukhov arrived in Moscow a few days ago and, as he always did, stayed at his father’s house. His arrival is met with hostility by the princesses, of whom there were three. The older sister, “a clean, long-waisted, strict girl,” is especially unfriendly towards Pierre. Boris Drubetsky's visit to Pierre's room, conversation and explanation between them. Pierre last saw Boris as a fourteen-year-old boy, and therefore does not immediately recognize him. Boris invites Pierre to the Rostovs' name day. In addition, Boris assures Pierre that neither he nor his mother have any interest in Count Bezukhov's inheritance. At least he, Boris, will not even accept anything if Kirill Vladimirovich leaves him anything. Pierre is flattered by such an ardent statement from this sweet, smart and firm, in Pierre’s opinion, young man. He is going to get to know Boris better. The return of the Drubetsky mother and son to the Rostovs, their conversation about the will of Count Bezukhov. Boris doubts that Count Bezu-

Hov will leave something for them. Anna Mikhailovna only exclaims in response: “How bad he is!”

Countess Rostova asks her husband for 500 rubles. The Count does not ask her why such money is needed, he gives her the required amount. Upon returning, Drubetskoy gives them to Boris for uniforms. Tears from both. They cried that they were friends, that their youth was gone, that they were now busy with such a base subject as money.

At the Rostovs' before the birthday dinner. Waiting for Natasha’s godmother, Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova, a lady “famous not for wealth or honors, but for directness of mind and frank simplicity of communication.” At this time, in Rostov’s office there was a conversation about the war. Shinshin's conversation with Berg in the count's office. Shinshin is an old bachelor, a civilian, with a wrinkled, bilious and shaved thin face. Berg is a fresh, pink Guards officer, “immaculately washed, buttoned and combed.” This young man's conversation always concerned only him or something related to him. In other cases, he was silent, preferring to listen. Berg proves to Shinshin the benefits of serving in the infantry. After all, only there you can make a fortune for yourself, and even send money to your parents. Pierre Bezukhov in the Rostovs' living room. He arrived just before dinner and felt awkward at the Rostovs. They try to get him to talk, but from embarrassment he cannot utter a word. Arrival of Akhrosimova. She gives Natasha yakhont earrings. The guests go to the table. At the table they are placed on two sides. At one end are the Countess, Anna Mikhailovna and other guests. And on the other - the count with his guests. Pierre continues to feel awkward at dinner and eats and drinks a lot. Dinner.

Conversation over dinner about the manifesto and the war with Bonaparte. The colonel says that a manifesto declaring war was published in St. Petersburg, which he himself saw. Withered

There was a debate about whether Russia should enter the war. Opinions were divided for and against. Reply by Nikolai Rostov in support of the opinion that Russia should enter the war, that “Russians must die or win.” Natasha's prank. Natasha made a bet with her younger brother Petya that she would ask her mother across the table what kind of cake it would be. Her outburst was well received. Everyone laughed at the courage and dexterity of this little girl.

Chapter XVII.

Singing of youth. The guests returned to the living room and began asking Natasha and Nikolai to sing something. Natasha doesn't find Sonya in the living room. Sonya was in the corridor on a chest. Sonya's tears over her love for Nikolai and his poems written to her. Her explanations with Natasha. Sonya cried because Nikolai was leaving for the war, and also because Nikolai was her cousin and their marriage was impossible. That’s why Nikolai marries Julie Karagina. Natasha reassures Sonya, says that everything will be fine, because Nikolai is Sonya’s second cousin, and such marriages are allowed. Sonya calms down, she and Natasha return to the living room. Natasha, Boris, Sonya and Nikolai sing “The Key”. Dancing. Pierre invites Natasha to dance. She is proud and happy that she “danced with a big one, with someone who came from abroad.” Count Ilya Andreevich Rostov and Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova dance “Danila Kupora,” the count’s favorite dance. They dance in such a way that everyone stands fascinated by the simplicity and simplicity of Russian folk dance.

Chapter XVIII.

In the house of Count Bezukhov. The sixth blow struck the count. Preparation for unction. Conversations of those present. Everyone doubts that after the sixth blow the count will remain alive. The question again arises as to who will get all the property. Secret agreements between Prince Vasily and Princess Katish about concealing the count's will. The prince tells Katerina Semyonovna that now is the time to think about the future, that he, and she, and her sisters are the only heirs of Bezukhov. Prince Vasily is afraid of the will that the count wrote last winter and in which he leaves everything to Pierre. In addition, he recalls the letter that Kirill Vladimirovich wrote to the sovereign about the adoption of Pierre. And if this happens, Pierre, as a legitimate son, will receive everything. Then Prince Vasily directly invites the princess to find the will and letter and destroy them. The princess says that all the papers are kept by the count in a mosaic briefcase.

Return of Pierre Bezukhov home with Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya. The old count demanded that Pierre be called to him. But Pierre doubts whether he needs to appear at his father's. Anna Mikhailovna persuades him to go anyway, because it is his father and he is dying. Pierre in the waiting room of his dying father, who wished to see him. Treatment of those present. Prince Vasily looks at Pierre with some fear, the others who were in the living room look at Pierre with curiosity. Everyone points at him with their eyes, some with fear, some with servility. Pierre feels awkward and tries to behave correctly, as is customary in society. Everyone goes into the dying man's room.

Pierre is with his sick father. Count Bezukhov. The Count was lying on a long Voltaire chair. He had a gray mane of hair, a wide forehead, large wrinkles on his red-yellow face. Clergymen stood nearby. Everyone stood silently and prayed. Only Prince Vasily and the eldest princess slowly walked deeper into the room to the count’s high bed. Then they hide in the back room for a while, but then return to the patient again. Pierre notices all this, but does not attach any importance to their actions. Unction. The old count is carried onto the bed. The Count woke up for a minute, but then fell into oblivion again. Pierre cries and leaves the room.

Pierre and Anna Mikhailovna enter the reception room, where Prince Vasily Kuragin and Princess Katish are sitting and talking about something

talking. As soon as Pierre enters, the princess hides something. Anna Mikhailovna also notices that something is wrong here. There is a dispute and struggle over a briefcase with a will. Drubetskaya tries to take away the briefcase from the princess, which contains the will of the dying man. In his will, the Count leaves everything to Pierre. The eldest princess assures Drubetskaya that this is an old useless piece of paper, but she does not give up. By chance, the princess lets go of the briefcase, Anna Mikhailovna, picking it up, goes into the bedroom. Death of Bezukhov. The next morning, Anna Mikhailovna informs Pierre that his father most likely left everything to him and asks him not to forget about Boris. From her lips, all of Moscow learns about the actions of Prince Vasily and Princess Katish and about the grief-stricken Pierre.

Chapter XXII.

The Bolkonsky estate Bald Mountains. The old prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky is the general-in-chief, who was exiled to the village under Paul and now lived there constantly with his daughter Princess Marya. He was busy either writing memoirs, or higher mathematics, or working in the garden. The main thing in his life is order, and therefore the prince was harsh and demanding. He was short, “with small dry hands and gray drooping eyebrows,” had intelligent and young sparkling eyes, and always wore a powdered wig. He instilled fear in everyone, especially his daughter. His daughter is Princess Marya. This is a girl with a sickly, ugly face. Just as her father loved order, she did not like order.

Chapter XXIII.

