II

- It's coming! shouted the machinist at that time.

The regimental commander blushed, ran up to the horse, with trembling hands took hold of the stirrup, flung the body over, recovered himself, drew his sword, and with a happy, resolute face, with his mouth open to one side, prepared to shout. The regiment started like a recovering bird and froze.

- Smir-r-r-r-na! shouted the regimental commander in a soul-shattering voice, joyful for himself, strict in relation to the regiment and friendly in relation to the approaching chief.

Along the wide, tree-lined, high, highwayless road, with a slight rattle of springs, a tall blue Viennese carriage rode in a train at a fast trot. A retinue and a convoy of Croats galloped behind the carriage. Near Kutuzov sat an Austrian general in a strange, among black Russians, white uniform. The carriage stopped at the regiment. Kutuzov and the Austrian general were talking quietly about something, and Kutuzov smiled slightly, while, stepping heavily, he lowered his foot from the footboard, as if there weren’t those 2,000 people who were looking at him and the regimental without breathing. commander.

There was a shout of the command, again the regiment, ringing, trembled, making guard. In the dead silence, the weak voice of the commander-in-chief was heard. The regiment barked: “We wish you good health, your go-go-go-go-stvo!” And again everything froze. At first, Kutuzov stood in one place while the regiment moved; then Kutuzov, next to the white general, on foot, accompanied by his retinue, began to walk through the ranks.

By the way the regimental commander saluted the commander-in-chief, glaring at him, stretching out and getting up, how, leaning forward, walked behind the generals along the ranks, barely keeping a trembling movement, how he jumped at every word and movement of the commander-in-chief, it was clear that he was fulfilling his duties subordinate with even greater pleasure than the duties of a boss. The regiment, thanks to the severity and diligence of the regimental commander, was in excellent condition compared to others who came at the same time to Braunau. There were only 217 retarded and sick people. Everything was fine, except for the shoes.

Kutuzov walked along the ranks, stopping occasionally and saying a few affectionate words to the officers whom he knew from Turkish war and sometimes soldiers. Glancing at the shoes, he shook his head sadly several times and pointed at them to the Austrian general with such an expression that he seemed not to reproach anyone for this, but he could not help but see how bad it was. The regimental commander ran ahead each time, afraid to miss the word of the commander-in-chief regarding the regiment. Behind Kutuzov, at such a distance that any weakly spoken word could be heard, walked a man of 20 retinues. The gentlemen of the retinues talked among themselves and sometimes laughed. Closest behind the commander-in-chief was a handsome adjutant. It was Prince Bolkonsky. Next to him was his comrade Nesvitsky, a tall staff officer, extremely fat, with a kind and smiling pretty face and wet eyes; Nesvitsky could hardly restrain himself from laughing, aroused by the blackish hussar officer walking beside him. The hussar officer, without smiling, without changing the expression of his fixed eyes, looked with a serious face at the back of the regimental commander and mimicked his every movement. Every time the regimental commander shuddered and leaned forward, in exactly the same way, exactly the same way, the hussar officer shuddered and leaned forward. Nesvitsky laughed and pushed the others to look at the funny man.

Kutuzov walked slowly and listlessly past a thousand eyes that rolled out of their sockets, following the boss. Having leveled with the 3rd company, he suddenly stopped. The retinue, not foreseeing this stop, involuntarily advanced on him.

- Ah, Timokhin! - said the commander-in-chief, recognizing the captain with a red nose, who suffered for a blue overcoat.

It seemed that it was impossible to stretch Furthermore how Timokhin was stretched out, while the regimental commander reprimanded him. But at that moment the commander-in-chief addressed him, the captain drew himself up so that it seemed that if the commander-in-chief had looked at him for a little more time, the captain would not have been able to stand it; and therefore Kutuzov, apparently understanding his position and wishing, on the contrary, all the best for the captain, hastily turned away. A barely perceptible smile ran across Kutuzov's plump, wounded face.

“Another Izmaylovsky comrade,” he said. "Brave officer!" Are you happy with it? Kutuzov asked the regimental commander.

And the regimental commander, as if reflected in a mirror, invisibly to himself, in the hussar officer, shuddered, went forward and answered:

“Very pleased, Your Excellency.

“We are all not without weaknesses,” said Kutuzov, smiling and moving away from him. “He had an attachment to Bacchus.

The regimental commander was afraid that he was not to blame for this, and did not answer. The officer at that moment noticed the face of the captain with a red nose and tightened belly and mimicked his face and posture so similarly that Nesvitsky could not help laughing.

Kutuzov turned around. It was evident that the officer could control his face as he wanted: at the moment Kutuzov turned around, the officer managed to make a grimace, and after that take on the most serious, respectful and innocent expression.

The third company was the last, and Kutuzov thought, apparently remembering something. Prince Andrei stepped out of the retinue and quietly said in French:

- You ordered to be reminded of the demoted Dolokhov in this regiment.

- Where is Dolokhov? Kutuzov asked.

Dolokhov, already dressed in a soldier's gray overcoat, did not wait to be called. A slim body blond with clear blue eyes the soldier stepped out of the front. He approached the commander-in-chief and made a guard.

– Claim? - Frowning slightly, asked Kutuzov.

“This is Dolokhov,” said Prince Andrei.

– A! Kutuzov said. – I hope this lesson will correct you, serve well. The Emperor is merciful. And I won't forget you if you deserve it.

Clear blue eyes looked at the commander-in-chief as boldly as they did at the regimental commander, as if by their expression they were tearing away the veil of conventionality that separated the commander-in-chief so far from the soldier.

“I ask you one thing, Your Excellency,” he said in his resonant, firm, unhurried voice. “I ask you to give me a chance to make amends for my guilt and prove my devotion to the emperor and Russia.

Kutuzov turned away. The same smile of his eyes flashed across his face as at the time when he turned away from Captain Timokhin. He turned away and grimaced, as if he wanted to express by this that everything that Dolokhov told him, and everything that he could tell him, he had known for a long, long time that all this had already bored him and that all this was not at all what he needed. . He turned and walked towards the carriage.

The regiment sorted out in companies and headed for the assigned apartments not far from Braunau, where they hoped to put on shoes, dress and rest after difficult transitions.

- You do not pretend to me, Prokhor Ignatich? - said the regimental commander, circling the 3rd company moving towards the place and driving up to Captain Timokhin, who was walking in front of it. The face of the regimental commander, after a happily departed review, expressed irrepressible joy. - The royal service ... you can’t ... another time you’ll cut off at the front ... I’ll be the first to apologize, you know me ... Thank you very much! And he held out his hand to the commander.

“Excuse me, General, do I dare!” - the captain answered, turning red with his nose, smiling and revealing with a smile the lack of two front teeth, knocked out by a butt near Ishmael.

- Yes, tell Mr. Dolokhov that I will not forget him, so that he is calm. Yes, please tell me, I kept wanting to ask, what is he, how is he behaving? And everything...

“He is very serviceable in his service, Your Excellency ... but the carakhter ...” said Timokhin.

- And what, what is the character? asked the regimental commander.

“He finds, Your Excellency, for days,” said the captain, “he is smart, and learned, and kind. And that's a beast. In Poland, he killed a Jew, if you please know ...

“Well, yes, well, yes,” said the regimental commander, “everything must be regretted.” young man in misfortune. After all, great connections ... So you ...

“I’m listening, Your Excellency,” Timokhin said, with a smile making it feel that he understood the wishes of the boss.

- Yes Yes.

The regimental commander found Dolokhov in the ranks and reined in his horse.

“Before the first case, epaulettes,” he told him.

Dolokhov looked around, said nothing, and did not change the expression of his mockingly smiling mouth.

“Well, that’s good,” continued the regimental commander. “People get a glass of vodka from me,” he added, so that the soldiers could hear. – Thank you all! God bless! - And he, having overtaken a company, drove up to another.

