Chapter 15
This chapter consists, almost entirely, of Tolstoy pointing out that Dokhturov is almost never talked about as a great soldier, he's just recorded as leading the Russian army to almost every victory. Basically, he's quietly and competently getting on with things. The rest is logistics for the specific battle we seem to be building up to.
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Tuesday, 11 February 2020
In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 13, Chapter 14
Chapter 14
The prisoners - including Pierre - are being marched out of Moscow. The officers begin to comment on the looters as they go. Pierre isn't really paying attention because he's started to feel his mortality again. The whole peaceful mood has been smashed.
The prisoners - including Pierre - are being marched out of Moscow. The officers begin to comment on the looters as they go. Pierre isn't really paying attention because he's started to feel his mortality again. The whole peaceful mood has been smashed.
Monday, 10 February 2020
In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 13, Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Between the 6th and 7th of October, the French army begin to march on from Moscow, taking the prisoners with them. One has dysentery and is afraid of being left behind to die alone. Pierre tries to reassure him that the hospital in Moscow is still staffed and that he might well be better off being left there, but he does also try to intercede with the French army on the man's behalf. He had previously begun to think of the officers as friends, but now the same strange thing that came upon them the day of the executions is back. Basically, everyone is back in war mode. The atmosphere is not helped when they come across a dead man as they begin to move on.
Between the 6th and 7th of October, the French army begin to march on from Moscow, taking the prisoners with them. One has dysentery and is afraid of being left behind to die alone. Pierre tries to reassure him that the hospital in Moscow is still staffed and that he might well be better off being left there, but he does also try to intercede with the French army on the man's behalf. He had previously begun to think of the officers as friends, but now the same strange thing that came upon them the day of the executions is back. Basically, everyone is back in war mode. The atmosphere is not helped when they come across a dead man as they begin to move on.
Tuesday, 4 February 2020
In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 13, Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Pierre has finally found the inner peace and harmony he's been seeking all this time. All his old worries - assassinating Napoleon, anxiety over his wife embarrassing him - seem small and ridiculous now. He appreciates his life and finds enjoyment in the sheer simplicity of his life. All the qualities which made him awkward and out of place in society - his ability to sit still and think, his strength, his kindness, his ability to speak French - make him very popular here.
Pierre has finally found the inner peace and harmony he's been seeking all this time. All his old worries - assassinating Napoleon, anxiety over his wife embarrassing him - seem small and ridiculous now. He appreciates his life and finds enjoyment in the sheer simplicity of his life. All the qualities which made him awkward and out of place in society - his ability to sit still and think, his strength, his kindness, his ability to speak French - make him very popular here.
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