Arrival of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and his wife in Bald Mountains. Despite the arrival of his son, the old prince did not want to change his habits; he usually slept at this time. Their meeting with Princess Marya and her French companion Bourrienne. Burien seemed distraught with happiness, and Marya burst into tears when she saw her brother. Lisa chatted incessantly, but Princess Marya only silently and lovingly looked at Andrei. She was worried about the question of whether Prince Andrei was going to war. He gives a positive answer. Meeting the old

the prince and his son and their conversation about war and politics. The old prince allowed his son into his half while he was dressing. Prince Andrei comes there with that expression on his face that he only had when he was talking with Pierre. Andrei tells his father the plan for a military campaign against Napoleon. The old prince listens with obvious displeasure. He does not approve of either the war or Russia's desire to join it.

Chapter XXIV.

Lunch in Bald Mountains. During lunch, the old prince studies the little princess, asking her all sorts of questions. At first she seems embarrassed, but when the prince asks her about her family and friends, she perks up and begins to chatter incessantly. The prince, having formed an opinion about her, turns away from her, starting a conversation with others. The dispute between the old prince and his son about Suvorov and Bonaparte. According to the old prince, Napoleon is “an insignificant Frenchman who was successful only because there were no longer Potemkins and Suvorovs.” To which Andrei replies that Bonaparte - great commander. During the dispute, no one changed their opinion. In the heat of the moment, the old prince shouts at Andrei to get back to his Bonaparte. After dinner, the little princess, looking fearfully at her husband’s father, says that she is afraid of him.

Prince Andrey's preparations for leaving for the army. Before leaving, Prince Andrei experiences mixed feelings: “was he afraid to go to war, was he sad to leave his wife - maybe both…” His farewell conversation with sister. During the conversation, Andrei feels sorry for his sister, who is having a hard time with her father. But Princess Marya, who reveres her father, forbids him to speak like that. Marya asks Andrei to fulfill one of her requests: to wear “an old icon of the savior with a black face in a silver robe on a finely made silver chain.” Princess Marya blesses her brother with the image. Prince Andrei's farewell to his father, wife and sister. Prince Andrei asks his father to take care of his wife and her childbirth. The old prince gives his son a letter to Mikhail

Ila Illarionovich Kutuzov, in which he asks the latter to “use Prince Andrei in good places and not keep him as an adjutant for a long time.” The old prince tried to hold on, but his feelings took their toll and “something trembled in the lower part of the old prince’s face.” Andrei said goodbye to his wife coldly. Andrey's departure.

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L.N. Tolstoy

Name: War and Peace

Genre: Novel

Duration:

Part 1: 12min 37sec

Part 2: 12min 06sec

Part 3: 13min 01sec

Annotation:

War and Peace takes us back to Napoleon's 1812 invasion of Russia and gives us three of literature's most famous characters. Pierre Bezukhov is the illegitimate son of a certain count, who is fighting for his inheritance. Andrei Bolkonsky, who left his family to fight in the war with Napoleon. And Natasha Rostova, the beautiful young daughter of a nobleman who is plotting against the first two men.
Tolstoy incredibly well described characters from different walks of life - peasants and landowners, civilians and soldiers, and how they confront the problems of their era, history and culture. As the story progresses, the characters transcend their origins and become some of the most humanized figures in world literature.
There is a huge variety of characters, but they all act as if connected by the threads of fate. The novel relentlessly questions the ideas of free will, fate and providence. However, the marital relationship is portrayed truthfully and bitterly, as is the main theme against which it unfolds.

L.N. Tolstoy - War and Peace Part 1. Listen to the summary online:

L.N. Tolstoy - War and Peace Part 2. Listen to the summary online.

The novel “War and Peace” is one of the most grandiose creations of world literature. Duality is already inherent in the title of the work; it is a kind of hint at what this epic is about. In each to the book"War and Peace" can be read that it contains events from peaceful life alternate with battle scenes.

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The novel consists of 4 volumes and an epilogue. For true lovers of Russian literature, what is important is not how many volumes there are in a novel, but the meanings that were embedded in the immortal epic. wrote “War and Peace” for seven years. Date the novel was written - period from 1863 to 1869. He is known to have rewritten it 8 times, with some of the episodes being rewritten up to 26 times. This is a short summary of the book. Now let's get to the content.

First volume

This section describes the following events:

Social event at Scherer's.
Old man Bezukhov dies.
Pierre turns out to be the heir to the fortune.
Wedding of Bezukhov and Helen.
Military actions of Russia (in alliance with Austria) against Napoleonic army.

Everyone knows the date of writing "War and Peace" - it's 1869. At that time, the epic became one of the most read, it was also appreciated in literary circles. In the first chapter, the writer introduces us to the main characters - Pierre and Prince Bolkonsky. The prince plans to go to war. Pierre has to move to Moscow. The author also introduces us to another character from War and Peace. Anna Mikhailovna is a figure who plays an important role in the development of events.

Attention! Being raised far from Russia, Pierre admires the ideas of Napoleon. Pierre perceives flattery as a sign of love; he understands practically nothing in life.

Old Man Bezukhov's Illness

In Chapter VII of the first part, Anna Mikhailovna reports that the old Count Bezukhov is sick and practically on the verge of death. Count Bezukhov's illness progresses, and he makes a will.

Together with Anna Mikhailovna, Pierre goes to his dying father. Anna Mikhailovna informs Pierre about his death.

The heirs unsuccessfully try to steal the briefcase with the will, according to which Pierre should receive the entire fortune. They are not very concerned about Count Bezukhov’s illness; the main thing for them is the opportunity to get money.

The beginning of the novel “War and Peace” continues with an unexpected turn of events. Anna Mikhailovna, one of the most striking secondary characters, interferes with the insidious plans. She prevents the briefcase from being stolen, and Pierre receives an inheritance. He becomes accepted into many high houses and marries the beautiful Helen. Bolkonsky goes to war.

Nikolai's cowardice

Scenes of peaceful life alternate with military ones in the novel War and Peace. A chapter-by-chapter summary introduces the reader to further developments. Nikolai Rostov lives with Vasily Denisov. One day, the latter’s wallet was stolen. Nikolai learned that this was the work of Telyanin. However, this act would cast a shadow over the entire regiment, and Rostov is forced to drop the charges and apologize. Nikolai does not apologize, but takes back his accusation. Rostov is wounded, and, seeing the approaching enemies, flees. However, later he distorts the history of his battle, saying that he “cut right and left.”

The volume ends with the wounding of Prince Bolkonsky. Falling on the battlefield, he watches clouds float across the vast blue sky. All those dreams that fascinated the prince before are now seem insignificant to him.

Attention! Boris Drubetskoy (sometimes his last name is confused with “Trubetskoy”) is the son of Anna Mikhailovna. Through his mother he is related to the Rostovs. Boris had tender feelings for Natasha. Boris Trubetskoy in War and Peace is a proud, ambitious character. From an early age he dreams of a big career. Through Prince Vasily, Anna Mikhailovna managed to secure a place for him in the guard.

Volume two

The events of this volume are briefly:

Duel between Bezukhov and Dolokhov.
Nikolai loses money to Dolokhov.
The love affair between Natasha and the prince is described.
Anatole wants to steal Natasha, but his lies are revealed.
The girl's breakup with Bolkonsky.

Further events

In the second volume, the plot of the novel continues with Nikolai's arrival home for the duration of his vacation. He is accepted as a real hero. Nikolai becomes close to Dolokhov.

The latter proposes marriage to Sonya, but is refused. Dolokhov, wanting revenge on Rostov, beats him for a large sum of money.

Old man Bolkonsky receives news about the death of his son, but the letter also says that he may be alive. After all, Andrei was not found among the wounded.

