In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Pierre runs into darling Bory.  I have never liked him, not since he first showed up on these pages.  I am not sure whether I spelled that out before or if I just implied it.  He's elegantly dressed with a whip slung across his shoulder, like Kutuzov.

I assume it is not an awesome dragon whip like Golbez, but I'll pretend it is anyway.  Meanwhile, Kutuzov has set up in the shade of the nearest house, and has been brought a bench to sit on.  The narrative doesn't explicitly say that any of the throng surrounding him have fans, so I am forced to assume that they do.

Pierre tells Bory that he wishes to see the position of the battle, and Bory tells him that the spot where Coutn Bennigsen will be is the best.  Bory will also be there, so he suggests Pierre just come with him now to sort it out.  Pierre is more interested in the right flank though, and Bory is heading to the left flank.  Bory says he can see that later, and he will point out Andrew's regiment along the way.  He also confides that the left flank is not in the shape anyone wished, but something went wrong.  At this point they're interrupted by Kaysarov, Kutuzov's lackey.  Bory congratulates him on the strength of the left flank and how wise Kutuzov was to have intuited the French movements and strengthened it accordingly, because he is a two-faced little weasel.  That's how he's become so respected amongst the higher command.  More specifically, the higher command is currently split into Kutuzov's party and Bennigsen's party, and Bory is firmly on the side of Bennigsen, while showing servile respect to Kutuzov in such a way that he makes him look like an idiot.  Honestly, I've been binge watching the last few seasons of Glee and the high-school drama of it all is very similar.  I understand why Pierre feels that there must be something truly important, if he could only find it amongst all this mess.  Anyway, darling Bory is happy because either Kutuzov will be destroyed and Bennigsen will be all powerful, or Kutuzov will win the battle but everyone will attribute it to Bennigsen anyway.  

Now that people have spotted Pierre, he is showered with questions of Moscow and news, so he barely has time to respond.   Pierre's attention is caught by the faces which appear to be preoccupied with universal questions of life and death over personal politics.  He's summoned to Kutuzov, but Dolokhov manages to get there first, and Pierre hears a whisper of gossip that Dolokhov has been downgraded but is trying to rise up again through proposing brave guerilla schemes.  Dolokhov's begging Kutuzov for a chance to give his life for mother Russia when Pierre reaches them.  He greets Pierre by loudly announcing that "the militia have put on clean white shirts to be ready to die".  Kutuzov hears this - as intended - and questions him about it.  Presumably, darling Bory is implying that Kutuzov is responsible for these men expecting to die in war rather than achieving a glorious victory or something.  Kutuzov moves onto Pierre, telling him that he, Kutuzov, is one of Helene's admirers, which I would not consider a compliment though Kutuzov probably does intend as one.

After Pierre leaves Kutuzov - we don't hear any more of their conversation, so it's probably not important - Dolokhov tells him that he "regret[s] the misunderstanding that have occurred between [them]", and asks Pierre for his forgiveness.  Pierre doesn't know what to say, so Dolokhov embraces him and kisses him.  Meanwhile, darling Bory has spoken to Bennigsen, who suggests that Pierre ride with him along the line.  They set out half an hour later, as Kutuzov leaves for Tatarinova.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Pierre climbs up a hill to see the entire battlefield, but is disappointed because it looks nothing like the battlefields in his head.  It's just full of fields, meadows, troops, woods, campfires, villages, and so on - no identifiable military positions or anything.

He thinks he must be looking at the wrong thing, so he asks an officer to point things out.  It does not help.

He watches as an icon is brought and an impromptu religious service begins.  Kutuzov arrives halfway through.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapter 20

Chapter 20

We're back to Pierre, on the morning of the 25th, the day inbetween two battles.  He's getting a lot of stares in his white hat and green swallow-tail coat, which I can only assume looked like this.

