Calm, luxurious, preoccupied only with ghosts, reflections of life, Petersburg life went on in the old way; and because of the course of this life, great efforts had to be made to realize the danger and the difficult situation in which the Russian people found themselves. There were the same exits, balls, the same French theater, the same interests of the courts, the same interests of service and intrigue. It was only in the highest circles that efforts were made to recall the difficulty of the present situation.

Anna Pavlovna Sherer had a party on the day of the Battle of Borodino. On this day, they expected Prince Vasily, who was going to read the message of the patriarch.

The art of reading was considered to be loud, melodious, between a desperate howl and a gentle murmur, to pour words, completely regardless of their meaning, so that quite by chance a howl fell on one word, on others - a murmur. This reading, like all Anna Pavlovna's evenings, had political significance.

Those present discussed the latest news, the main among which was the illness of Countess Bezukhova.

Everyone knew very well that the illness of the lovely countess arose from the inconvenience of marrying two husbands at once, and that the Italian's treatment consisted in eliminating this inconvenience; but in the presence of Anna Pavlovna, not only did no one dare to think about it, but it was as if no one even knew it.

After the patriarch's message was read out, Anna Pavlovna's guests discussed the situation in the Fatherland for a long time, making various assumptions about the outcome of the battle that was to be fought the other day.

The next day, during a prayer service in the palace on the occasion of the sovereign's birthday, Prince Volkonsky was summoned from the church and received an envelope from Prince Kutuzov. It was Kutuzov's report, written on the day of the battle from Tatarinova. Kutuzov wrote that the Russians had not retreated a single step, that the French had lost much more than ours, that he was reporting in a hurry from the battlefield, without having had time to collect the latest information. So it was a victory. And immediately, without leaving the temple, gratitude was rendered to the creator for his help and for the victory...

A joyful and festive mood reigned in the city all morning. Everyone recognized the victory as complete, and some have already spoken of the capture of Napoleon himself, of his deposition and the election of a new head for France.

The next day, the news of the death of Countess Bezukhova spread throughout the city.

Officially, in large societies, everyone said that Countess Bezukhova died of a terrible attack of a sore throat, but in intimate circles they told details about how the life doctor of the Queen of Spain prescribed Helen small doses of some kind of medicine to produce a certain action; but how Helen, tormented by the fact that the old count suspected her, and by the fact that the husband to whom she wrote (that unfortunate, depraved Pierre) did not answer her, suddenly took a huge dose of the medicine prescribed for her and died in agony before they could give help. It was said that Prince Vasily and the old count took up the Italian; but the Italian showed such notes from the unfortunate dead woman that he was immediately released.

Three days later, news came to Petersburg about the surrender of Moscow, and nine days after the abandonment of Moscow, a messenger from Kutuzov arrived in Petersburg with official news of the abandonment of Moscow. The one sent was the Frenchman Michaud.

Michaud respectfully conveyed what he was ordered to convey from Kutuzov - namely, that it was not possible to fight near Moscow and that, since there was only one choice left - to lose the army and Moscow or Moscow alone, the field marshal had to choose the latter.

The sovereign listened in silence, without looking at Michaud.

The frustrated sovereign told Michaud his decision: now there can be no reconciliation with Napoleon, he will wage war until he exhausts all the means that are in his hands, "even if in the end he himself will have to" let go of his beard until now ... and go eat one potato with the last of the ... peasants.

Most of the people of that time did not pay any attention to the general course of affairs, they were guided only by the personal interests of the present. And these people were the most useful figures of that time. Those who tried to understand the general course of affairs and with self-sacrifice and heroism wanted to participate in it, were the most useless members of society; they saw everything upside down, and everything they did for good turned out to be useless nonsense ...

In St. Petersburg and provinces distant from Moscow, ladies and men in militia uniforms mourned Russia and the capital and spoke of self-sacrifice, but in the army, which was retreating behind Moscow, they hardly spoke or thought about Moscow, and, looking at its conflagration, no one did not vow to take revenge on the French, but thought about the next third of the salary, about the next parking lot ...