Pierre's torment over his wife Helen continue the plot of "War and Peace". Briefly describing the development of events, we can mention that Pierre, tormented by doubts, challenges Dolokhov to a duel. Pierre becomes a member of the Masonic lodge and experiences delight from the truth that enlightened his mind. Returning, Pierre visits his friend Bolkonsky. Communication with the young man gives the prince strength.

Nikolai Rostov, visiting the wounded Denisov, is struck by the sight of suffering soldiers in the infirmary and the smell of rot. He is also amazed by the fact that Boris Trubetskoy communicates with the French. So in the novel “War and Peace” by Tolstoy shows the senselessness of war and the horror it brings.

Natasha and Bolkonsky

Prince Andrei admires the statesman Speransky - this is how the plot of “War and Peace” continues. The events are briefly described as follows: Pierre at this time becomes disillusioned with Freemasonry and reconciles with Helen (at least outwardly). Prince Andrei goes to the Rostovs and hears Natasha’s enthusiastic conversation.

Count Rostov and Natasha go to visit the Bolkonskys, but they do not favor them. This is very unpleasant for Natasha. She's in the theater meets Anatole, son of Karagin. He wants to steal her secretly from everyone (Anatole is already married by this time, but is in no hurry to talk about it).

But his plans are not destined to come true - Sonya finds out about Anatole’s lies, and the kidnapping is disrupted. Bolkonsky learns about Natasha’s refusal, about her affairs with Anatole and returns all the letters that she once wrote to him. Unexpectedly for myself Pierre admits his tender feelings for Rostova. Already at this stage, one can make an assumption about how the novel “War and Peace” will end - namely, with whom Natasha Rostova will have a happy life.

Third volume

Events in this volume:

Natasha finds peace in religion.
Pierre goes to the battlefield.
Bolkonsky is wounded.
Kutuzov retreats, the French occupy Moscow.
Natasha Rostova takes care of the wounded prince, their feelings come to life again.

In June 1812 hostilities begin. The Emperor sends his adjutant named Balashev to Napoleon, but he is not honored and has to wait 4 days. Bolkonsky wants to challenge Kuragin to a duel.

The Rostovs live in Moscow at this time. Natasha feels very bad, but on July 12 the family goes to church. Prayer has a beneficial effect on her state of mind, the girl calms down.

Hostilities

In Smolensk shelling begins, and then a fire. No one is yet thinking about how the war will end. Old Bolkonsky is dying. Kutuzov proposes to Andrey remain to serve at headquarters, but he asks to remain with the regiment.

Pierre Bezukhov is arrested. Before becoming captive, he performs many noble deeds.

He saves a girl from a fire, protects Armenians - all this suggests that Pierre sincerely wants to help people. In fact, an attentive reader of the novel will see that Bezukhov takes the child out from under the bench.

Pierre Bezukhov, who saves a girl from a fire, is a slightly incorrect formulation. Reading the text carefully, one cannot say that Pierre really saves the girl from the fire, although he undoubtedly commits a noble act.

Kutuzov is confident: the outcome of the battle is determined by the spirit of the army. After the battle, Kutuzov's army heads to Fili. The French army enters Moscow. They report to Napoleon: the city is empty. Shortly before this, the Rostovs are planning to leave. Natasha takes care of the wounded Bolkonsky.

Attention! It is around Natasha that the main ideas of L.N. Tolstoy are concentrated; the author endows the girl with extraordinary ethical strength. Natasha loses loved ones, but does not break down spiritually.

Volume four

Main events:

Pierre is captured.
Bolkonsky dies.
Napoleon moves towards Smolensk.
Petya dies.
Pierre is released.
He admits his tender feelings for Rostova.

Pierre in captivity

Nikolai travels to Voronezh, where he meets Bolkonsky's sister, Marya. Andrey is dying. Pierre Bezukhov is captured and must be interrogated by a marshal known for his cruelty named Davout.

However, Pierre meets Davout's eyes, and this saves him - they both feel that are brothers in spirit. The French shoot five prisoners, but Bezukhov is taken to the barracks.

Denisov, together with Dolokhov, attacks an enemy transport in which prisoners of war are being held. Among them is Pierre. Petya Rostov dies. After his rescue, Pierre is in Orel - deprivation affects his health. Bezukhov talks to Marya about whether his happiness with Natasha is possible. She also awakens bright feelings for Pierre.

Epilogue

We reviewed the summary of the novel “War and Peace”. How many volumes are there in the book? “War and Peace” has 4 volumes, but the epic is also supplemented by an epilogue. In it, the reader has the opportunity to learn about two weddings - Pierre and Natasha, as well as Nikolai and Marya. In the winter of 1820, Natasha comes to visit her brother with her children. A conversation takes place between Pierre, Denisov and Nikolai, Pierre talks about need for change.

Bolkonsky's son, Nikolenka, dreams that he is leading a huge army. The epilogue introduces the reader to the further life of the characters, lets them know how the unusual events that took place on the pages of the immortal work of Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy, the author of the book “War and Peace,” ended.

Read quickly - “War and Peace” in half an hour

Conclusion

Tolstoy's epic was hailed as a masterpiece world literary heritage. Galsuori called the work the best that has ever been written. The novel is the result of Tolstoy's spiritual search, his desire to find the truth and meaning of life.

The book begins in the summer of 1805 in St. Petersburg. At the evening maids of honor Scherer are present among other guests Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a rich nobleman, and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. The conversation turns to Napoleon, and both friends try to protect the great man from the condemnations of the hostess of the evening and her guests. Prince Andrei is going to war, because he dreams of glory equal to the glory of Napoleon, and Pierre does not know what to do, participates in the revelry of St. Petersburg youth (he occupies a special place here Fedor Dolokhov, poor, but extremely strong-willed and decisive officer); For yet another mischief, Pierre was expelled from the capital, and Dolokhov was demoted to soldier.

Next, the author takes us to Moscow, to the house of Count Rostov, a kind, hospitable landowner hosting a dinner in honor of the name day of his wife and youngest daughter. A special family structure unites the Rostov parents and children - Nikolai (he is going to war with Napoleon), Natasha, Petya and Sonya (a poor relative of the Rostovs); Only the eldest daughter, Vera, seems alien.

The Rostovs' holiday continues, everyone is having fun, dancing, and at this time in another Moscow house - at the old Count Bezukhov's - the owner is dying. An intrigue begins around the count's will: Prince Vasily Kuragin (a St. Petersburg courtier) and three princesses - all of them distant relatives of the count and his heirs - are trying to steal the briefcase with Bezukhov's new will, according to which Pierre becomes his main heir; Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya, a poor lady from an old aristocratic family, selflessly devoted to her son Boris and everywhere seeking patronage for him, prevents the briefcase from being stolen, and a huge fortune goes to Pierre, now Count Bezukhov. Pierre becomes his own man in St. Petersburg society; Prince Kuragin tries to marry him to his daughter - the beautiful Helen - and succeeds in this.

In Bald Mountains, the estate of Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky, the father of Prince Andrei, life goes on as usual; The old prince is constantly busy, writing notes, giving lessons to his daughter Marya, or working in the garden. Prince Andrei arrives with his pregnant wife Lisa; he leaves his wife in his father's house, and he goes to war.

Autumn 1805; The Russian army in Austria takes part in the campaign of the allied states (Austria and Prussia) against Napoleon. Commander-in-Chief Kutuzov does everything to avoid Russian participation in the battle - at the review of the infantry regiment, he draws the attention of the Austrian general to the poor uniforms (especially shoes) of the Russian soldiers; right up to the Battle of Austerlitz, the Russian army retreats to unite with the allies and not accept battles with the French. So that the main Russian forces can retreat, Kutuzov sends a detachment of four thousand under the command of Bagration to detain the French; Kutuzov manages to conclude a truce with Murat (the French marshal), which allows him to gain time.