I'd fucking stare, too.  I hope all the television serials are accurate to this costume.  Anyway, Pierre is leaving Mozhaysk, and is stopped by a wounded solder who asks if they'll be left there or taken on to Moscow.  Pierre is too deep in thought to hear him.  He's looking at all the other wounded and listening to their song.  He eventually answers the poor man then goes on, looking for familiar faces.  After nearly three miles, he runs into a doctor of his acquaintance, and tells him that he, Pierre, wants to take part in a battle.  The doctor recommends that he speak to Kutuzov.  Pierre asks exactly what the armies position is at the moment, but the doctor doesn't know, except that there'll be a battle tomorrow and there isn't nearly enough medical supplies ready.   Pierre is amazed to think that of all the men he's seen today - most of whom were staring at his hat - approximately 20,000 of them are predicted to die.  He passes the house where Kutuzov is staying, but everyone's gone to church, so he carries on to Gorki.  He sees the peasant militia for the first time, and the sight of them all, and the fact that they're clearly not trained soldiers, impresses him with the solemnity and importance of the moment.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapters 18 and 19

Chapter 18

Pierre's reading a newspaper which states that the French will most definitely not enter Moscow, but it's a good thing that the ladies and tradesmens wives are leaving.  From this, Pierre understands that the French definitely will enter Moscow.  There's also a bit about how the French are definitely defeated, but weapons are being made available for the inhabitants of Moscow just because they want them so much.  Pierre feels like the great thing he has been hoping for, the destiny of his soul, is drawing close.  He mentally debates whether or not he should join the service, and tries to make a deal with the game of patience he's playing to show him his destiny.  He's not yet decided what will indicate what when he's interrupted by his eldest half-sister, who I don't think we've heard from since book 1.  Pierre takes this as an omen that he should join the army even before inviting her in.  She's come to beg to leave Moscow, preferably for St Petersburg, because she's convinced Napoleon will win.  Pierre isn't, but lets her leave anyway.  He shows her the broadsheets he's been reading to try to comfort her, which is an interesting choice since he took the opposite message from them.

Later that day, Pierre's head steward tells him that raising a regiment will ruin him, and that he needs to sell an estate just to afford their equipment.  Pierre tells him to sell, because they can't back out now.  Pierre is pleased with the catastrophe, because he's pretty sure it's all about his great destiny, and the making of him as a man.  Everyone has already left town, including Julie and Mary.  Only the Rostovs remain.

Pierre takes a day trip out to a nearby village, and, on the way back, interrupts the flogging of an accused French spy.  He demands to know what's happening.  When the Frenchman begins crying, he runs back to his carriage and demands to be taken home.

Pierre leaves Moscow on the 24th.  While travelling, he learns of a great battle that evening (the battle of Shevardino) but no one can tell him who won.  The next day he arrives at Mozhaysk, which has soldiers quartered in every house.  As he moves further into the warzone, he feels more and more alive, and as if he is involved in something very important and greater than himself.

Chapter 19

This chapter zooms out again, to a broader view of the war.  Specifically the battles of the Shevardino Redoubt, on the 24th of August, and the battle of Borodino on the 26th, with peace between them.  The battles made no sense for either side; it made both the destruction of Moscow and the destruction of the French army more likely.  Tolstoy criticises the way many historians look for evidence that what happened was what was intended all along.  He theorises that Russia's win was more about dumb luck than intentional strategy.  He also criticises attempts to fit the Greek one-Hero narrative onto modern warfare, which isn't about single heroic people and events, but more about a whole crowd of different wills.  He summarises the historians position, that the Russians retreated from Smolensk and looked for the best position for a general engagement, which was Borodino.  They then purposefully fortified it in preparation for the war.  Tolstoy says this is bollocks (paraphrased), and that there was no evidence of fortification in the places described.  Before the 25th of August, there's no evidence anyone thought Borodino would be the site of the battle.  Tolstoy cites the reports written by Kutuzov, Barclay de Tolly and Bagration as evidence.  There is evidence that a site was fortified, and it was a site nearby, and much better in every way, except for the fact that it didn't happen to be where the battle occured.  Tolstoy labours on this for another page or so.  I understand that this was the book Tolstoy wanted to write, but, much like the multipage essay on trees in The Princess Bride*, it makes my eyes glaze over.

