We now move 100 miles away to Bald Hills, the home of Prince Nicholas Andreevich Bolkonski. I'm not convinced that we've met him before - I had to do a bit of googling. He is a famed Russian general, and his son, Andrei Bokonsky, is Pierre's friend. Andrei has a pregnant wife and has just joined the army. I just checked, and he was in Chapters V-VII, where he was referred to as Andrew and Andre (to be fair, I've switched translations). You see why I need these summaries?
I like Prince Nicholas, who is a different person from Nikolai Rostov. He thinks the only evils are idleness and superstition and the only virtues are activity and intelligence. He would love Don Tillman (of The Rosie Project). They both keep perfect timetables. I am in awe. Prince Nicholas was exiled to Bald Hills by a former ruler. He can now go back to Moscow but has decided they can all go to him instead. And they do - every high official "considered it his duty to visit".
Nikolai is very strict and controlling; he's been giving his daughter (Mary/Maria Bolkonskaya) lessons in advanced geometry and algebra, and has arranged her life to the second. This morning, when she arrives for her lesson, there is a letter for her from someone who appears to be named both Heloise and Julie. Okay, Julie is Julie Karagina, and she writes in French. She tells Maria that Maria is very beautiful, and passes on lots of news about politics. She prays that Russia will beat Napoleon and she fancies Nikolai Rostov. Pierre is now the Count, the three princesses have received very little, and Prince Vasili has nothing. Many, many women now recognise what a charming and handsome man Pierre is.
Apparently, people are also pushing Julie towards Pierre. They've been matchmaking her for the past two years, and this is the best option. Julie also passes on that Anna Mikhaylovna is trying to set up Maria with Anatole. I was wondering when Anatole would appear again. Julie has also included some kind of spiritual book with the package, and asks after Andrei and his wife.
Maria writes back. She thinks Christianity is better than men, and her father is particularly sound about the Count dying because now he feels like the last of his generation. She feels sorry for Pierre to be burdened with such riches. She is very tedious and holier than thou. She's not going to read the book because Julie said some of it was hard to grasp, and what's the point in wasting time reading something you won't even understand? She's just going to read the Bible again instead. What a pious little snit. She's praising the idea of being dumb and just letting God put thoughts in your mind if he wants them there. I'm an atheist, but I much prefer the understanding that God gives mysteries not answers, and if we fail to correctly interpret the evidence around us, that's on us. Maria has not heard that she is to be married to Anatole, but Prince Vasili will be visiting her father, and she will fulfil her marital duties no matter how painful they are. Anatole can do much better. Andrei is also on his way, with his wife, whom he will abandon at Bald Hills while he goes to war.
Mademoiselle Bourienne, Maria's companion tells Maria that Prince Nicholas is in a bad mood. Apparently Maria is too prissy to even accept that information - she considers it a judgement on her father. I would very much like to slap her, very hard, right in the face.
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