- Well, he, right, good man; You can serve with him,” Timokhin said to the subaltern officer walking beside him.

- One word, red! ... (the regimental commander was nicknamed the red king) - the subaltern officer said, laughing.

The happy mood of the authorities after the review passed to the soldiers. Rota was having fun. Soldiers' voices were talking from all sides.

- How did they say, Kutuzov crooked, about one eye?

- But no! Totally crooked.

- Not ... brother, more big-eyed than you. Boots and collars - looked around everything ...

- How does he, my brother, look at my feet ... well! Think…

- And another Austrian, he was with him, as if smeared with chalk. Like flour, white. I'm tea, how they clean ammunition!

- What, Fedeshow! ... he said, perhaps, when the guards begin, did you stand closer? They said everything, Bunaparte himself is standing in Brunov.

- Bunaparte stands! you lie, fool! What does not know! Now the Prussian is in revolt. The Austrian, therefore, pacifies him. As soon as he reconciles, then war will open with Bounaparte. And then, he says, in Brunov, Bunaparte is standing! It's obvious that he's an idiot. You listen more.

“Look, damn tenants! The fifth company, look, is already turning into the village, they will cook porridge, and we will not reach the place yet.

- Give me a cracker, damn it.

“Did you give tobacco yesterday?” That's it, brother. Well, on, God is with you.

- If only they made a halt, otherwise you won’t eat another five miles of proprem.

- It was kind of fun how the Germans gave us strollers. You go, know: it's important!

- And here, brother, the people went completely frantic. There everything seemed to be a Pole, everything was of the Russian crown; and now, brother, a solid German has gone.

- Songwriters ahead! - I heard the cry of the captain.

And twenty people ran out in front of the company from different ranks. The drummer-singer turned to face the song-books, and, waving his hand, sang a drawn-out soldier's song, beginning: "Isn't it dawn, the sun was breaking up ..." and ending with the words: "So, brothers, glory will be to us with Kamensky father ..." This song was composed in Turkey and now sung in Austria, only with the change that the words "Kutuzov's father" were inserted in place of "Kamensky father".

Tearing off like a soldier these last words and waving his arms as if he were throwing something on the ground, the drummer, a dry and handsome soldier of about forty, sternly looked around at the song soldiers and closed his eyes. Then, making sure that all eyes were fixed on him, he seemed to carefully lift some invisible, precious thing above his head with both hands, held it like that for several seconds, and suddenly threw it desperately:

Oh, you, my canopy, my canopy!

“Canopy my new…”, twenty voices picked up, and the spoonman, despite the heaviness of the ammunition, briskly jumped forward and walked backwards in front of the company, moving his shoulders and threatening someone with spoons. The soldiers, swinging their arms to the beat of the song, walked with a spacious step, involuntarily hitting the leg. Behind the company came the sounds of wheels, the crunch of springs and the clatter of horses.

Kutuzov with his retinue was returning to the city. The Commander-in-Chief signaled that the people should continue to walk freely, and pleasure was expressed on his face and on all the faces of his retinue at the sound of the song, at the sight of the dancing soldier and the merrily and briskly marching soldiers of the company. In the second row, from the right flank, from which the carriage overtook the companies, a blue-eyed soldier, Dolokhov, involuntarily caught the eye, who walked especially briskly and gracefully to the beat of the song and looked at the faces of the passers-by with such an expression as if he pitied everyone who did not go at this time with a company. A hussar cornet from Kutuzov's retinue, mimicking the regimental commander, lagged behind the carriage and drove up to Dolokhov.

The hussar cornet Zherkov at one time in St. Petersburg belonged to that violent society led by Dolokhov. Zherkov met Dolokhov abroad as a soldier, but did not consider it necessary to recognize him. Now, after Kutuzov's conversation with the demoted, he turned to him with the joy of an old friend:

- Dear friend, how are you? - he said at the sound of the song, equalizing the step of his horse with the step of the company.

- I am like? - answered Dolokhov coldly, - as you can see.

The lively song attached particular importance to the tone of cheeky gaiety with which Zherkov spoke, and the deliberate coldness of Dolokhov's answers.

- So, how do you get along with the authorities? Zherkov asked.

- Nothing, good people. How did you get into the headquarters?

- Seconded, I'm on duty.

They were silent.

“I let the falcon out of my right sleeve,” said the song, involuntarily arousing a cheerful, cheerful feeling. Their conversation would probably have been different if they had not spoken at the sound of a song.

- What is true, the Austrians were beaten? Dolokhov asked.

“The devil knows, they say.

“I am glad,” Dolokhov answered briefly and clearly, as the song demanded.

- Well, come to us when in the evening, the pharaoh will pawn, - said Zherkov.

Or do you have a lot of money?

- Come.

- It is forbidden. He gave a vow. I don't drink or play until it's done.

Well, before the first thing...

- You'll see it there.

Again they were silent.

“Come in, if you need anything, everyone at headquarters will help…” said Zherkov.

Dolokhov chuckled.

“You better not worry. What I need, I won't ask, I'll take it myself.

"Yeah, well, I'm so...

- Well, so am I.

- Goodbye.

- Be healthy…

... and high and far,

On the home side...

Zherkov touched his horse with his spurs, which three times, getting excited, kicked, not knowing where to start, coped and galloped, overtaking the company and catching up with the carriage, also in time with the song.

1805. Russian troops are in the villages of the Austrian Archduchy, many of the newly arrived regiments stopped at the Braunau fortress, it was here that Main Headquarters Kutuzov. And then another of the regiments approached the fortress. The commander-in-chief is to inspect the soldiers. The commander received an order to prepare the soldiers for inspection, but he did not understand exactly how the soldiers should be dressed, whether they should be left in the marching room, or in the front door. In a word, he ordered the commanders-in-chief to dress in full dress, which the soldiers did. Everyone looked like a needle, only the shoes were very worn out, but this is not the commander’s fault, they just haven’t received a replacement yet.
A little later, an adjutant arrives in the regiment to explain to the commander about exactly how the soldiers should be dressed. As it turned out, they need to be on the march. All this was necessary to show the allies, who demanded the rapid annexation of the Russian troops, in what a deplorable state the Russian army was.

The soldiers change clothes, all as one, only one soldier was in other clothes. For this, the commander yelled at the general, under whose command the soldier was. But it turned out that this was the demoted Dolokhov. The commander orders him to change clothes, but Dolokhov does not agree, because he is not obliged, then the commander does not order, but asks like a human being.

Chapter 2

And then a carriage drives in, where Kutuzov is sitting with the Austrian general. All the soldiers stood at attention at attention and greeted those who entered. Kutuzov and the general begin an inspection during which Kutuzov constantly pointed out to the Austrian how the soldiers' shoes were disheveled. Passing by familiar soldiers, Kutuzov says an affectionate word to everyone. Bolkonsky constantly walked next to the commander-in-chief, who played the role of adjutant. He, at the request of Kutuzov, reminded the commander in chief of Dolokhov. Approaching Dolokhov, he heard that Dolokhov was ready to atone for his offense and prove his devotion and loyalty. Then everyone disperses to the sound of a song that the soldiers sang.

Chapter 3

After the inspection, Kutuzov returns to his headquarters. With him is an Austrian general and Andrei Bolkonsky. Bolkonsky brings maps and letters, after which Kutuzov tells the Austrian that he does not see the need for Russian troops to join the Austrian army, because, as it is written in a letter from Archduke Ferdinand, General Mack won the victory. But the Austrian frowned after such words, considering the mention of victory a mockery. Kutuzov orders Andrei to write a memorandum from reports from scouts. By the way, Andrey has changed a lot, now he is not a lazy guy, but a person who is busy with an interesting business for him, a person who Kutuzov does not praise when sending letters to his father.
Everyone is waiting for news from the Austrian General Mack. In the corridor, Andrei with his friends Nesvitsky and Zherkov meet a stranger who wants to go to Kutuzov. The guys recognize General Mack in him. News of his defeat is confirmed. Andrei now understands perfectly well what awaits the Russian army, and that war with the French is inevitable. On the one hand, he is glad, because he can fight, but on the other hand, he is afraid of meeting with Bonaparte's army.