*The general conceit of the Princess Bride is that it was a history first written by S. Morgenstern, with William Goldman cutting out all the boring bits, like the essays on trees.  

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapter 17

Chapter 17

After the Emperor leaves Moscow, life goes back to normal and it's hard to believe that Russia is really at war or in any danger.  The only thing that brings the patriotic fervor back are the calls for men and money.  As the French get closer, the people of Moscow become more frivolous rather than acknowledging the danger, which is very human.  There's a lot of descriptions of the jokes people are making, and buried in there is the observation that Pierre has donated a great deal to the war effort and also intends to ride at the head of his regiment. Pierre denies this rumour when Julie brings it up.  They also talk about the Rostovs who are remaining in Moscow while they are waiting for Petya, who has been transferred to Pierre's regiment.  Natasha is better.  They also gossip about Mary, and how romantic it was that Nicolai saved her.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapters 15 and 16

Chapter 15

Kutuzov - now known as "his serene highness" - summons Andrew to report to him at HQ, now that he's in charge.  Andrew is greeted by a lieutenant colonel of hussars, with the same speech impediment as Denisov, so I guess that's who it is.  It is.  Andrew has heard of him, from Natasha - whom Denisov proposed to aaaaaaages ago - but has never met him.  We also learn that Andrew knows his father is dead.  Meeting reminds them both of Natasha, but it doesn't hurt Andrew as much as it used to, and Denisov has fond memories.  Denisov is here to tell Kutuzov of his great armchair-generalling plan, and immediately begins to explain it to Andrew.  It involves guerilla warfare, which, to be fair, can be quite successful against a larger force.  Kutuzov then arrives, riding past them.  He's gained weight, but has not lost dignity.  It takes him a while to recognise Andrew, but, when he does, he asks after his father, which is not great considering Andrew learned of his death yesterday.  Denisov interrupts to talk about his plan, which Kutuzov doesn't hate.  It also helps that Denisov uncle was an Intendant General, and a friend of Kutuzov's.

Chapter 16

Kutuzov tells Andrew that he has sent for him to join his staff, but Andrew declines the offer because he's fond of his regiment.  Andrew leaves, feeling vaguely reassured that the war is in good hands.  He believes Kutuzov is unbiased, and will be able to choose the best plan and sort things out.  Most people agree, and Kutuzov is a popular choice in his new role as commander in chief.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapters 13 and 14

Chapter 13

By the 17th of August, Bogucharovo is right inbetween the French and Russian armies, and Nikolai Rostov is determined to loot it first.  When he rides up, he is greeted by a crowd of peasants.  Alpatych comes to invite him to see Mary, and explains matters.  Basically, the peasants won't let Mary leave, and they say that, if she stays, they'll serve her as before.  Nikolai has no idea that Bogucharovo belongs to Andrew Bolkonski, and he's never met Mary before.  Their first meeting strikes him as quite romantic, and it's helped that she's so grateful to see him that it makes her look quite pretty.  He promises that he will help her to leave.