Junker Nikolay Rostov serves in the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment; he lives in an apartment in the German village where the regiment is stationed, together with his squadron commander, captain Vasily Denisov. One morning Denisov’s wallet with money disappeared - Rostov found out that Lieutenant Telyanin had taken the wallet. But this misconduct by Telyanin casts a shadow over the entire regiment - and the regiment commander demands that Rostov admit his mistake and apologize. The officers support the commander - and Rostov gives in; he does not apologize, but refuses his accusations, and Telyanin is expelled from the regiment due to illness. Meanwhile, the regiment goes on a campaign, and the cadet's baptism of fire occurs while crossing the Enns River; The hussars must cross last and set the bridge on fire.

During the Battle of Shengraben (between Bagration's detachment and the vanguard of the French army), Rostov was wounded (a horse was killed under him, and when he fell, he suffered a contusion); he sees the approaching French and, “with the feeling of a hare running away from dogs,” throws a pistol at the Frenchman and runs.

For participation in the battle, Rostov was promoted to cornet and awarded the soldier's St. George's Cross. He comes from Olmutz, where the Russian army is camped in preparation for the review, to the Izmailovsky regiment, where Boris Drubetskoy is located, to see his childhood comrade and pick up letters and money sent to him from Moscow. He tells Boris and Berg, who lives with Drubetsky, the story of his injury - but not as it really happened, but as they usually tell about cavalry attacks (“how he cut right and left,” etc.) .

During the review, Rostov experiences a feeling of love and adoration for Emperor Alexander; this feeling only intensifies during Battle of Austerlitz when Nicholas sees the Tsar - pale, crying from defeat, alone in the middle of an empty field.

Prince Andrey right up to the Battle of Austerlitz he lives in anticipation of the great feat that he is destined to accomplish. He is irritated by everything that is dissonant with this feeling of his - the prank of the mocking officer Zherkov, who congratulated the Austrian general on yet another defeat of the Austrians, and the episode on the road when the doctor’s wife asks to intercede for her and Prince Andrei collides with the transport officer. During the Battle of Shengraben, Bolkonsky notices Captain Tushin, a “small, stooped officer” with an unheroic appearance, commander of the battery. The successful actions of Tushin's battery ensured the success of the battle, but when the captain reported to Bagration about the actions of his artillerymen, he was more timid than during the battle. Prince Andrei is disappointed - his idea of the heroic does not fit either with the behavior of Tushin, or with the behavior of Bagration himself, who essentially did not order anything, but only agreed with what the adjutants and superiors who approached him suggested.

On the eve of the Battle of Austerlitz there was a military council, at which the Austrian General Weyrother read the disposition of the upcoming battle. During the council, Kutuzov openly slept, not seeing any use in any disposition and foreboding that tomorrow's battle would be lost. Prince Andrei wanted to express his thoughts and his plan, but Kutuzov interrupted the council and invited everyone to disperse. At night, Bolkonsky thinks about tomorrow's battle and about his decisive participation in it. He wants fame and is ready to give everything for it: “Death, wounds, loss of family, nothing scares me.”

The next morning, as soon as the sun came out of the fog, Napoleon gave the sign to begin the battle - it was the day of the anniversary of his coronation, and he was happy and confident. Kutuzov looked gloomy - he immediately noticed that confusion was beginning among the Allied troops. Before the battle, the emperor asks Kutuzov why the battle does not begin, and hears from the old commander-in-chief: “That’s why I don’t start, sir, because we are not at the parade and not in Tsaritsyn Meadow.” Very soon the Russian troops, finding the enemy much closer than they expected, broke ranks and fled. Kutuzov demands to stop them, and Prince Andrei, with a banner in his hands, rushes forward, dragging the battalion with him. Almost immediately he is wounded, he falls and sees a high sky above him with clouds quietly creeping across it. All his previous dreams of fame seem insignificant to him; His idol, Napoleon, traveling around the battlefield after the French had completely defeated the allies, seems insignificant and petty to him. “This is a beautiful death,” says Napoleon, looking at Bolkonsky. After making sure that Bolkonsky is still alive, Napoleon orders him to be taken to a dressing station. Among the hopelessly wounded, Prince Andrei was left in the care of the residents.

The book begins in the summer of 1805 in St. Petersburg. At the evening at the maid of honor Scherer, among other guests, Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a wealthy nobleman, and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky are present. The conversation turns to Napoleon, and both friends try to protect the great man from the condemnations of the hostess of the evening and her guests. Prince Andrei is going to war because he dreams of glory equal to the glory of Napoleon, and Pierre does not know what to do, participates in the revelry of St. Petersburg youth (here a special place is occupied by Fyodor Dolokhov, a poor but extremely strong-willed and decisive officer); For yet another mischief, Pierre was expelled from the capital, and Dolokhov was demoted to soldier.

Next, the author takes us to Moscow, to the house of Count Rostov, a kind, hospitable landowner, who is hosting a dinner in honor of the name day of his wife and youngest daughter. A special family structure unites the Rostov parents and children - Nikolai (he is going to war with Napoleon), Natasha, Petya and Sonya (a poor relative of the Rostovs); Only the eldest daughter, Vera, seems alien.

In Bald Mountains, the estate of Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky, the father of Prince Andrei, life goes on as usual; The old prince is constantly busy - either writing notes, then giving lessons to his daughter Marya, or working in the garden. Prince Andrei arrives with his pregnant wife Lisa; he leaves his wife in his father's house, and he goes to war.

Autumn 1805; The Russian army in Austria takes part in the campaign of the allied states (Austria and Prussia) against Napoleon. Commander-in-Chief Kutuzov does everything to avoid Russian participation in the battle - at the review of the infantry regiment, he draws the attention of the Austrian general to the poor uniforms (especially shoes) of the Russian soldiers; right up to the Battle of Austerlitz, the Russian army retreats to unite with the allies and not accept battles with the French. So that the main Russian forces can retreat, Kutuzov sends a detachment of four thousand under the command of Bagration to detain the French; Kutuzov manages to conclude a truce with Murat (the French marshal), which allows him to gain time.

Junker Nikolai Rostov serves in the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment; he lives in an apartment in the German village where the regiment is stationed, together with his squadron commander, captain Vasily Denisov. One morning Denisov’s wallet with money disappeared - Rostov found out that Lieutenant Telyanin had taken the wallet. But this misconduct by Telyanin casts a shadow over the entire regiment - and the regiment commander demands that Rostov admit his mistake and apologize. The officers support the commander - and Rostov gives in; he does not apologize, but refuses his accusations, and Telyanin is expelled from the regiment due to illness. Meanwhile, the regiment goes on a campaign, and the cadet's baptism of fire occurs while crossing the Enns River; The hussars must cross last and set the bridge on fire.

During the review, Rostov experiences a feeling of love and adoration for Emperor Alexander; this feeling only intensifies during the Battle of Austerlitz, when Nicholas sees the Tsar - pale, crying from defeat, alone in the middle of an empty field.

