Chapter 33
Pierre wakes up determined to assassinate Napoleon and ashamed of getting distracted by his pleasant conversation with a French officer the previous day. He picks up a dagger, since his pistol has been fired, despite the fact that he'd previously decided that the last assassination effort failed because the culprit tried to use a dagger. He's also not taken into account the fact that Napoleon has left Moscow, likely because he doesn't know.
On the way, Pierre is distracted by the need to rescue a child from a house set on fire and currently being looted by the French.
Chapter 34
Pierre has saved the little girl and is attempting to reunite her with her family when he is distracted, by an Armenian family being bothered by the French. He asks some of the crowd that has built up to return the child to her family while he protects the family, which includes an 'Oriental beauty'. Pierre does this by beating up the Frenchman, which gathers quite a lot of cheers. It does not go well for him when the other French soldiers turn up. He is taken away to be court-martialled. I'm not sure how they can do that when he's not a member of their army, but perhaps it's a translational or cultural issue. He's basically being taken in because they're pretty sure he's an 'incendiary'.
...and that's the end of Part 11! The remaining 6 books are much shorter, at 20 chapters max, and the average chapter length is shorter too.
Friday 8 November 2019
Wednesday 6 November 2019
In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 11 Chapter 32
Chapter 32
It's been a week since Andrew was wounded at Borodino, and he's been delirious for most of it. He's become a little obsessed with getting ahold of a copy of the gospels and with Natasha, so he's quite pleased that she's come to see him once he understands that she's really there. The doctor has been convinced that Andrew will die within the week, and is sad to see him recover since that normally means he'll die in more pain later, so Andrew dying may still be on the table. Natasha spends the next few days nursing him through the nights, and while her mother hopes that they will renew their engagement, they don't speak of it at all.
It's been a week since Andrew was wounded at Borodino, and he's been delirious for most of it. He's become a little obsessed with getting ahold of a copy of the gospels and with Natasha, so he's quite pleased that she's come to see him once he understands that she's really there. The doctor has been convinced that Andrew will die within the week, and is sad to see him recover since that normally means he'll die in more pain later, so Andrew dying may still be on the table. Natasha spends the next few days nursing him through the nights, and while her mother hopes that they will renew their engagement, they don't speak of it at all.
Tuesday 5 November 2019
In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 11 Chapters 30 and 31
Chapter 30
We're back with the Rostovs, who have made almost no progress in leaving Moscow, since they set off so half-cocked in the first place and then were beset by further delays. This means that they're in a prime position to watch the first fire start in Moscow on the second of September.
Chapter 31
Natasha is told about the fire but doesn't care because Sonya has told her about Andrew, specifically the fact that he's wounded and with them. Natasha has vowed to see him, despite being terrified because she knows he's injured and is having horrible visions about what that might mean. Her mother spends the day distracting her, but she finally manages to get into his room that evening. The chapter ends with him reaching out a hand to her.
We're back with the Rostovs, who have made almost no progress in leaving Moscow, since they set off so half-cocked in the first place and then were beset by further delays. This means that they're in a prime position to watch the first fire start in Moscow on the second of September.
Chapter 31
Natasha is told about the fire but doesn't care because Sonya has told her about Andrew, specifically the fact that he's wounded and with them. Natasha has vowed to see him, despite being terrified because she knows he's injured and is having horrible visions about what that might mean. Her mother spends the day distracting her, but she finally manages to get into his room that evening. The chapter ends with him reaching out a hand to her.
Monday 4 November 2019
In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 11 Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Pierre spends the evening drinking with the French officer, even translating some German for him when another officer arrives. When he finally gets a minute to himself, he has a bit of a break-down because he's realised that he can't assassinate Napoleon. He tries to leave immediately, but finds he cannot, and stays as the French officer tells him of noble deeds and love stories. This makes him think of Natasha, whom he has, at some point, realised he feels romantic love for. He confesses who he really is - which greatly impresses the French officer - and says that he felt he couldn't confess his love to Natasha when he had nothing. As we know, when he became rich, things became very complicated. Pierre feels weirdly good about the world, except when he remembers that Russia is at war and that he must kill Napoleon. The chapter ends with him sleeping off the wine.
Pierre spends the evening drinking with the French officer, even translating some German for him when another officer arrives. When he finally gets a minute to himself, he has a bit of a break-down because he's realised that he can't assassinate Napoleon. He tries to leave immediately, but finds he cannot, and stays as the French officer tells him of noble deeds and love stories. This makes him think of Natasha, whom he has, at some point, realised he feels romantic love for. He confesses who he really is - which greatly impresses the French officer - and says that he felt he couldn't confess his love to Natasha when he had nothing. As we know, when he became rich, things became very complicated. Pierre feels weirdly good about the world, except when he remembers that Russia is at war and that he must kill Napoleon. The chapter ends with him sleeping off the wine.
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