Chapter 14

Nikolai heads out to meet with Ilyin, his junior officer.  Ilyin has now met Dunyasha, Mary's nervous and describes her as his delicious pink one.  He asks if Mary is as pretty, but stops when he sees Nikolai's face.  Nikolai is very taken with the idea of himself as the noble and honourable hero, and is determined to teach the peasants a lesson.  He tells Alpatych off for letting everything come to this, and threatens to flay him alive.  Alpatych claims he can't face the peasants without an army, which Nikolai scoffs at.  The peasants, meanwhile, have been fighting amongst themselves because they're a bit afraid of what's going to happen.  Dron, the elder, has quite his role regarding Mary and the estate, but is still officially the leader.  The peasants have all fallen out with him, though, and are resistant to bringing him to the front of the crowd to speak to Nikolai.  They change their mind when Nikolai starts knocking caps off.  Nikolai starts ordering people to bind up the peasant who's answering back, and Dron when he comes forwards.  He gives the order as if it's impossible they won't be obeyed, so they are.  Then he sends the peasants away to start packing up the estate, and they go, muttering that it was all a bit of harmless foolishness.  Seeing that Nikolai is winning, Alpatych decides to openly support him.  When Mary leaves, Nikolai rides alongside her carriage for eight miles, and then kisses her hand in goodbye.  He quite enjoys her grateful thanks.  They're both blushing, and Mary is convinced that Nikolai is a man of "lofty and noble soul", to have rescued her so.  On the rest of the way to Moscow, Mary wonders if she loves Nikolai.  She's pretty sure he'll never love her, but at least her father isn't around to make fun of her, so she can enjoy the memory.  She knows that he's Natasha's brother, though Nikolai didn't appear to realise who she was at any point.  He's currently being teased by his brigade about having gone out looking for hay and having picked up one of the wealthiest heiresses in Russia, which makes him angry because he has considered marrying Mary.  It would make his mother happy, get the family out of debt, and, he's sure, would also make Mary happy.  The only problem is Sonya.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Mary begins by dwelling on the confusing behaviour of the peasants, and then moves to her memories and regrets over her father, particularly that she listened outside the door on his last night but did not go to him, even though he asked for her.  I googled the peasants thing, btw, and it turns out I was making the same mistake Mary was - it did not occur to me that the peasants might be anything but peasants and serfs, so I was confused why they didn't accept what was a pretty good deal, for serfs.  It turns out they have other opinions on their immovable position as serfs, and believe that the French will free them and so don't want to accept Russian captivity, even if it's kindly meant.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapters 9, 10, and 11

Chapter 9

All of the previous owners of Bogucharovo have been less hands-on than Andrew, so the peasants are far more used to being independent.  Old Nikolai finds them boorish and that trait has increased with Andrew introducing hospitals and schools and reducing the quitrent they have to pay.  They have heard a different set of rumours from those in St Petersburg and Moscow, namely that the Cossacks are destroying deserted villages but the French are not.  The French have even bribed another peasant - with counterfeit roubles - to tell them that the French will treat the peasants well.  The peasants are generally managed by Dron, the village elder.  When Alpatych tells Dron that Mary needs to leave, Dron refuses to comply, claiming that no horses are available.  Alpatych knows that Dron is expressing the will of the peasants, but also knows that Dron wants to pleases the masters, and tries to use this to persuade him.  Dron begs to be fired instead.  Finally, Alpatych takes his own belongings out of the carts that have just arrived from Bald Hills and uses those horses for Mary's carriage while he goes to the police.

Chapter 10

We go back in time a bit for this one, to Mary's room with a pre-Dron Alpatych asking for orders about their departure.  Mary insists she isn't going and asks to be left alone.  She is pretty sure she is going to hell for not loving her father enough.  Amelie comes to comfort her and then starts crying.  Mary remembers everything that's happened between them in the past few months, but the guilt stops her from holding it against Amelie.  Amelie then insists that they should all stay at Borucharovo, because she thinks it will be safer than being caught on the road.  Apparently the French General Rameau has spread leaflets about, explaining how he will protect the people who stay at home, and Amelie wants to appeal to this protection.  Mary asks how Amelie received it, and Amelie replies that it's probably because she has an obviously French name.  Mary is horrified at the thought of being at the mercy of the French and heads to Andrew's study, demanding that Amelie be kept away from her and asking for Alpatych or Dron to come speak to her about leaving immediately.  Apart from anything else, she's pretty sure the French would disinter her father to steal his medals, which is a horrifying image.  They'd probably find him rolling.  Mary feels that she must represent her father and brother's feelings and take their actions, in their absence.  She does her best, calling for as much help as she can, from Alpatych (gone to the police), the architect Michael Ivanovich (refuses to commit to any opinions or answers), the valet Tikhon (yes man), and Dron.  Dron tells her that there are no horses, as they have been taken by the army or died, and that the peasants are starving to death.  Mary is shocked at the idea that there can be rich people and poor people and that the rich might let the poor starve, and she also knows there's such a thing as "landlord's corn", that is, grain kept for the master and not consumed by the peasants.  She asks Dron about this, and is told it's all still there, and Mary demands that it be shared among the peasants.  Again, he begs to be fired rather than follow orders and Mary can't understand why (me either).