Prince Andrei, right up to the Battle of Austerlitz, lives in anticipation of the great feat that he is destined to accomplish. He is irritated by everything that is dissonant with this feeling of his - the prank of the mocking officer Zherkov, who congratulated the Austrian general on yet another defeat of the Austrians, and the episode on the road when the doctor’s wife asks to intercede for her and Prince Andrei collides with the transport officer. During the Battle of Shengraben, Bolkonsky notices Captain Tushin, a “small, stooped officer” with an unheroic appearance, commander of the battery. The successful actions of Tushin's battery ensured the success of the battle, but when the captain reported to Bagration about the actions of his artillerymen, he was more timid than during the battle. Prince Andrei is disappointed - his idea of the heroic does not fit either with the behavior of Tushin, or with the behavior of Bagration himself, who essentially did not order anything, but only agreed with what the adjutants and superiors who approached him suggested.

The next morning, as soon as the sun came out of the fog, Napoleon gave the sign to begin the battle - it was the day of the anniversary of his coronation, and he was happy and confident. Kutuzov looked gloomy - he immediately noticed that confusion was beginning among the Allied troops. Before the battle, the emperor asks Kutuzov why the battle does not begin, and hears from the old commander-in-chief: “That’s why I don’t start, sir, because we are not at the parade and not in Tsaritsyn Meadow.” Very soon the Russian troops, finding the enemy much closer than they expected, broke ranks and fled. Kutuzov demands to stop them, and Prince Andrei, with a banner in his hands, rushes forward, dragging the battalion with him. Almost immediately he is wounded, he falls and sees a high sky above him with clouds quietly creeping across it. All his previous dreams of fame seem insignificant to him; His idol, Napoleon, traveling around the battlefield after the French had completely defeated the allies, seems insignificant and petty to him. “This is a wonderful death,” says Napoleon, looking at Bolkonsky. After making sure that Bolkonsky is still alive, Napoleon orders him to be taken to a dressing station. Among the hopelessly wounded, Prince Andrei was left in the care of the residents.

Nikolai Rostov comes home on vacation; Denisov goes with him. Rostov is accepted everywhere - both at home and by friends, that is, by all of Moscow - as a hero; he becomes close to Dolokhov (and becomes one of his seconds in the duel with Bezukhov). Dolokhov proposes to Sonya, but she, in love with Nikolai, refuses; at a farewell party arranged by Dolokhov for his friends before leaving for the army, he beats Rostov (apparently not quite honestly) for a large sum, as if taking revenge on him for Sonin’s refusal.

In the Rostov house there is an atmosphere of love and fun, created primarily by Natasha. She sings and dances beautifully (at a ball given by Yogel, the dance teacher, Natasha dances a mazurka with Denisov, which causes general admiration). When Rostov returns home in a depressed state after a loss, he hears Natasha singing and forgets about everything - about the loss, about Dolokhov: “all this is nonsense […] but here it is - the real thing.” Nikolai confesses to his father that he has lost; When he manages to collect the required amount, he leaves for the army. Denisov, delighted with Natasha, asks for her hand, is refused and leaves.

Prince Vasily visited Bald Mountains in December 1805 with his youngest son, Anatoly; Kuragin's goal was to marry his dissolute son to a rich heiress - Princess Marya. The princess was unusually excited by Anatole's arrival; the old prince did not want this marriage - he did not love the Kuragins and did not want to part with his daughter. By chance, Princess Marya notices Anatole hugging her French companion, Mlle Bourrienne; to her father's delight, she refuses Anatole.

After the Battle of Austerlitz, the old prince receives a letter from Kutuzov, which says that Prince Andrei “fell a hero worthy of his father and his fatherland.” It also says that Bolkonsky was not found among the dead; this allows us to hope that Prince Andrei is alive. Meanwhile, Princess Lisa, Andrei's wife, is about to give birth, and on the very night of the birth Andrei returns. Princess Lisa dies; on her dead face Bolkonsky reads the question: “What have you done to me?” - the feeling of guilt before his late wife no longer leaves him.

Pierre Bezukhov is tormented by the question of his wife’s connection with Dolokhov: hints from friends and an anonymous letter constantly raise this question. At a dinner at the Moscow English Club, organized in honor of Bagration, a quarrel breaks out between Bezukhov and Dolokhov; Pierre challenges Dolokhov to a duel, in which he (who cannot shoot and has never held a pistol in his hands before) wounds his opponent. After a difficult explanation with Helen, Pierre leaves Moscow for St. Petersburg, leaving her power of attorney to manage his Great Russian estates (which makes up the majority of his fortune).

On the way to St. Petersburg, Bezukhov stops at the postal station in Torzhok, where he meets the famous freemason Osip Alekseevich Bazdeev, who instructs him - disappointed, confused, not knowing how and why to live further - and gives him a letter of recommendation to one of the St. Petersburg masons. Upon arrival, Pierre joins the Masonic lodge: he is delighted with the truth revealed to him, although the ritual of initiation into the Masons itself somewhat confuses him. Filled with the desire to do good to his neighbors, in particular his peasants, Pierre goes to his estates in the Kyiv province. There he very zealously begins reforms, but, lacking “practical tenacity,” he turns out to be completely deceived by his manager.

Returning from a southern trip, Pierre visits his friend Bolkonsky at his estate Bogucharovo. After Austerlitz, Prince Andrei firmly decided not to serve anywhere (in order to get rid of active service, he accepted the position of collecting the militia under the command of his father). All his worries are focused on his son. Pierre notices the “extinct, dead look” of his friend, his detachment. Pierre's enthusiasm, his new views contrast sharply with Bolkonsky's skeptical mood; Prince Andrei believes that neither schools nor hospitals are needed for the peasants, and that serfdom should be abolished not for the peasants - they are accustomed to it - but for the landowners, who are corrupted by unlimited power over other people. When the friends go to Bald Mountains, to visit Prince Andrei’s father and sister, a conversation takes place between them (on the ferry during the crossing): Pierre expresses to Prince Andrei his new views (“we do not live now only on this piece of land, but we have lived and will live forever there, in everything"), and Bolkonsky for the first time since Austerlitz sees the “high, eternal sky”; “something better that was in him suddenly joyfully awakened in his soul.” While Pierre was in Bald Mountains, he enjoyed close, friendly relations not only with Prince Andrei, but also with all his relatives and household; For Bolkonsky, from the meeting with Pierre, a new life began (internally).

Returning from leave to the regiment, Nikolai Rostov felt at home. Everything was clear, known in advance; True, it was necessary to think about what to feed the people and horses - the regiment lost almost half of its people from hunger and disease. Denisov decides to recapture the transport with food assigned to the infantry regiment; Summoned to headquarters, he meets Telyanin there (in the position of Chief Provision Master), beats him and for this he must stand trial. Taking advantage of the fact that he was slightly wounded, Denisov goes to the hospital. Rostov visits Denisov in the hospital - he is struck by the sight of sick soldiers lying on straw and on greatcoats on the floor, and the smell of a rotting body; in the officer's chambers he meets Tushin, who has lost his arm, and Denisov, who, after some persuasion, agrees to submit a request for pardon to the sovereign.

With this letter, Rostov goes to Tilsit, where a meeting between two emperors - Alexander and Napoleon - takes place. At the apartment of Boris Drubetskoy, enlisted in the retinue of the Russian emperor, Nikolai sees yesterday's enemies - French officers with whom Drubetskoy willingly communicates. All this - the unexpected friendship of the adored tsar with yesterday's usurper Bonaparte, and the free friendly communication of the retinue officers with the French - all irritates Rostov. He cannot understand why battles and severed arms and legs were necessary if the emperors are so kind to each other and award each other and the soldiers of enemy armies with the highest orders of their countries. By chance, he manages to deliver a letter with Denisov’s request to a general he knows, and he gives it to the tsar, but Alexander refuses: “the law is stronger than me.” The terrible doubts in Rostov’s soul end with him convincing the officers he knows, like him, who are dissatisfied with the peace with Napoleon, and most importantly, himself, that the sovereign knows better what needs to be done. And “our job is to chop and not think,” he says, drowning out his doubts with wine.

