Chapter 1
St Petersburg are failing to take the war seriously because, basically, nothing has changed for them. Helena is ill and everyone's pretty sure it's due to her bigamy, but no one wants to say. The doctor says it's actually angina pectoris, which surprises me because I didn't know she actually had a heart. The war is discussed at only a few parties, including Anna Pavlovna's. It's the 26th of August - the day of the battle of Borodino - and she feels optimistic about it.
Chapter 2
Kutuzov has sent a letter stating that the Russians didn't retreat, the French losses were heavy, and, generally, the battle was won, so Anna Pavlovna feels nicely vindicated. The people of St Petersburg still don't really understand the war, but the ones who care about it are pretty sure Russia's won the whole thing and are happy to have learned this on the Tsar's birthday. They're unhappy that Kutaysov, a young favourite, has died, but that's really the only downside.
The next day, no more news is received and people begin to feel anxious and blame Kutuzov about it. Helena also dies, and it's rumoured that she commited suicide because her wretched, profligate husband, Pierre, refused to reply to her letters.
On the third day, news of Moscow's surrender arrives, and people are shocked.
They decry Kutuzov as a traitor and the Emperor sends him a note.
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