Chapter 11

An hour later, Dunyasha, Mary's childhood nurse, comes to tell her that all the peasants are assembled at the barn, by Mary's order, and waiting to speak to her.  Mary is surprised to hear this because she gave no such order - she only asked Dron to give them grain.  Dunyasha insists that this is a trick and she must not give them the grain.  She prays that they can get away with Alpatych when he returns.  Apparently, the peasants think Mary has ordered them to leave Bogucharovo and are refusing to go.  Mary calls for Dron, insisting that he has relayed her orders wrong, and repeating that she only said to give them the grain.  He says she can just order them to go away, but she decides to go and speak to them directly to sort this mess out.  She now thinks that the peasants think she's bribing them to stay in a dangerous place while she runs to Moscow, and has decided to offer them monthly rations and housing in Moscow, as she is sure Andrew would do.  She says all this to the peasants.  They say they are very grateful, but it won't do for them to take the landlord's grain.  Mary asks why and no one can answer.  They insist that they won't "give up everything" and that they don't agree to take the grain.  I am as confused as Mary.  Is this some weird honour before reason thing, where they'd rather starve to death than do something not befitting to their class or something?  They end by insisting that they'd rather be ruined by the French than follow Mary into slavery, whatever the fuck that means.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Now, we catch up with Andrew's family.  They did not leave Bald Hills as instructed.  Old Nikolai decided he was going to stay and defend it with his life, and wrote a letter to the commander in chief of the army to that effect, adding that if the commander-in-chief chose not to defend Bald Hills and allow one of Russia's oldest generals to be kidnapped and/or killed, that was his business.  Old Nikolai did try to make Mary and his grandson, young Nikolai, leave, but Mary refused to leave him.  He tried driving her away, by basically repeating all the horrible things he's been doing her whole life, but she takes the fact that he's trying to persuade her - rather than, for instance, having someone physically carry her away - as a sign that he's glad she's staying.  At least young Nikolai is able to leave, with his tutor Dessalles. 

The day after little Nikolai goes, old Nikolai is preparing to visit the Commander-in-Chief in person when he has a stroke (that's not how it's described, I'm reading between the lines with 21st century knowledge).  Mary finally takes charge and the old Prince is moved to Bogucharovo.  Little Nikolai and Dessalles have already moved on from there to Moscow.  Old Nikolai lies at Bogucharovo for three weeks, mostly unconscious but twitching.  The doctor says it's just restlessness, but Mary is convinced he has something important to say to her.  This is all really sad.  A little old man, dressed up in his uniform and medals, suddenly have a stroke, and the daughter who is trapped in an abusive relationship with him having to see him so ill.  She does love him, after all - that's why she's trapped.  She almost thinks it would be better for him to die than remain like this.  She's also feeling guilty because all the personal dreams and wishes she's been suppressing have been awoken again.  She tries to pray them away but it doesn't work.  Meanwhile, everyone is telling her that it's not safe to remain at Bogucharovo, because the French are now less than 25 miles away and are likely to be upon them by the 15th.  Mary decides to leave at the very last moment, on the 15th of August.  The night of the 14th, old Nikolai seems more fretful than normal, as Mary can hear through the door, though she dare not go in.  On the morning of the 15th, her father seems a little better and the doctor calls her in.  Old Nikolai has something important to say to her, but, because he's paralysed, he physically can't form the words.  Finally, he is able to say that he is sorry and that he forgives her, before asking for Andrew.