Nikolai Rostov, without any goal of self-sacrifice, but by chance, since the war found him in the service, took a close and long part in the defense of the fatherland and therefore, without despair and gloomy conclusions, looked at what was happening then in Russia ... A few days before Borodino battle, Nikolai received money, papers and, sending hussars forward, went to Voronezh by mail.

Arriving in Voronezh at night, Rostov stayed at a hotel, and the next morning went to the governor, who told Nikolai where to get horses and promised to provide any help. Having resolved the issue with the horses, Nikolai went to the governor for the evening.

As soon as Nikolai entered in his hussar uniform, spreading the smell of perfume and wine around him ..., he was surrounded; all eyes turned to him, and he immediately felt that he had entered into what was fitting for him in the province and always pleasant, but now, after a long deprivation, the position of everyone’s favorite, which intoxicated him with pleasure ... Ladies and girls flirted with him, and old women from the first day already busy about how to marry and settle down this young hussar rake. Among these latter was the governor's wife herself, who received Rostov as a close relative...

In the midst of the ball, the governor's wife called Nikolai and said that a certain elderly lady wanted to see him. It was Malvintseva, the maternal aunt of Princess Marya Bolkonskaya, a childless widow.

During the conversation, my aunt (Anna Ignatyevna) spoke with praise about the memorable incident when Rostov stood up for Princess Mary and helped her leave the estate, and thanked him. Nikolai, embarrassed and blushing, said that he really liked Marya, that he had repeatedly perceived the circumstances of their meeting as a sign of fate. The governor's wife offered to help Nikolai marry Princess Mary, hinting that this was a great match. However, Nikolai recalled that he was bound by a promise made to his cousin Sonya and could not ask Marya to become his wife.

Princess Mary at that time lived in Voronezh with her son Andrey. She was engaged in raising her nephew and was worried about the condition of her brother. The next day after the evening, the governor's wife came to Malvintseva and told her about her plans to marry Nicholas and Princess Marya. Having received approval, she specifically spoke about Nikolai Rostov under Princess Marya.

In those two days that passed from the time of this news to the visit to Rostov, Princess Marya did not stop thinking about how she should behave in relation to Rostov ...

But when, on Sunday after mass, the footman reported in the drawing room that Count Rostov had arrived, the princess did not show embarrassment; only a slight blush came to her cheeks, and her eyes lit up with a new, radiant light...

They talked about the war, involuntarily, like everyone else, exaggerating their sadness about this event, they talked about the last meeting, and Nikolai tried to divert the conversation to another subject, they talked about the good governor, about the relatives of Nikolai and Princess Mary ...

Princess Marya, having learned only from the newspapers about her brother’s wound and having no definite information about him, was about to go in search of Prince Andrei, as Nikolai heard (he himself did not see her) ...

A few days before the departure of Rostov, a prayer service was scheduled in the cathedral on the occasion of the victory won by the Russian troops, and Nikolai went to mass. He stood a little behind the governor and, with official gravity, thinking about a wide variety of subjects, survived the service ...

The governor's wife called Andrey and told him that Princess Marya was also here.

Nikolai immediately recognized Princess Marya, not so much by her profile, which was visible from under the hat, but by that feeling of caution, fear and pity that immediately seized him. Princess Mary, obviously immersed in her own thoughts, was making her last crosses before leaving the church...

Nikolai looked at her face in surprise. It was the same face that he had seen before, the same was in him the general expression of subtle, inner, spiritual work; but now it was completely differently illuminated. A touching expression of sadness, prayer and hope was on him. As before with Nikolai in her presence, he, without waiting for the advice of the governor's wife, to approach her, without asking himself whether it would be good, decent or not, his appeal to her here in church, approached her and said that he had heard about her grief and sympathizes with him with all her heart. As soon as she heard his voice, suddenly a bright light lit up in her face, illuminating at the same time both her sadness and joy ...