Chapter 4

Rostov Nikolay got into the Pavlograd hussar regiment. Its commander is captain Denisov, with whom they live together with a German peasant, not far from the Braunau fortress. Once Rostov came to the house and did not find Denisov. The footman said that he was playing and most likely lost. So it was. Denisov came angry and out of sorts. I gave the wallet to Rostov so that he would count the money and put it under the pillow. Together with Denisov, Telyanin also arrived - an officer who was transferred from the guard for some reason. Nobody liked this Telyanin. Rostov had to go out, and Denisov went to drink water. When Telyanin left, and Denisov wanted to take the purse, no one found him. Rostov understood who took the money, even though Denisov began to blame the lackey. However, Rostov came out and went to meet Telyanin, but he went to the headquarters. There, at the headquarters, there was a tavern, where Rostov found Telyanin. In the same place, in front of everyone, Rostov forced the officer to confess to the theft and took the wallet, while throwing his own to him.

Chapter 5

In the evening, officers gathered in the lady at Denisov's and began to discuss the event. Since Rostov accused a colleague of stealing in front of everyone. Then the regimental officer has no choice but to bring Telyanin to justice, only this will form a dark spot on the entire regiment. Rostov to apologize to the regimental commander, who said that Rostov was lying. But Rostov did not refuse his words, and he was not going to ask for forgiveness. For a long time, the officer persuaded Rostov, who finally agreed to apologize, and Telyanin himself, under the guise of a patient, was decided to be expelled from the regiment. During the conversation, another officer entered the house and said that Mack had surrendered, now they all have to go on a hike. And the soldiers are only happy, because they have already stayed too long.

Chapter 6

Kutuzov with his army retreated to Vienna. On his way, he burned all the bridges. In October, our troops crossed the Enns River. A town was visible in the distance, there were houses and a monastery, and the enemy camp was also visible. Russian soldiers joke when talking, because they still do not realize the complexity of the situation, they are talking among themselves. Among the soldiers is Nesvitsky, who was sent by the commander in chief. Nesvitsky treats everyone with pies. There are delays at the crossing, so the general hurries the soldiers. And then the enemy begins to fire at the bridge, which was ordered to be set on fire after the crossing.

Chapter 7

Soldiers are crossing the bridge. They walk, huddled with each other, and carry on various conversations. Along the way, they met girls with whom everyone wanted to talk. Denisov, who was irritated by the slow crossing, began to tell Nesvitsky to urge the soldiers on, and meanwhile, the soldiers were gradually moving across the river. From time to time, enemy nuclei fly over the heads of soldiers.

Chapter 8

Almost everyone had already moved, leaving the last regiment of Denisov. And then the French showed up. The enemy began to fire on the squadron. The soldiers became more and more worried with each shot. The soldiers crossed without loss. Now there was an order to burn down the bridge. The colonel himself volunteered to light the bridge, taking with him the men of the second squadron, where Rostov was also. Meanwhile, at the other end, Nesvitsky and Zherkov were thinking about whether the soldiers would be in time to set fire to the bridge or whether they would be killed ahead of time. And just three soldiers were hit by a shell. One fell on the spot, two were injured. Rostov, meanwhile, talked about how cowardly he was, but no one noticed his cowardice, because everyone who goes to war for the first time feels the same. The soldiers managed to set fire to the bridge and with few losses they returned to their own. At the same time, the colonel did not forget to say so that they would report to the commander-in-chief that it was he who set fire to the bridge.

Chapter 9

Kutuzov's army is retreating, as Bonaparte's 100,000-strong army does not give a chance to win. In order not to lose his soldiers, Kutuzov decided to retreat, so there can be no question of defending Vienna. Along the way, Kutuzov's army had to fight off the enemy.

Here Kutuzov's army moved to the left side of the Danube, here he, behind for a long time, managed to defeat the French forces under the command of Mortier. During the struggle, General Schmitt was killed. Andrei Bolkonsky was sent to the emperor with the news of this minor victory. Andrey went with good mood, but when he was sent to the Minister of War upon arrival, all the mood went somewhere. He had never seen such indifference, and Andrei thought that it was possible to fight like that, sitting in an armchair. Meanwhile, the minister of war said that the emperor would receive him, but the next day.

Chapter 10

Andrei stops at his friend Bilibin, a diplomat. He was one of those diplomats who love work and work. Friends talked about the war. Andrei spoke about the meeting with the military commissar and his cold reception, to which Bilibin replied that everything was in the order of things, because they did not care about Russian victories. Now, if the Austrian army defeated the enemy, and besides, Vienna was handed over to the French, Schmitt was killed. Against this background, Kutuzov's victory is insignificant. After talking, Andrey went to bed and dreamed about the battlefield.

Chapter 11

The next day, when Bolkonsky woke up, he went downstairs, where he found Biblin and his friends. They talked not about the war, but about the awards that everyone can receive. The guys joked and were in good location spirit. Bolkonsky, on the other hand, went to meet Emperor Franz.

Chapter 12

Having met with the emperor, it seemed to Andrei that he had nothing to talk about. He just started asking different questions, the answers to which are obvious. Here Andrei receives his award with the Austrian Order. Kutuzov was also awarded the order. In the meantime, they learn that the French army crossed to this side, and the bridge itself was never blown up, although it was mined. Andrey is going to go back to the regiment. Bilibin tries to dissuade him, but Andrei is sure he needs to go to save the army.

Chapter 13

Andrei returns to the army. On the way, he is afraid that the French will intercept him. On the way there is an army, soldiers who moved randomly and there were carts everywhere. Having reached the village, he meets Nesvitsky, who pointed out the house of the commander-in-chief Kutuzov. Andrei goes to Kutuzov, who at this time is with Bagration and an Austrian general. Coming closer, Andrei saw how Kutuzov saw Bagration off, and then they started talking with Kutuzov. In conversation, Kutuzov asked about the trip to the emperor.

Chapter 14

The French were strong in their numbers and all the time tried to block the path of Kutuzov's soldiers so that they could not connect with other troops. Kutuzov sends Bagration's army forward to hold back the French as best he can. Bagration with a small number of soldiers arrived at their destination. Bagration sends parliamentarians to the French commander for negotiations. A small number of soldiers misled the Frenchman Murat, who thought that this was all the soldiers. He offers a three-day truce and for the Kutuzov army this is a real salvation. But Bonaparte saw through everything and sent a formidable letter to Murat while the Russian troops, suspecting nothing, were sitting by the fire, drinking and eating.

Chapter 15

Andrei Bolkonsky still joins Bagration, even though Kutuzov told him that Andrei needed him too. Andrei goes to the headquarters to see everything around. There, preparations for battle were in full swing.

Chapter 16

Andrei returned from inspection and went to where the entire field was visible. There he saw that French army the line was wider and they could easily bypass the Russian army. The Russian army, on the contrary, will have a harder time advancing and it will be more difficult to retreat. Next, Andrey made sketches of how to arrange better army which I wanted to show to Bagration. Then Andrew heard voices. It was Tushin and other gunners who talked about life and death. And then I heard how the ball flew by and fell very close.

Chapter 17

The battle began. Andrei went to Bagration and heard how the cannonade increased and increased. It was Murat who received Bonaparte's letter and, in order to somehow rectify the situation, launched an offensive. Everywhere is bustle, the soldiers began to take up arms. Bagration and Andrey drove up to Tushin's battery, who began to shell the village where the French had stopped. Bagration sends adjutant Zherkov to the general with a request that he retreat beyond the ravine. Andrei sees that everything is not going as planned, everything is given to the will of the commanders, but the very presence of Bagration gives the soldiers strength and confidence.