Mary has to tell her father that Andrew is at Smolensk, but she has a letter from him.  Old Nikolai is now convinced that old Russia has been destroyed and begins weeping.  Then he asks Mary to put on her white dress, because he likes to see her in it.  She leaves to put it on, and he has a second - and final - stroke, once she leaves the room.

Mary has a bit of a break down.  Amelie appears with an army officer who's come to tell them that they really must leave, but she ignores him except to offer him lunch.  The maids prepare old Nikolai's body for burial, by tying a handkerchief around his head (so his mouth doesn't stiffen while open), tying his ankles together, washing up, and dressing him, again, in his uniform and medals.  The wake - or the 1812 Russian equivalent - is held that night.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapter 7

Chapter 7

While Anna Pavlovna and Prince Vasili are doing the 1812 equivalent of rolling their eyes, the French were getting closer and closer to Moscow.  Tolstoy uses a chess metaphor here, pointing out that a chess player will carefully examine, in hindsight, the one mistake which their opponent took advantage of to defeat them, but not all the other mistakes they made, which might also have lead to defeat.  War is more complicated because so many more free wills are involved.

Anyway, basically, lots of things lead to the French and Russian armies meeting at Moscow, when neither actually intended to.  These things included the capture of Lavrushka, Nikolai's valet, by the French.    The French make the mistake of taking his words too seriously.

In Which We Discuss War and Peace, Part 10, Chapter 6

Chapter 6

This chapter introduces another dichotomy - the prevalence of substance and the prevalence of form.  Life in St Petersburg is an example of the latter.  The salons of Anna Pavlovna have not changed from 1805 to 1812, despite the constant political upheaval in between.  Basically, they are sharing the same sort of gossip - about how awful Napoleon is, and how Russia should burn France to the ground, essentially - with basically the same people.  Helene's salons have also remained the same between 1808 and 1812.  They are hoping Russia will make peace with the "great nation" of France and the "great man" Napoleon, possibly so they can all go back to speaking French as they are used to.  The two are in conflict, especially now things are heating up in the warzones.  Each group picks and chooses their specific gossip to support their own worldview.  Prince Vasili goes to both and sometimes gets confused about what he should be saying where.

Anna;s circle all condemn Barclay de Tolly and discuss whether Kutuzov should take over.  They are not a fan on the 25th of July.  On the 29th, Kutuzov becomes a Prince, which might be a diplomatic way to get rid of him (I assume becoming a Prince means being given a Principality, i.e., land of your own, so basically they're sending him off to the countryside to turn his sword into a ploughshare or whatever).  However, on the 8th of August, a committee decides that Kutuzov should be commander-in-chief, despite the Emperor's dislike of him, and this is done immediately.  Suddenly, on the 9th of August, Vasili is Kutuzov's greatest fan and has always been so.  I assume he has also always been at war with Eurasia.

Someone reminds Vasili that he said something differently a few days ago, which is very rude.  This someone is a "man of great merit", who is basically working his way up the ladder the way Andrew and darling Bory did.  Thinking he's flattering Anna Pavlovna, he continues to defend her previous opinion, which he has yet to realise is now embarrassing to her.

Gossip then moves to the fact that Kutuzov has made it an absolute condition that the Tsarevich should not be part of the army.  I forget why it is they dislike one another.  I assume it is because Kutuzov is competent and the Tsarevich is not.  The actual reason Kutuzov is said to have given is "I can neither punish him if he is wrong nor reward him if he is right", which is fair enough.  It didn't stop Peter the Great from joining his own army at the bottom and working his way up, but still.  I guess not every Tsarevich can be great, otherwise they wouldn't have had those nasty revolutions.

The "man of great merit" shares another piece of gossip he has heard, that Kutuzov has banned the Tsar himself from the army.  Anna and Vasili roll their eyes.