Those enterprises that Pierre started and could not bring to any result were carried out by Prince Andrei. He transferred three hundred souls to free cultivators (that is, freed them from serfdom); replaced corvee with quitrent on other estates; peasant children began to be taught to read and write, etc. In the spring of 1809, Bolkonsky went on business to the Ryazan estates. On the way, he notices how green and sunny everything is; only the huge old oak tree “did not want to submit to the charm of spring” - Prince Andrei, in harmony with the appearance of this gnarled oak tree, thinks that his life is over.

For guardianship matters, Bolkonsky needs to see Ilya Rostov, the district leader of the nobility, and Prince Andrei goes to Otradnoye, the Rostov estate. At night, Prince Andrei hears a conversation between Natasha and Sonya: Natasha is full of delight at the beauty of the night, and in the soul of Prince Andrei “an unexpected confusion of young thoughts and hopes arose.” When - already in July - he drove through the very grove where he saw the old gnarled oak tree, it was transformed: “succulent young leaves broke through the hundred-year-old hard bark without knots.” “No, life is not over at thirty-one,” Prince Andrei decides; he goes to St. Petersburg to “take an active part in life.”

In St. Petersburg, Bolkonsky becomes close to Speransky, the Secretary of State, an energetic reformer close to the emperor. Prince Andrei feels a feeling of admiration for Speransky, “similar to what he once felt for Bonaparte.” The prince becomes a member of the commission for drawing up the military regulations. At this time, Pierre Bezukhov also lives in St. Petersburg - he became disillusioned with Freemasonry, reconciled (outwardly) with his wife Helen; in the eyes of the world he is an eccentric and a kind fellow, but in his soul the “difficult work of internal development” continues.

The Rostovs also end up in St. Petersburg, because the old count, wanting to improve his financial affairs, comes to the capital to look for a place of service. Berg proposes to Vera and marries her. Boris Drubetskoy, already a close person in the salon of Countess Helen Bezukhova, begins to visit the Rostovs, unable to resist Natasha’s charm; in a conversation with her mother, Natasha admits that she is not in love with Boris and does not intend to marry him, but she likes that he travels. The Countess talked to Drubetsky, and he stopped visiting the Rostovs.

On New Year's Eve there should be a ball at Catherine's nobleman's house. The Rostovs are carefully preparing for the ball; At the ball itself, Natasha experiences fear and timidity, delight and excitement. Prince Andrei invites her to dance, and “the wine of her charm went to his head”: after the ball, his activities in the commission, the sovereign’s speech in the Council, and Speransky’s activities seem insignificant to him. He proposes to Natasha, and the Rostovs accept him, but according to the condition set by the old Prince Bolkonsky, the wedding can only take place in a year. This year Bolkonsky is going abroad.

Nikolai Rostov comes to Otradnoye on vacation. He tries to put his business affairs in order, tries to check the accounts of the clerk Mitenka, but nothing comes of it. In mid-September, Nikolai, the old count, Natasha and Petya with a pack of dogs and a retinue of hunters go on a big hunt. Soon they are joined by their distant relative and neighbor (“uncle”). The old count and his servants let the wolf pass, for which the hunter Danilo scolded him, as if forgetting that the count was his master. At this time, another wolf came out to Nikolai, and Rostov’s dogs took him. Later, the hunters met their neighbor, Ilagin, hunting; The dogs of Ilagin, Rostov and the uncle chased the hare, but the uncle’s dog Rugai took it, which delighted the uncle. Then Rostov, Natasha and Petya go to their uncle. After dinner, uncle began to play the guitar, and Natasha went to dance. When they returned to Otradnoye, Natasha admitted that she would never be as happy and calm as she is now.

Christmas time has arrived; Natasha languishes with longing for Prince Andrei - for a short time she, like everyone else, is entertained by a trip to the neighbors with mummers, but the thought that “her life is being wasted” best time", torments her. During Christmas time, Nikolai felt especially keenly his love for Sonya and announced it to his mother and father, but this conversation upset them very much: the Rostovs hoped that their property circumstances would be improved by Nikolai’s marriage to a rich bride. Nikolai returns to the regiment, and the old count leaves for Moscow with Sonya and Natasha.

Old Bolkonsky also lives in Moscow; he has noticeably aged, become more irritable, his relationship with his daughter has deteriorated, which torments both the old man himself and especially Princess Marya. When Count Rostov and Natasha come to the Bolkonskys, they receive the Rostovs unkindly: the prince - with calculation, and Princess Marya - herself suffering from awkwardness. This hurts Natasha; to console her, Marya Dmitrievna, in whose house the Rostovs were staying, bought her a ticket to the opera. At the theater, the Rostovs meet Boris Drubetsky, now the fiancé of Julie Karagina, Dolokhov, Helen Bezukhova and her brother Anatoly Kuragin. Natasha meets Anatole. Helen invites the Rostovs to her place, where Anatole pursues Natasha and tells her of his love for her. He secretly sends her letters and is going to kidnap her in order to get married secretly (Anatole was already married, but almost no one knew this).

The kidnapping fails - Sonya accidentally finds out about it and confesses to Marya Dmitrievna; Pierre tells Natasha that Anatole is married. Prince Andrei, who arrives, learns about Natasha’s refusal (she sent a letter to Princess Marya) and about her affair with Anatole; Through Pierre, he returns Natasha’s letters. When Pierre comes to Natasha and sees her tear-stained face, he feels sorry for her and at the same time he unexpectedly tells her that if he were “the best man in the world,” he would “beg on his knees for her hand and love.” He leaves in tears of “tenderness and happiness.”

In June 1812, the war begins, Napoleon becomes the head of the army. Emperor Alexander, having learned that the enemy had crossed the border, sent Adjutant General Balashev to Napoleon. Balashev spends four days with the French, who do not recognize for him the importance that he had at the Russian court, and finally Napoleon receives him in the very palace from which the Russian emperor sent him. Napoleon listens only to himself, not noticing that he often falls into contradictions.

Prince Andrei wants to find Anatoly Kuragin and challenge him to a duel; for this he goes to St. Petersburg, and then to the Turkish army, where he serves at Kutuzov’s headquarters. When Bolkonsky learns about the start of the war with Napoleon, he asks to be transferred to Western army; Kutuzov gives him an assignment to Barclay de Tolly and releases him. On the way, Prince Andrei stops by Bald Mountains, where outwardly everything is the same, but the old prince is very irritated with Princess Marya and noticeably brings Mlle Bourienne closer to him. A difficult conversation takes place between the old prince and Andrei, Prince Andrei leaves.

In the Dris camp, where the main headquarters of the Russian army was located, Bolkonsky finds many opposing parties; At the military council, he finally understands that there is no military science, and everything is decided “in the ranks.” He asks the sovereign for permission to serve in the army, and not at court.

The Pavlograd regiment, in which Nikolai Rostov, now a captain, still serves, retreats from Poland to the Russian borders; none of the hussars thinks about where and why they are going. On July 12, one of the officers tells in the presence of Rostov about the feat of Raevsky, who led two sons to the Saltanovskaya dam and went on the attack next to them; This story raises doubts in Rostov: he does not believe the story and does not see the point in such an act, if it actually happened. The next day, near the town of Ostrovna, Rostov’s squadron attacked the French dragoons who were pushing back the Russian lancers. Nicholas captured a French officer with a “little face” - for this he received the St. George Cross, but he himself could not understand what was bothering him in this so-called feat.