Chapter 18

The fight continues. Bagration does not give new orders. It just started moving forward. Already the faces of the French began to distinguish. And then a shot was heard. And there is the second one. Several of our guys dropped dead. Bagration turned around and shouted "Hurrah."

Chapter 19

The right flank of the Russian army managed to retreat. Tushin's battery continued to block the movement of the French army. Zherkov, who was supposed to inform the general about the retreat, could not get there because of fear and did not transmit the order. The commanders of the two flanks began to quarrel. Meanwhile, the French attacked the soldiers. Denisov, where Rostov served, orders to advance. Rostov is engulfed in excitement and attacks with the rest, only a horse is killed under him, and he is wounded in the arm. Frightened, instead of shooting at the enemy, he throws the gun, and then starts to run. Run to the bushes where the Russian arrows are.

Chapter 20

The soldiers fled, retreated, and then Timokhin's company suddenly attacked the French. They began to turn. Dolokhov managed to capture the Frenchman. In the turmoil, they forget about Tushin's army, remembering Bagration orders them to retreat, but Tushin does not listen, continues to shoot. He fired in such a way that it seemed to the French that the bulk of the Russian army was concentrated in the center. Andrei reminds Tushin to retreat. Andrey says goodbye to Tushin.

Chapter 21

The authorities pounce on Tushin with claims. A wagon arrives, where the wounded Rostov is also found. Tushin talks with Rostov, and then orders to find a doctor. Tushin is summoned to the general, where Bagration reprimands the captain, accusing him of leaving his weapon. That's just Andrei to defend Tushin, talking about the fact that the day operation was successfully completed only thanks to the efforts of Tushin. Tushin leaves.

Rostov, meanwhile, suffers terrible pain. When he fell asleep, he dreamed of his mother, Natasha, and the story of Telyanin was also remembered. He seems to be alone.
The next day, Kutuzov's army arrives at Bagration.

Summary of War and Peace Volume 2

Part 1

In January 1806, Nikolai Rostov, together with Denisov, came home on vacation. At home he is greeted as a hero, everyone is happy about his arrival and is very proud of him. Nikolai buys himself smart outfits, begins to visit entertainment establishments and gets himself a woman whom he visits in the evenings, although he still loves Sophia, but believes that he should lead a "hussar" lifestyle.

In the house of Count Rostov, the celebration and honor of Bagration begins, officers arrive and the whole elite society, including Pierre Bezukhov. Pierre feels very lonely and unhappy at the holiday, rumors have long been heard that his wife had an affair with Dolokhov, and in the morning an anonymous letter was brought to him, in which he was told about Helen's adventures. At the table, Pierre was opposite Dolokhov and tried not to pay attention to him, but Dolokhov does everything possible to anger Bezukhov: first he makes a toast: "to pretty women and their lovers," and then snatches a cantata from Pierre and starts reading it loudly. Pierre loses his temper and challenges Dolokhov to a duel, this was a very decisive act, because Pierre never held a weapon in his hands and did not even know how duels go. The next morning they met in Sokolniki and Pierre wounded Fedor, and he himself remained unharmed after a return shot.

After the duel, Bezukhov comes home and thinks about his life and realizes that he does not love Helen and that she is a depraved woman who brings him nothing but misfortune. Helen agrees to a divorce with only one condition: if Pierre fully provides for her. Only to part with his wife, Bezukhov gives her most of his condition.

The old prince Bolkonsky receives a letter in which he is informed that his son may have died, since he is not among the wounded and alleged prisoners. One night, Lisa begins childbirth and Prince Andrei unexpectedly arrives, he waits for the end of childbirth and, having heard the cry of the child, enters the room to thank his wife for her son, but sees that Lisa has died.

Fyodor Dolokhov is appointed adjutant, although he should have been demoted for the duel, but the old Count Rostov made sure that the duel was forgotten. Dolokhov often visits the Rostovs' house, everyone likes him except Natasha, who believes that he acted ugly with Pierre. Dolokhov proposes to Sonya, but she refuses him and says that she loves another.

At her first ball, Natasha makes everyone strong impression, she dances well and is all glowing with happiness. Denisov spends the whole evening next to Natasha, he admires her beauty and later offers Natasha to become his wife, she refuses him, and the countess says that her daughter is too young.

Dolokhov invites Nikolai Rostov to the club: before leaving for the regiment, to have fun and play cards. Rostov loses 43 thousand rubles to him, and explains that he will not be able to return such a large amount immediately, to which Dolokhov replies: if Sonya loves him, then he is lucky in love, but he is not lucky in cards. Nikolai understands that in this way Fedor avenged him for Sonya's refusal to marry and promises to return the money in the coming days. After a conversation with his father, Nikolai receives the consent of the count to pay his son's gambling debt.

Part 2

Pierre Bezukhov returns to St. Petersburg and along the way he meets the freemason Osip Bazdeev, who talks about God, the meaning of life and invites Pierre to join the Masonic Society. The good-natured Bezukhov agrees, and in St. Petersburg he is accepted into the brotherhood, after which he leaves for his estate.

Helen attends all the parties, posing as an abandoned wife. Everyone sympathizes with her, they consider Pierre ill-mannered and unable to behave in society. In the salon of Anna Scherer, Helen meets Drubetsky and makes an appointment with him at home.

Prince Andrei decides to no longer serve in the army, since he devotes all his time to his little son. But in order not to go to war, he takes the position of commander of the militia.

Freemasons order Pierre to free the serfs and create for them normal conditions for life: build hospitals, schools and not force women and children to work. Bezukhov gives orders to his managers, who turn everything to their advantage. The chief manager has been robbing Pierre for a long time, deceiving him, saying that the peasants do not need to be released, that they already live well, but in fact all the villages and villages have fallen into decay and the peasants simply survive in poverty. In the spring of 1807, Pierre again travels to St. Petersburg and, along the way, visits Andrei Bolkonsky. In a conversation with the prince, Pierre begins to talk about Freemasonry and what he is going to do for the serfs, but Andrei does not support his desire to free the peasants, considering all this unnecessary for them.

Nikolai Rostov returns to his regiment, which is in reserve. The hussars are very poor: they rarely receive food and they even have nothing to feed the horses. Denisov decides to get at least some provisions for the hussars and beats off the convoy with provisions, which was intended for the infantry. Denisov is summoned to the headquarters, where he learns that it was Telyatin who did everything possible, that the hussars received food as rarely as possible. Unable to restrain himself, he beats Telyatin and soon receives a subpoena, but at the reconnaissance he is slightly injured and leaves for the hospital. Rostov comes to visit Denisov in the hospital and takes his petition for pardon from him in order to pass it on to the sovereign.

Boris Drubetskoy becomes close to the royal retinue and participates in the meeting of Emperor Alexander and Napoleon, at which the terms of the Tilsit peace are signed. Rostov comes to Boris with a request to help Denisov, but Drubetskoy at that time receives French friends and does not want to communicate with Nikolai, he simply promises to try to fulfill his request. Nikolai leaves, because he cannot see his enemies in a friendly conversation with Drubetskoy, and goes to the emperor's house, where he meets his old commander and gives him a letter from Denisov.

Part 3

In 1809, Bonaparte declares war on Austria, and the Russians fight on his side against their former allies.

Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, having spent two years in the countryside, carried out all Pierre's plans: he freed the serfs, made life easier for the peasants, and even began to teach them to read and write. In the spring, he goes on guardianship over his son to the Rostov estate, where he meets Natasha. Her cheerfulness and fun amaze him so much that he seemed to wake up and see that life is beautiful, and he does not want to be alone anymore.

Boris Drubetskoy constantly visits Helen's salon, and Pierre really does not like their relationship, but he lives according to the laws of the Masons: he tries to improve himself, get rid of envy, gluttony, laziness and hatred. Drubetskoy still pursues only one goal, to get to know the right people in order to achieve a high position in society.