Nikolai often thought about Princess Marya, but he was prevented from explaining himself to her by the memories of the promise given to Sonya. However, everything was resolved by Sonya's letter. Under pressure from her mother, who wanted to find a rich bride for her son in order to improve the affairs of the family, she wrote that she gave Nikolai complete freedom, that the promise he had made did not oblige him to anything. It was not easy for Sonya to write this letter, but she hoped that Prince Andrei would recover and marry Natasha, and Nikolai would no longer be able to marry Princess Mary, who would be his relative.

In the guardhouse where Pierre was placed, he was treated with hostility, but at the same time with respect. But when the guard changed, they began to treat him the same way as other prisoners. The French were surprised that Pierre spoke French well. Most of the prisoners with whom Bezukhov was kept were ordinary Russian people. The French accused all of them of arson and were going to judge.

Pierre experienced the same thing that the defendant experiences in all courts: bewilderment, why were all these questions asked to him. He felt that it was only out of condescension or, as it were, courtesy that this trick of the substituted groove was used. He knew that he was in the power of these people, that only power had brought him here, that only power gave them the right to demand answers to questions, that the only purpose of this meeting was to accuse him. And therefore, since there was power and there was a desire to accuse, there was no need for the trick of questions and trial. It was obvious that all answers had to lead to guilt. When asked what he was doing when they took him, Pierre answered with some tragedy that he was carrying a child to his parents ... Why did he fight with a marauder? Pierre answered that he was defending a woman, that the protection of an offended woman is the duty of every person, that ... He was stopped: it did not go to the point. Why was he in the yard of the burning house where the witnesses saw him? He replied that he was going to see what was being done in Moscow. They stopped him again: they did not ask him where he was going, but why was he near the fire? Who is he? repeated the first question to which he said he did not want to answer. Again he replied that he could not say that...

Pierre was taken with thirteen others to the Crimean Ford, to the carriage house of the merchant's house...

Pierre stayed in this house for another four days and learned from the conversation of the French soldiers that all the prisoners kept here were waiting for the decision of the marshal. On September 8, Pierre was taken with other prisoners to the Maiden's Field.

Pierre and other criminals were led to the right side of Maiden's Field, not far from the monastery, to a large white house with a huge garden. It was the house of Prince Shcherbatov, in which Pierre often used to visit the owner and in which now, as he learned from the conversation of the soldiers, the marshal, Duke of Ekmul, was standing.

Among the French who interrogated Pierre that day was the famous General Davout.

Davout for Pierre was not just a French general; for Pierre Davout was a man known for his cruelty.

Davout raised his eyes and looked intently at Pierre. For a few seconds they looked at each other, and this look saved Pierre ...

Pierre did not remember how, how long he walked and where. He, in a state of complete senselessness and stupefaction, not seeing anything around him, moved his legs along with others until everyone stopped, and he stopped. One thought for all this time was in the head of Pierre. It was the thought of who, who, finally, sentenced him to death. These were not the people who interrogated him in the commission: none of them wanted and, obviously, could not do this ...

The criminals were placed in a certain order, which was on the list (Pierre was the sixth), and brought to the post. Several drums suddenly struck from both sides, and Pierre felt that with this sound, a part of his soul seemed to be torn off. He lost the ability to think and reason. He could only see and hear. And he had only one desire - the desire that something terrible be done as soon as possible, which had to be done. Pierre looked back at his comrades and examined them ...

Pierre heard that the French were discussing how to shoot - one at a time or two at a time? "Two each," the senior officer answered coldly and calmly. There was a movement in the ranks of the soldiers, and it was noticeable that everyone was in a hurry ...

They took the fifth, who was standing next to Pierre, - one. Pierre did not understand that he was saved, that he and all the others were brought here only to be present at the execution. He looked at what was being done with ever-increasing horror, feeling neither joy nor calm. The fifth was a factory worker in a dressing gown...