The Rostovs live in Moscow, Natasha is very sick, doctors visit her; At the end of Peter's fast, Natasha decides to fast. On July 12, Sunday, the Rostovs went to mass at the Razumovskys’ home church. Natasha is very impressed by the prayer (“Let us pray to the Lord in peace”). She gradually returns to life and even begins to sing again, something she hasn’t done for a long time. Pierre brings the Emperor's appeal to the Muscovites to the Rostovs, everyone is moved, and Petya asks to be allowed to go to war. Having not received permission, Petya decides the next day to go meet the sovereign, who is coming to Moscow to express to him his desire to serve the fatherland.

In the crowd of Muscovites greeting the Tsar, Petya was almost run over. Together with others, he stood in front of the Kremlin Palace when the sovereign went out onto the balcony and began throwing biscuits to the people - one biscuit went to Petya. Returning home, Petya resolutely announced that he would certainly go to war, and the old count went the next day to find out how to settle Petya somewhere safer. On the third day of his stay in Moscow, the tsar met with the nobility and merchants. Everyone was in awe. The nobility donated militia, and merchants donated money.

Old Prince Bolkonsky is weakening; despite the fact that Prince Andrey informed his father in a letter that the French were already at Vitebsk and that his family’s stay in Bald Mountains was unsafe, the old prince laid out a new garden and a new building on his estate. Prince Nikolai Andreevich sends manager Alpatych to Smolensk with instructions, he, having arrived in the city, stops at an inn with a familiar owner, Ferapontov. Alpatych gives the governor a letter from the prince and hears advice to go to Moscow. The bombing begins, and then the fire of Smolensk begins. Ferapontov, who previously did not want to hear about the departure, suddenly begins distributing bags of food to the soldiers: “Get everything, guys! […] I’ve made up my mind! Race!" Alpatych meets Prince Andrei, and he writes a note to his sister, suggesting they urgently leave for Moscow.

For Prince Andrei, the fire of Smolensk “was an era” - the feeling of bitterness against the enemy made him forget his grief. In the regiment they called him “our prince,” they loved him and were proud of him, and he was kind and gentle “with his regimental men.” His father, having sent his family to Moscow, decided to stay in Bald Mountains and defend them “to the last extreme”; Princess Marya does not agree to leave with her nephews and remains with her father. After Nikolushka’s departure, the old prince suffers a stroke and is transported to Bogucharovo. For three weeks, paralyzed, the prince lies in Bogucharovo, and finally he dies, asking his daughter for forgiveness before his death.

Princess Marya, after her father’s funeral, is going to leave Bogucharovo for Moscow, but the Bogucharovo peasants do not want to let the princess go. By chance, Rostov turns up in Bogucharovo, easily pacifying the men, and the princess can leave. Both she and Nikolai think about the will of providence that arranged their meeting.

When Kutuzov is appointed commander-in-chief, he calls Prince Andrey to himself; he arrives in Tsarevo-Zaimishche, at the main apartment. Kutuzov listens with sympathy to the news of the death of the old prince and invites Prince Andrei to serve at the headquarters, but Bolkonsky asks for permission to remain in the regiment. Denisov, who also arrived at the main apartment, hurries to outline the plan to Kutuzov guerrilla warfare, but Kutuzov listens to Denisov (like the report of the general on duty) clearly inattentively, as if “with his life experience” despising everything that was said to him. And Prince Andrei leaves Kutuzov completely reassured. “He understands,” Bolkonsky thinks about Kutuzov, “that there is something stronger and more significant than his will - this is the inevitable course of events, and he knows how to see them, knows how to understand their meaning [...] And the main thing is that he is Russian "

Same. he speaks before the Battle of Borodino to Pierre, who came to see the battle. “While Russia was healthy, it could be served by a stranger and had an excellent minister, but as soon as it is in danger, it needs its own, dear person,” Bolkonsky explains the appointment of Kutuzov as commander-in-chief instead of Barclay. During the battle, Prince Andrey is mortally wounded; he is brought into the tent to the dressing station, where he sees Anatoly Kuragin on the next table - his leg is being amputated. Bolkonsky is overwhelmed by a new feeling - a feeling of compassion and love for everyone, including his enemies.

Pierre's appearance on the Borodino field is preceded by a description of Moscow society, where they refused to speak French (and even fined for a French word or phrase), where Rastopchinsky posters, with their pseudo-folk rude tone, are distributed. Pierre feels a special joyful “sacrificial” feeling: “everything is nonsense in comparison with something,” which Pierre could not understand for himself. On the way to Borodin, he meets militiamen and wounded soldiers, one of whom says: “They want to attack all the people.” On the field of Borodin, Bezukhov sees a prayer service in front of the Smolensk miraculous icon, meets some of his acquaintances, including Dolokhov, who asks Pierre for forgiveness.

During the battle, Bezukhov found himself at Raevsky's battery. The soldiers soon get used to him and call him “our master”; When the charges run out, Pierre volunteers to bring new ones, but before he could reach the charging boxes, there was a deafening explosion. Pierre runs to the battery, where the French are already in charge; the French officer and Pierre simultaneously grab each other, but a flying cannonball forces them to unclench their hands, and the Russian soldiers who run up drive the French away. Pierre is horrified by the sight of the dead and wounded; he leaves the battlefield and walks three miles along the Mozhaisk road. He sits down on the side of the road; After some time, three soldiers make a fire nearby and call Pierre to dinner. After dinner, they go together to Mozhaisk, on the way they meet the guard Pierre, who takes Bezukhov to the inn. At night, Pierre has a dream in which a benefactor speaks to him (that’s what he calls Bazdeev); the voice says that you must be able to unite in your soul “the meaning of everything.” “No,” Pierre hears in a dream, “not to connect, but to pair.” Pierre returns to Moscow.

Two more characters are shown in close-up during the Battle of Borodino: Napoleon and Kutuzov. On the eve of the battle, Napoleon receives a gift from Paris from the Empress - a portrait of his son; he orders the portrait to be taken out to show it to the old guard. Tolstoy claims that Napoleon’s orders before the Battle of Borodino were no worse than all his other orders, but nothing depended on the will of the French emperor. At Borodino, the French army suffered a moral defeat - this is, according to Tolstoy, the most important result of the battle.

Kutuzov did not make any orders during the battle: he knew that the outcome of the battle was decided by “an elusive force called the spirit of the army,” and he led this force “as far as it was in his power.” When adjutant Wolzogen comes to the commander-in-chief with news from Barclay that the left flank is upset and the troops are fleeing, Kutuzov furiously attacks him, claiming that the enemy has been repulsed everywhere and that tomorrow there will be an offensive. And this mood of Kutuzov is transmitted to the soldiers.

After the Battle of Borodino, Russian troops retreat to Fili; The main issue that military leaders are discussing is the issue of protecting Moscow. Kutuzov, realizing that there is no way to defend Moscow, gives the order to retreat. At the same time, Rostopchin, not understanding the meaning of what was happening, ascribes to himself a leading role in the abandonment and fire of Moscow - that is, in an event that could not have happened by the will of one person and could not fail to happen in the circumstances of that time. He advises Pierre to leave Moscow, reminding him of his connection with the Freemasons, gives the merchant son Vereshchagin to the crowd to be torn to pieces and leaves Moscow. The French enter Moscow. Napoleon stands on Poklonnaya Hill, awaiting the deputation of the boyars and playing out magnanimous scenes in his imagination; they report to him that Moscow is empty.