The Rostovs are very bad financial position, and although they lived on the estate for two years, they could not save money and improve their affairs. Berg asks Vera to marry him, and she agrees, since Vera is already 24 years old, and this is the first proposal that she was made, the count and countess approve of the marriage, although Berg is not of a very noble family.

Drubetskoy pays a visit to the Rostovs and, after talking with Natasha, begins to visit them as often as possible. The countess reproaches her daughter for giving Boris hope in vain, because such a marriage is not beneficial to her or him. The Rostovs need a rich son-in-law, but Boris is poor, and if he marries Natasha, his career will be over. The Countess of Rostov invites Boris to straight Talk and after him he ceases to be in their house.

Before the new year 1810, all the world gathers for a New Year's ball to one of the "Catherine's" nobles. Natasha hitting this for the first time big ball very excited and enjoys dancing. Andrey is glad to see her, he remembers how she admired summer night, and catches himself thinking that he represents Natasha as his wife. Bezukhov, on the other hand, feels lost at the ball, because everyone considers him the negligent husband of such a wonderful wife as Helen. Natasha sees how everyone is unfair to Pierre and comes up to cheer him up.

Bolkonsky goes to his father to give his blessing for marriage with Natasha. The old prince agrees, but on the condition that the wedding takes place in a year. Andrew shares good news with Pierre, who supports him in choosing a wife, and Andrei goes to the Rostovs to get married. Natasha is happy, but her joy is overshadowed by the postponement of the wedding for a year. The engagement is not advertised, since Andrei does not want Natasha to be dependent, he is afraid that because of her youth she might change her mind.

In the Bald Mountains, Princess Mary brings up her son Andrei and takes care of the old prince, she became very pious. She often receives wanderers, prays and thinks of going to holy places herself, but little Nicholas and her sick father keep her from such a journey.

Part 4

Countess Rostova writes to Nikolai in the army that he should come home and take care of business, since the count has started everything a lot, and they are practically ruined. Nikolai returns and immediately kicks out the manager Mitka, who robbed them. The countess finds a bill from Drubetskaya, but Nikolai tears it up, believing that it is ugly to present it to them now, because they used to be friends.

In autumn, the whole Rostov family, together with their uncle, go hunting, and then stay overnight in his village. After dinner, the coachman begins to play the balalaika, and then the uncle takes the guitar and also plays, the true Russian soul wakes up in Natasha and she starts dancing. The evening ends with Russian singing folk songs, and in the morning the Rostovs return home.

Nikolai decides to marry Sonya, which ruins all the plans of his mother: she is looking for a rich bride for him to improve things, because a rich estate near Moscow had already been put up for sale. The Countess considered that Sonya was weaving intrigues behind her back and fell ill from experiences. The count went to Moscow, taking Natasha and Sonya with him, in order to try to somehow rectify the situation.

Part 5

Pierre Bezukhov is tired of leading a correct lifestyle, he begins to avoid Masons, visits clubs, plays cards and has fun at balls and receptions. Old Prince Bolkonsky, together with Marya and little Nikolai, arrive in Moscow. Pierre comes to visit the Bolkonskys, and tells Marya that Boris Drubetskoy is also in Moscow now and is looking for a rich bride, that he has two candidates in mind: Marya and Julie Kuragina, but he cannot make a choice.

Drubetskoy decided to first try his luck with Marya, but got very cold welcome and became a frequent visitor to the Kuragins' house. Whole month he could not overcome himself and propose to her, he did not love her and Julie seemed to him some kind of unnatural, but Julie hastened things: she began to flirt with Anatole and Drubetskaya, afraid to miss a profitable game, confessed her love and received consent to marriage.

Count Rostov and Natasha pay them a visit, Marya meets them, but the prince does not want to meet them. Natasha feels a strong dislike, they have a strained meaningless conversation, and then the prince in a dressing gown enters, examines Natasha and apologizes and leaves. Natasha did not expect such a cold reception, she was very offended, she coldly says goodbye and leaves their house.

In the opera, Natasha meets Anatole Kuragin and sees that he is delighted with her beauty, she is pleased and for the first time she does not feel any shame. At home, she ponders her behavior and understands that she thinks of both Prince Andrei and Anatole. Helen comes to visit them and invites them to a masquerade ball, secretly tells Natasha that Anatole has fallen in love with her. Marya Dmitrievna, at whom the Rostovs are staying, advises Natasha not to make friends with Helen, considering her society unsuitable for such an ingenuous girl. At the masquerade, Anatole swears love to Natasha and does not leave her a single step, which confuses her. The next day, Natasha secretly receives a letter from him, in which he invites her to run away with him and get married, since Count Rostov will never agree to their marriage. Sonya accidentally reads this letter and tries to shame her, but in response, Natasha says that she loves only Anatole, although she saw him only three times. Natasha writes a letter to Marya, in which she says that she will not marry Andrei. At lunch at the Kuragins, Sonya notices that Anatole and Natasha are agreeing on something and begins to follow her. Kuragin and Dolokhov draw up a plan for the abduction, but their plan fails, since Marya Dmitrievna, seeing Sonya crying, makes her tell everything. Natasha is hysterical, she does not understand what mistake she almost made. Marya Dmitrievna invites Pierre to her and tells him everything, he is shocked: after all, Anatole Kuragin is married, which Natasha informs about. Pierre goes to Helene's salon, where he finds Anatole and orders him to leave Moscow immediately and not tell anyone about his connection with Natasha. Anatole leaves, but rumors still spread in society and reach Bolkonsky. Andrei arrives in Moscow and, through Pierre, returns Natasha her portrait and letters, the engagement is terminated, which is very happy old prince and Marya.

PART ONE

I

At the beginning of 1806, Nikolai Rostov returned on vacation. Denisov was also going home to Voronezh, and Rostov persuaded him to go with him to Moscow and stay at their house. At the penultimate station, having met a comrade, Denisov drank three bottles of wine with him and, approaching Moscow, despite the bumps in the road, did not wake up, lying at the bottom of the sledge, near Rostov, which, as it approached Moscow, came more and more into impatience.

“Soon? Is it soon? Oh, these unbearable streets, shops, rolls, lanterns, cabbies! thought Rostov, when they had already written down their holidays at the outpost and drove into Moscow.

Denisov, come! Asleep! - he said, leaning forward with his whole body, as if by this position he hoped to speed up the movement of the sleigh. Denisov did not respond.

Here is the corner-crossroad where Zakhar the driver is standing; here he is and Zakhar, and still the same horse. Here is the shop where the gingerbread was bought. Is it soon? Well!

To what house? asked the coachman.

Yes, at the end, to the big one, how can you not see! This is our house, - said Rostov, - after all, this is our house! Denisov! Denisov! We'll come now.

Denisov raised his head, cleared his throat, and said nothing.

Dmitry, - Rostov turned to the lackey on the irradiation. - It's fire, isn't it?

That's right, sir, and papa's office glows.

Haven't gone to bed yet? A? How do you think? Look, don’t forget, get me a new Hungarian at once, ”added Rostov, feeling his new mustache. “Come on, let’s go,” he shouted to the driver. “Wake up, Vasya,” he turned to Denisov, who lowered his head again. - Come on, let's go, three rubles for vodka, let's go! Rostov shouted when the sleigh was already three houses from the entrance. It seemed to him that the horses were not moving. Finally the sleigh was taken to the right to the entrance; above his head, Rostov saw a familiar cornice with broken plaster, a porch, a sidewalk pillar. He jumped out of the sleigh on the move and ran into the passage. The house also stood motionless, unfriendly, as if it didn't care who came to it. There was no one in the vestibule. "My God! is everything all right?" thought Rostov, stopping for a minute with a sinking heart, and at once starting to run further along the passage and the familiar, crooked steps. The same doorknob of the castle, for the uncleanliness of which the countess was angry, also weakly opened. A single tallow candle burned in the hallway.