After the execution, Pierre was separated from the other defendants and left alone in a small, ruined and filthy church ... From the moment Pierre saw this terrible murder committed by people who did not want to do this, it was as if that spring was suddenly pulled out in his soul, on which everything rested and seemed alive, and everything collapsed into a heap of senseless rubbish. In him, although he did not realize himself, faith was destroyed in the improvement of the world, and in the human, and in his soul, and in God. This state was experienced by Pierre before, but never with such force as now. Before, when such doubts were found on Pierre, these doubts had their source of guilt. And in the very depths of his soul, Pierre then felt that from that despair and those doubts there was salvation in himself. But now he felt that it was not his fault that the world had collapsed in his eyes and only meaningless ruins remained. He felt that it was not in his power to return to faith in life.

After the execution of the arsonists, Pierre was attached to the prisoners of war, and he spent four weeks in the soldiers' barracks, although he was repeatedly offered to go to the officers' barracks. Among other prisoners, Pierre's attention was attracted by a "little man", a soldier of the Apsheron regiment, Platon Karataev, nicknamed Sokolik by his colleagues.

Platon Karataev remained forever in Pierre's soul the strongest and dearest memory and the personification of everything Russian, kind and round ...

Platon Karataev must have been over fifty years old, judging by his stories about the campaigns in which he participated as a longtime soldier. He himself did not know and could not in any way determine how old he was; but his teeth, bright white and strong, which all rolled out in their two semicircles when he laughed (as he often did), were all good and whole; not a single gray hair was in his beard and hair, and his whole body had the appearance of flexibility and especially hardness and endurance.

His face, despite the small round wrinkles, had an expression of innocence and youth; his voice was pleasant and melodious. But the main feature of his speech was immediacy and argumentativeness. He apparently never thought about what he said and what he would say; and from this there was a special irresistible persuasiveness in the speed and fidelity of his intonations.

His physical strength and agility were such during the first time of captivity that he did not seem to understand what fatigue and illness were. Every day in the morning, and in the evening, when he lay down, he said: “Lord, put it down with a pebble, raise it with a ball”; in the morning, getting up, always shrugging his shoulders in the same way, he said: "Lie down - curled up, got up - shook himself." And indeed, as soon as he lay down to immediately fall asleep like a stone, and as soon as he shook himself, in order to immediately, without a second of delay, take up some business, the children, having risen, take up toys. He knew how to do everything, not very well, but not badly either. He baked, steamed, sewed, planed, made boots. He was always busy and only at night he allowed himself the conversations that he loved, and songs ...

Attachments, friendship, love, as Pierre understood them, Karataev did not have any; but he loved and lived lovingly with everything that life brought him, and especially with a person - not with some famous person, but with those people who were before his eyes. He loved his mutt, loved his comrades, the French, loved Pierre, who was his neighbor; but Pierre felt that Karataev, despite all his affectionate tenderness for him (which he involuntarily paid tribute to Pierre's spiritual life), would not have been upset for a minute by parting from him ...

Princess Mary, having learned from Nikolai Rostov that her brother was wounded and was with the Rostov family in Troitskoye, got ready to go to Andrei with her nephew.

During this difficult journey, m-lle Bourienne, Desalles and the servants of Princess Mary were surprised by her fortitude and activity. She went to bed later than everyone else, got up earlier than everyone else, and no difficulties could stop her. Thanks to her activity and energy, which aroused her companions, by the end of the second week they were approaching Yaroslavl.

Princess Marya's love for Nikolai has become "an inseparable part of herself" over the past time. The Rostovs greeted her cordially, but she felt that her state of mind was far from the state of those around her. When the count introduced Sonya to Princess Marya, a hostile feeling arose in her soul. But she managed to overcome him and smiled friendly at the girl.

Upon learning that Natasha was looking after her brother, Marya could hardly hold back her tears of annoyance. However, when Natasha ran into the room and Marya looked into her face, she realized that this was her sincere and reliable friend. Marya rushed to meet Natasha and wept on her shoulder. Natasha informed Princess Marya that Prince Andrei's wound was healing, but the doctor was afraid of infection, but then added that Andrei had changed a couple of days ago.

Princess Mary understood what Natasha meant in words: this happened to him two days ago. She understood that this meant that he suddenly softened, and that softening, tenderness, these were signs of death ...