On the eve of leaving Moscow, the Rostovs were preparing to leave. When the carts were already packed, one of the wounded officers (n.

the day before, several wounded were taken into the house by the Rostovs) asked permission to go further with the Rostovs on their cart. The Countess initially objected - after all, the last fortune was lost - but Natasha convinced her parents to give all the carts to the wounded, and leave most of the things. Among the wounded officers who were traveling with the Rostovs from Moscow was Andrei Bolkonsky. In Mytishchi, during the next stop, Natasha entered the room where Prince Andrei was lying. Since then, she looked after him on all vacations and overnight stays.

Pierre did not leave Moscow, but left his home and began to live in the house of Bazdeev’s widow. even before his trip to Borodino, he learned from one of the Masonic brothers that the Apocalypse predicted the invasion of Napoleon; he began to calculate the meaning of the name of Napoleon (“the beast” from the Apocalypse), and the number was equal to 666; the same amount was obtained from the numerical value of his name. This is how Pierre discovered his destiny - to kill Napoleon. He remains in Moscow and prepares for a great feat. When the French enter Moscow, officer Rambal and his orderly come to Bazdeev’s house. Bazdeev's crazy brother, who lived in the same house, shoots Rambal, but Pierre snatches the gun from him. During dinner, Rambal openly tells Pierre about himself, about his love affairs; Pierre tells the Frenchman the story of his love for Natasha. The next morning he goes to the city, no longer really believing his intention to kill Napoleon, saves the girl, stands up for the Armenian family, which is being robbed by the French; he is arrested by a detachment of French lancers.

St. Petersburg life, “concerned only with ghosts, reflections of life,” went on as before. Anna Pavlovna Scherer had an evening at which a letter from Metropolitan Plato to the sovereign was read and the illness of Helen Bezukhova was discussed. The next day, news was received about the abandonment of Moscow; after some time, Colonel Michaud arrived from Kutuzov with news of the abandonment and fire of Moscow; During a conversation with Michaud, Alexander said that he himself would stand at the head of his army, but would not sign peace. Meanwhile, Napoleon sends Loriston to Kutuzov with a peace proposal, but Kutuzov refuses “any deal.” The Tsar demands offensive action, and, despite Kutuzov’s reluctance, the Battle of Tarutino was given.

On an autumn night, Kutuzov receives news that the French have left Moscow. Until the very expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia, all of Kutuzov’s activities are aimed only at keeping troops from useless offensives and clashes with the dying enemy. The French army melts as it retreats; Kutuzov, on the way from Krasny to the main apartment, addresses the soldiers and officers: “While they were strong, we did not feel sorry for ourselves, but now we can feel sorry for them. They are people too." Intrigues against the commander-in-chief do not stop, and in Vilna the sovereign reprimands Kutuzov for his slowness and mistakes. Nevertheless, Kutuzov was awarded George I degree. But in the upcoming campaign - already outside Russia - Kutuzov is not needed. “The representative of the people's war had no choice but death. And he died."

Nikolai Rostov goes for repairs (to buy horses for the division) to Voronezh, where he meets Princess Marya; he again has thoughts about marrying her, but he is bound by the promise he made to Sonya. Unexpectedly, he receives a letter from Sonya, in which she returns his word to him (the letter was written at the insistence of the Countess). Princess Marya, having learned that her brother is in Yaroslavl, with the Rostovs, goes to see him. She sees Natasha, her grief and feels closeness between herself and Natasha. She finds her brother in a state where he already knows that he will die. Natasha understood the meaning of the turning point that occurred in Prince Andrei shortly before her sister’s arrival: she tells Princess Marya that Prince Andrei is “too good, he cannot live.” When Prince Andrei died, Natasha and Princess Marya felt “reverent tenderness” before the mystery of death.

The arrested Pierre is brought to the guardhouse, where he is kept along with other detainees; he is interrogated by French officers, then he is interrogated by Marshal Davout. Davout was known for his cruelty, but when Pierre and the French marshal exchanged glances, they both vaguely felt that they were brothers. This look saved Pierre. He, along with others, was taken to the place of execution, where the French shot five, and Pierre and the rest of the prisoners were taken to the barracks. The spectacle of the execution had a terrible effect on Bezukhov, in his soul “everything fell into a heap of meaningless rubbish.” A neighbor in the barracks (his name was Platon Karataev) fed Pierre and calmed him down with his gentle speech. Pierre forever remembered Karataev as the personification of everything “Russian good and round.” Plato sews shirts for the French and several times notices that among the French different people there are. A party of prisoners is taken out of Moscow, and together with the retreating army they walk along the Smolensk road. During one of the transitions, Karataev falls ill and is killed by the French. After this, Bezukhov, at a rest stop, has a dream in which he sees a ball, the surface of which consists of drops. Drops move, move; “Here he is, Karataev, spilled over and disappeared,” Pierre dreams. The next morning, a detachment of prisoners was repulsed by Russian partisans.

Denisov, the commander of a partisan detachment, is going to unite with a small detachment of Dolokhov to attack a large French transport with Russian prisoners. A messenger arrives from a German general, the head of a large detachment, with an offer to join for joint action against the French. This messenger was Petya Rostov, who remained for the day in Denisov’s detachment. Petya sees Tikhon Shcherbaty, a man who went to “take the language” and escaped pursuit, returning to the detachment. Dolokhov arrives and, together with Petya Rostov, goes on reconnaissance to the French. When Petya returns to the detachment, he asks the Cossack to sharpen his saber; he almost falls asleep and dreams of music. The next morning, the detachment attacks a French transport, and during a shootout Petya dies. Among the captured prisoners was Pierre.

After his release, Pierre is in Oryol - he is sick, the physical deprivations he experienced are taking their toll, but mentally he feels a freedom he has never experienced before. He learns about the death of his wife, that Prince Andrei was alive for another month after being wounded. Arriving in Moscow, Pierre goes to Princess Marya, where he meets Natasha. After the death of Prince Andrei, Natasha became isolated in her grief; She is brought out of this state by the news of Petya’s death. She does not leave her mother for three weeks, and only she can ease the countess’s grief. When Princess Marya leaves for Moscow, Natasha, at the insistence of her father, goes with her. Pierre discusses with Princess Marya the possibility of happiness with Natasha; Natasha also awakens in love for Pierre.

Seven years have passed. Natasha marries Pierre in 1813. The old Count Rostov dies. Nikolai retires, accepts the inheritance - there are twice as many debts as estates. He, along with his mother and Sonya, settles in Moscow, in a modest apartment. Having met Princess Marya, he tries to be reserved and dry with her (the thought of marrying a rich bride is unpleasant to him), but an explanation occurs between them, and in the fall of 1814 Rostov marries Princess Bolkonskaya. They move to Bald Mountains; Nikolai skillfully manages the household and soon pays off his debts. Sonya lives in his house; “she, like a cat, has taken root not with people, but with the house.”

In December 1820, Natasha and her children visited her brother. They are waiting for Pierre's arrival from St. Petersburg. Pierre arrives and brings gifts for everyone. In the office, a conversation takes place between Pierre, Denisov (he is also visiting the Rostovs) and Nikolai, Pierre is a member of a secret society; he talks about bad government and the need for change. Nikolai does not agree with Pierre and says that he cannot accept the secret society. During the conversation, Nikolenka Bolkonsky, the son of Prince Andrei, is present. At night he dreams that he and Uncle Pierre, wearing helmets, as in Plutarch’s book, are walking ahead of a huge army. Nikolenka wakes up with thoughts of her father and future glory.

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