Old man Mikhail was sleeping on the chest. Prokofy, the visiting lackey, the one who was so strong that he lifted the carriage by the back, sat and knitted bast shoes from the hems. He glanced at the opened door, and his indifferent, sleepy expression suddenly changed into an enthusiastically frightened one.

Fathers, lights! Count young! he cried, recognizing the young master. - What is it? My dove! - And Prokofy, shaking with excitement, rushed to the door to the living room, probably in order to announce, but apparently he changed his mind again, returned back and leaned on the shoulder of the young master.

Healthy? asked Rostov, pulling his hand away from him.

God bless! All thanks to God! just ate now! Let me see you, Your Excellency!

Is everything all right?

Thank God, thank God!

Rostov, completely forgetting about Denisov, not wanting to let anyone warn him, threw off his fur coat and ran on tiptoe into a dark, large hall. Everything is the same, the same card tables, the same chandelier in a case; but someone had already seen the young gentleman, and before he had time to run to the drawing room, something swiftly, like a storm, flew out of the side door and hugged and began to kiss him. Another, third, similar creature jumped out of another, third door; More hugs, more kisses, more cries, more tears of joy. He could not make out where and who is dad, who is Natasha, who is Petya. Everyone was screaming and talking and kissing him at the same time. Only his mother was not among them - he remembered that.

But I didn’t know ... Nikolushka ... my friend!

Here it is… ours… My friend, Kolya… Changed! No candles! Tea!

Yes, kiss me!

Darling ... but me.

Sonya, Natasha, Petya, Anna Mikhailovna, Vera, the old count, embraced him; and people and maids, having filled the rooms, sentenced and gasped.

Petya hung on his feet. - And me something! he shouted. Natasha, after she, bending him to her, kissed his whole face, jumped away from him and holding on to the floor of his Hungarian, jumped like a goat all in one place and squealed piercingly.

From all sides were shining tears of joy, loving eyes, from all sides were lips seeking a kiss.

Sonya, red as red, also held on to his hand and beamed all over in a blissful look fixed on his eyes, which she was waiting for. Sonya was already 16 years old, and she was very beautiful, especially at this moment of happy, enthusiastic animation. She looked at him, not taking her eyes off, smiling and holding her breath. He looked at her gratefully; but still waiting and looking for someone. The old countess hasn't come out yet. And then there were footsteps at the door. The steps are so fast that they couldn't have been his mother's.

But it was she in a new dress, unfamiliar to him, sewn without him. Everyone left him and he ran to her. When they came together, she fell on his chest sobbing. She could not raise her face and only pressed him against the cold laces of his Hungarian coat. Denisov, not noticed by anyone, entered the room, stood right there and, looking at them, rubbed his eyes.

Vasily Denisov, a friend of your son,” he said, introducing himself to the count, who looked at him inquiringly.

Welcome. I know, I know, - said the count, kissing and hugging Denisov. - Nikolushka wrote ... Natasha, Vera, here he is Denisov.

The same happy, enthusiastic faces turned to the shaggy figure of Denisov and surrounded him.

The result of seven years of work of titanium domestic literature, Leo Tolstoy, the epic novel "War and Peace" is recognized as a masterpiece of timeless classics throughout the world. Describing historical events early XIX centuries, from which all of Europe shuddered, the writer skillfully depicted the inner experiences of his heroes and reliably told about the life of ordinary Russian people. tragic fates, battle battles, luxurious balls, stories of love and friendship - a dynamic, meaningful and diverse novel. But in order to understand what this work is about in general terms and who are its main characters, you can get to know him in a brief summary.

Brief retelling of the storyline of the novel "War and Peace"

The fate of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky and his sister Maria, Count Pierre Bezukhov, the Kuragin and Rostov families are mainly traced in the novel.

Petersburg, 1805, secular evening. The Russian aristocracy is vigorously discussing the emerging political situation. Napoleon is called the "Corsican monster", encroaching on world domination. Two of the guests, Pierre Buzukhov and his friend Andrei Bolkonsky, in some way stand up "in defense" of the Emperor of France and try to explain his actions.

Further, the action is transferred to the estate of the happy and in all respects harmonious Rostov family: parents and children - Vera, Kolya, Natasha, Peter. Their niece Sophia lives under the same roof with them. At it's peak family celebration: name day of the countess and the youngest of Natasha's daughters. Nikolai Rostov for the first time admits his desire to become a military man. Gradually, the lives of the main characters intersect, and they all get to know each other.

Napoleon invades Russia. The people enthusiastically rush to the front. Almost everyone wants to take part in the Patriotic War of 1812, regardless of origin and social status. A number of events take place in Bolkonsky's life, including the death of his wife during childbirth. Andrei loses faith in the future, but a meeting with a young Natasha Rostova and a newborn son left without a mother awaken in him a desire to live on. In addition, happy lovers decide to unite their destinies by marriage, though after a while, because there is a war going on.

Pierre Bezukhov becomes a count and marries the beautiful Elena Kuragina. The marriage of the Bezukhovs did not work out. The hero goes to the front. The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Kutuzov, is disliked and criticized for the policy of constant retreat, but with the onset of cold weather, his tactics become clear - the French are weakening, losing ground. The Russian winter turned out to be more dangerous for them than guns and muskets.

Natasha, out of stupidity and girlish naivety, falls in love with a young seducer who, being married, only plays with the girl. Although the affair as such is thwarted in time, Andrei becomes aware of everything. Rostova and Bolkonsky part ways. Natasha is terribly worried about this. Pierre, who came to cheer up the girl, realizes that he is hopelessly in love with her. But the song does not work out - he already has a legal wife. Nikolai Rostov rescues the young noblewoman Maria from the hands of the rebellious peasants, and then it turns out that she is Bolkonsky's sister.

Andrei is seriously injured, it so happened that Natasha is taking care of him. They talk a lot and before Bolkonsky's death they manage to forgive and say goodbye. The trouble did not bypass the Rostov family either: Peter died in the battles. Natasha made friends with Maria, the girls become support for each other.

War is over. Bezukhov's wife died and he, having met Natasha again, offers her a hand and a heart. Rostova agrees, realizing that she is also in love. Her friend Princess Bolkonskaya becomes the wife of her brother Nikolai. The married life of both couples develops harmoniously, but each of the heroes remembers what difficulties lay on the way to this happiness and how valuable every moment of life on earth is.

List of characters in the epic novel "War and Peace"

If we talk about the full list of characters in the epic novel, then there are more than five hundred and fifty souls in all four volumes of the work. Not all of them play significant roles in the development of the plot. The text contains completely fictional characters, historically famous people and heroes who have real prototypes. The article contains more detailed description characters, for the fate of which the reader worries especially sharply. Below is only a list of characters for the initial acquaintance with the heroes.

The central characters of the novel "War and Peace": families of Russian nobles

• Rostov family

1. Parents : Natalia and Ilya Rostov
2. their children : Nikolai, Peter, Vera and Natasha
3. their grandchildren : Natasha, Andryusha
4. niece Sonya

• Bolkonsky family

1. Father - old prince Nikolai
2. Children : Princess Mary and Prince Andrei
3. Andrew's first wife - Elizabeth
4. Grandson of Nicholas and son of Andrei : Nicholas

• The Kuragin family

1. Parents - Vasily and Alina
2. Children : Anatoly, Hippolyte, Elena (Helen)

• Bezukhov family

1. Father - Count Kirill Vladimirovich
2. Son - Pierre

• Drubetsky family

1. Princess Anna Mikhailovna
2. And her son Boris

• Princesses Mammoths : Katish, Olga and Sophie
• The Karagin family

1. Marya Lvovna
2. And her daughter Julie

Emperors whose personalities are involved in the storyline of the novel "War and Peace"

• Alexander I - Russian Emperor
• Napoleon Bonaparte - french emperor
• Franz - Austrian Emperor

The most significant military characters in the novel "War and Peace"

• Russian military:

1. Bagration
2. Barclay de Tolly
3. Kutuzov
4. Denisov
5. Partisans: Cossack Likhachev, Lovaisky, Shcherbaty
6. Sodat Platon Karataev

• French military:

1. General Belliard
2. French Marshal Berthier
3. Prefect Bosse

Some personalities from servants, courtyards, peasants

1. Anton - Bolkonsky's servant
2. Servants and yard peasants of the Rostovs : Vasilyich, Danila Terentyich, Dunyasha, Efim, Zakhar and others
3. Dunyasha - Princess Mary's maid

Summary of the novel "War and Peace" by volume:

The novel "War and Peace" is one of the largest works of Russian literature. In it, the author revealed a whole layer of history and, using the example noble families showed the development of human relations. The novel is complex in compositional structure and is huge in terms of the amount of information collected in it. "War and Peace" is divided into four volumes, each of them consists of parts and chapters, the story ends with an epilogue. Below is a retelling of the contents of each of the volumes of the novel, focusing on storyline, and the article highlights the main events of the work.

Volume One

It all starts at a party with an unmarried woman, Anna Scherer. A remarkable company has gathered here: both regulars of high-society salon events, and those who are either unfamiliar or unpleasant. The reader gets acquainted with Prince Vasily Kuragin, learns that his sons are obvious fools. But the daughter, Princess Elena (Helen), is far from stupid and, moreover, a beauty.

Elizaveta Bolkonskaya, the little princess, feels great secular salon like a fish in water. Here you can gossip with might and main, chat about trifles and politics, for example, about various actions of Napoleon. But the husband of the little princess, Andrei Nikolayevich Bolkonsky, is terribly bored in the salon - he does not like this place.

Later, Pierre Bezukhov appears - a young man with an awkward physique. Pierre (or Pyotr Kirillovich) is scattered, kind, and sometimes quite naive. For example, during a conversation with the regulars of the salon, he declares that Napoleon's actions, even cruel ones, are just.

Later, Pierre spoke with Andrei Bolkonsky and his wife in a different setting. It turned out that Prince Andrei lost interest in his wife - the time for passionate love was left behind. Alas, apart from love, there was nothing in common between the spouses. They were too different. And when the passion disappeared, there was not even friendship left between them. Rather friendship, and then with a stretch.

Then the reader will get acquainted with Princess Marya, as well as her father. The old prince Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky despises "secular fools", and wants to see his daughter as a smart girl. During the geometry lesson, the unrestrained nature of the prince had an effect, and he flared up. Then, however, he calmed down.

After the lesson, the princess read a letter from her correspondence friend, Princess Julie Karagina. Then a reply letter was written. The style of writing letters is different: Julie is used to the so-called "cheap effects", and Marya Bolkonskaya knows how to do without unnecessary beauties, her letter breathes sincerity.

A new plot twist is ahead: forgetting about his promise not to go to the Kuragins, Pierre goes to that same forbidden house. The reader is presented with the valiant Anatole Kuragin, as well as a very mysterious character named Fyodor Ivanovich Dolokhov. It turned out that Dolokhov argued with an Englishman that he would drink a bottle of rum, sitting on the windowsill and not holding on to anything with his hands, and then he would be able to climb back into the room without the help of his hands. And the bet was won.

Pierre was involved in a booze, and he himself decided to participate in the bet. However, Anatole suggested a more witty bear-related fun. What happened from scandalous story, as a result of which Anatole and Pierre managed with a slight fright, and Dolokhov was demoted to the rank and file. The reader will find this out when meeting new characters - Nikolai Rostov, his cousin Sonya, Natasha Rostova, Boris Drubetsky, as well as Ilya Rostov and his wife.

Name day of Countess Rostova and her youngest daughter quite unlike the high-society assembly. If there were too many formalities in a secular salon, then name days look much livelier and more relaxed. Two love stories are tied up here: the romance of Sonya and Nikolai, as well as the children's love of Natasha and Boris Drubetskoy. And if the second plot ends very soon, then the first one will drag on until ... the death of Prince Andrei. But that's not all: Pierre attended a birthday party, and for the first time met with future wife. True, he hardly thought of such a future that day. A little later, Pierre goes to his father, Count Kirill Bezukhov. The old count is dying. The struggle for the inheritance begins, and as a result, Pierre becomes a young rich man with the title of count.

The second part of the first volume begins in Austria, with a military review. A little later, the Shengraben battle is described, where a small detachment of Prince Bagration managed to withstand the French army. The battle became Nikolai Rostov's baptism of fire. Meanwhile, a fateful turn awaited Pierre Bezukhov: a close acquaintance with Princess Helene. Alas, the young count falls into a trap because of his naivety and

confesses his love. A little later, Prince Vasily decides to attach the unlucky son of Anatole, marrying him to Marya Bolkonskaya. The old prince Bolkonsky is very unhappy that such suspicious personalities have come to him. There will be marriage on a dowry, and this is what Nikolai Andreevich wants least of all. Fortunately, everything worked out: the princess saw how Anatole flirted with Mademoiselle Bourienne, the princess's companion, and in the end made a choice - to stay with her father.

The first volume ends with a description famous battle near Austerlitz. Before the battle, Kutuzov spoke with Andrei Bolkonsky and bluntly stated that the battle would be lost. And so it happened. The commander-in-chief was wounded, and Prince Andrei was wounded in the head and eventually remained in Austerlitz.

Volume two

The war with France is over. Peacetime begins. The second volume begins from the moment when Nikolai Rostov arrives home, and not alone, but with a friend, Vasily Denisov. The family rejoices - the young warrior is back!

A little later, a celebration dedicated to Pyotr Bagration was held in one of the clubs. The gallant general felt awkward at the solemn meeting - the battlefield was much more familiar. The young Count Pierre Bezukhov came to the holiday. The marriage brought him a lot of grief: even during the matchmaking, Pierre felt awkward, because there were no psychological barriers between him and Helen, and there was something unkind in love. And the words "I love you" spoken in French sounded so pathetic that the young count blushed with shame, remembering this episode. From the very beginning, Pierre suspected that his wife was a bad woman, and the suspicion grew inexorably. Moreover, Helen, without a twinge of conscience, "went to the left", and in addition flirted with Dolokhov. The gap between the count and the countess was inevitable, and Dolokhov's behavior only accelerated this gap.

Having quarreled with his wife's lover, the young count challenges him to a duel. And although Dolokhov is an excellent shooter, and Pierre did not know how to shoot, the duel turned into a serious injury to the breter. Pierre himself was not hurt. Returning home, the young count quarreled with his wife. Later, Pierre left for St. Petersburg.

Meanwhile, in the Bald Mountains, the old prince Bolkonsky and his daughter are in serious anxiety: Andrei has been declared missing. Little Princess Lisa is not told about her husband's misadventures, and it is not surprising: she is about to give birth to a child. And then, like snow on his head, Prince Andrei falls down. A joyful meeting with her sister is soon overshadowed: Liza did not survive the birth and died. Overnight, the young prince became a father and a widower.

And again the Rostov family. Natasha is in love with Vasily Denisov and directly tells her brother that Dolokhov is an unkind person. Nikolai does not believe this, for he became friends with Fedor. Soon something seemingly ordinary happens: Dolokhov proposes to Sonya, but is refused. And then Fedor Ivanovich felt a desire to recoup his friend. To do this, Dolokhov lured Nikolai to a hotel, offered to play cards, and then, in the best cheating traditions, beat his opponent. Not immediately, but still, Nikolai Rostov paid off his gambling debt. This concludes the first part of the second volume.

Pierre, after arriving in St. Petersburg, meets with Masons and gradually decides to change his life for the better. True, he soon had to be disappointed in Freemasonry - lovers of profit aspired here all the time. The young count did not do very well with the estate, which cannot be said about Andrei Bolkonsky: the prince did without excesses, but there was no disorder in the Bald Mountains.

Time passes, and on the eve of 1810, at the ball, the paths of Andrei Bolkonsky and Natasha Rostova crossed. This is how it started new love where there was a lot of drama. At first, everything was fine: a visit to Berg (he recently married Vera Rostova), Andrei's conversation with Pierre. But when the young widower decided to talk to his father, the situation changed. The old prince does not hide his displeasure and demands that the wedding be postponed for a year. Father and son quarreled, and the old prince takes out his anger on his daughter.

A little later, troubles played out in the Rostovs' house: Nikolai decided to marry Sonya. This turned into a quarrel between mother and son, and a nuisance for Natasha. And the hostile reception at the Bolkonskys terribly upset the young bride. A little later in opera house Natasha meets with Helen and her brother, Anatole Kuragin. The insidious Countess Bezukhova became a matchmaker - deftly brought her brother with naive girl. Natasha managed to fall in love with Anatole, not knowing that he was already married. Fortunately, Sonya accidentally learns that the kidnapping of her friend is planned, and informs Marya Dmitrievna, a friend of the Rostov family, about this. The terrible plan was thwarted, but there was a danger that Anatole would be challenged to a duel by either the old Count Ilya Rostov, or the young officer Nikolai, which was fraught with great trouble for the whole family.

Having received a letter from Marya Dmitrievna, Pierre Bezukhov immediately leaves for Moscow. Having learned the terrible news, Pierre simultaneously tells the secret of Anatole: he is already married. An angry count arrives at his wife's house. Pierre realized that it was Helen who dragged Natasha into such a dirty story. Soon, a very sharp conversation ensued between the count and his brother-in-law, and Pierre, in an ultimatum form, demanded that Anatole get out of Moscow.

Of course, Prince Andrei found out about the bad story. And if Pierre forgave Natasha (no one could condemn the girl more strictly than she herself), then Andrei Bolkonsky did not want to forgive the unfaithful bride.

Volume three

Already the first part is devoted to the beginning Patriotic War. Napoleon's army treacherously penetrated into Russian Empire. The Russian army is forced to retreat. One of the reasons is the constant disagreement between the two commanders, Barclay de Tolly and Bagration. Not wanting to be subordinate to a commander with German roots, the hot Georgian does everything so that the two armies do not unite. Near Smolensk, however, it had to be done, because there was no other choice. And last but not least, the fact that the Russian army had a new commander in chief, Kutuzov. The battle near Smolensk was the first major battle in the war. And although the Russian army retreated, it became clear that sooner or later a general battle would begin.

For some time, the old prince Bolkonsky did not want to believe that the war had begun. However, the evening came when the retired general-in-chief made a clear conclusion: the French had to make several crossings to Smolensk. Nikolai Andreevich immediately began to actively collect the militia. This activity turned into a terrible nuisance: a cerebral hemorrhage (or, as they said at the time, a stroke). Princess Marya learned from the doctors that the old prince would not get up. Several days pass, and Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky dies.

Suddenly, problems begin: the peasants begin to rebel, taking advantage of the death of a strict owner. Nikolai Rostov pacifies the rebels in a simple way- punches. Thanks to this intervention, Princess Mary was able to leave Bogucharovo. This meeting was fateful.

The main theme of the third volume is the battle of Borodino. Before the start of the battle, Pierre Bezukhov met Prince Andrei and talked to him. The young count did not know that it was their last meeting. Later, the paths-roads of friends diverged in different directions. In the midst of the battle, Pierre managed to get a small shell shock - a box of shells exploded. After that, the count felt horror, and no wonder: the world of war showed itself from its true, unsightly side. Many events awaited the Count: a meeting with French officers, a fire in Moscow, and being captured. But Andrei Bolkonsky was waiting for a different fate. His regiment stood in reserves, and often came under artillery fire. After several hits of the cores, a more dangerous projectile arrives - an artillery grenade. A little earlier, a fragment of an exploding grenade seriously wounded Bagration (later 17

days the commander died). Ironically, Prince Andrei refused to fall to the ground, and received a shrapnel wound in the stomach.

Waking up at the dressing station after the operation, Andrey was surprised to recognize in the wounded man, whose leg was amputated, his offender - Anatol Kuragin. And the young prince forgave both Anatole and Natasha Rostov. After the Battle of Borodino, it became clear that an immediate offensive by the Russian army was impossible. During the military council in Fili, a dispute ensued between Bennigsen and Kutuzov on the topic “Leave Moscow or fight for it?”, Although in reality the essence of the dispute was “greater and lesser evil”. Kutuzov managed to convince other generals that the surrender of Moscow is the lesser evil, because this is the only way to save both the army and Russia.

Volume Four

At the end of the third volume, Natasha met with the wounded Andrei Bolkonsky. Their love continued until the day when the prince's health deteriorated sharply. Princess Mary and Natasha are waiting for a sad event - the death of Andrei.

At the same time, Pierre Bezukhov is languishing in captivity, and often talks with an elderly peasant named Platon Karataev. True, pretty soon Karataev dies from the bullet of a French escort. A little later, partisans under the command of Denisov and Dolokhov attack the French detachment, Pierre is released. However, during the skirmish, Petya Rostov, a desperate young officer, dies.

The terrible news of the death of Petya Rostov was a new heavy blow for Princess Marya and Natasha. And Countess Rostova, having learned about the death of her son, grew old prematurely. And only one of the deaths cannot be called a tragedy: strange death Countess Helen. Upon learning of the death of his wife, Pierre felt relieved: he received too much grief from this terrible woman. Pierre and Natasha think about a possible joint fate.

With all this central figure last volume unexpectedly, a simple soldier and a native of the people, Platon Karataev, comes forward. With him, the reader learns peasant wisdom and folk philosophy, the comprehension of which is so difficult for the main characters of the novel.

Epilogue

Serious problems await Nikolai Rostov: he inherited numerous debts. The situation turned out to be extremely bad, and only marriage to

rich bride could be a way out of the impasse. Meetings of the count and the princess seem useless at first glance. But one of the meetings turned into an insight for Nikolai Rostov and Marya Bolkonskaya: they realized that their marriage was possible.

After his marriage, Nikolai moved to Bald Mountains, becoming the owner of the village. All debts were repaid, and the young gentleman took on the maximum task - to redeem his father's estate lost due to debts. Tolstoy paid attention to Nikolenka, the son of the deceased Andrei Bolkonsky, who has grown up and already resembles his father.

In the second part of the epilogue, the author reflects a lot on historical events extensively involved in the novel. Tolstoy comes to the conclusion that history tends to be determined by the law of random relationships. As it happened with the fates of the Bolkonskys, Bezukhovs and Rostovs.

The history of the creation of the work and interesting facts about the novel "War and Peace"

The great writer initially wanted to talk about several other events with his readers. Tolstoy was going to write the story of one of the participants in the movement in the December uprising, who returned to his native place from a 30-year exile in harsh Siberia. The novel was to be called The Three Pores. Perhaps the world of literature would be enriched by a completely different work.

But, collecting information, sketching out the first scenes, Lev Nikolayevich changed the original plan, the hero, and even in historical terms shifted events half a century ago. A masterpiece is never created easily, many times the author started on the manuscript and left it, came back again, changed something or completely deleted it. It is known that even to this day 15 draft versions of the first parts of the novel have been preserved!

Tolstoy studied a myriad of real documents: memoirs, historical records, letters, collected a solid library of books describing the events of the hostilities of the Patriotic War of 1812. And he even went on trips to the places where the battles took place.

The novel was completed in 1870 and took seven years to complete. Now, a century and a half later, this work continues to arouse admiration among readers and historians. The novel "War and Peace" is a unique phenomenon in Russian literature, which brings to the world not only artistic, but also historical value.