Seeing his face and meeting his gaze, Princess Mary suddenly slowed down the speed of her step and felt that her tears had suddenly dried up and her sobs had stopped. Catching the expression on his face and eyes, she suddenly became shy and felt guilty.

“Yes, what am I guilty of?” she asked herself. “In the fact that you live and think about the living, and I! ..” answered his cold, stern look.

There was almost hostility in the deep, not out of himself, but looking into himself look, when he slowly looked around at his sister and Natasha.

He kissed his sister hand in hand, according to their habit...

Prince Andrei not only knew that he would die, but he felt that he was dying, that he was already half dead. He experienced a consciousness of alienation from everything earthly and a joyful and strange lightness of being. He, without haste and without anxiety, expected what lay ahead of him. That formidable, eternal, unknown and distant, the presence of which he had not ceased to feel throughout his whole life, was now close to him and - by that strange lightness of being that he experienced - almost understandable and felt ...

His last days and hours passed in an ordinary and simple way. And Princess Marya and Natasha, who did not leave him, felt it. They did not cry, did not shudder, and lately, feeling it themselves, they no longer followed him (he was no longer there, he left them), but for the closest memory of him - for his body. The feelings of both were so strong that they were not affected by the outer, terrible side of death, and they did not find it necessary to exasperate their grief. They did not cry either with him or without him, but they never talked about him among themselves. They felt that they could not put into words what they understood...

• Natasha Rostova- the main character of the novel "War and Peace". In the fourth part of the second volume, this is a young girl who is waiting for Andrei Bolkonsky. He promised to marry her after he came from abroad. She is cheerful, beautiful, talkative, friendly, loves hunting, hopes for future happiness, yearning for the object of her first girlish love.
• Nikolay Rostov- brother of Natalia Rostova. This chapter describes how he returned from the army on vacation, because his mother asked for it due to the fact that troubles befell the family: the father's illness and the threat of the ruin of the estate. Nikolay accepted this news with chagrin, because he was already accustomed to his army duties and communication with friends. He did not want to go from the clear world to where there was nonsense and confusion, but still he had to overcome himself. At home, Nikolai proved himself to be a loving brother and caring son. Recently, he began to show signs of attention to his cousin Sonya Rostova and even intended to propose to her, despite the fact that the mother wanted to marry her son to Julie Karagina in order to improve the financial condition of the estate.
• Countess Natalia Rostova- a very rich secular woman, the mother of Nikolai and Natalia. She loves her family, brings up children, receives guests. Recently, the financial situation of the family has been collapsing, so Natalya decides to marry her son to a rich and wealthy girl, Julie Karagina. But Nikolai is categorically against such a party, which greatly upsets the poor mother and provokes her to be rude towards her niece Sonya Rostova, with whom he is in love and wants to propose. In the last chapter of the fourth part, it is said that Natalya Rostova suffered an illness, due to which she remained in the village while Ilya Rostov left for Moscow with the children.
• Count Ilya Rostov- the father of the Rostov family, a kind, rich man, hosting many guests, arranging balls, carnivals, hunting with hounds. Recently, he was on the verge of ruin, but did not want to realize the gravity of the situation, continuing to do the same as before. “The same was, still increased by Nikolai, hunting, the same fifty horses and fifteen coachmen in the stable; the same gifts dear to each other on name days and solemn dinners for the whole county; the same count whists and bostons, behind which, fanning out cards to everyone in the form of a fan, every day he allowed himself to be beaten by hundreds of neighbors who looked at the right to play the game of Count Ilya Andreevich as the most profitable lease.
• Sonya Rostova- the niece of Countess Rostova, a very beautiful, quiet, reasonable, kind, self-sacrifice girl who knows how to love and wants to be loved. Nikolai Rostov is in love with her. Unfortunately, the mother is against her son marrying a dowry, so she cruelly reproaches the girl and, oppressing, greatly upsets her. Nikolai, wanting to protect his beloved, attracts his sister Natalya, who takes the word from her mother not to offend her sister and friend anymore.

Chapter first

There is a desire for idleness in man, despite the fact that he must work tirelessly, following the moral law. “If a person could find a state in which, being idle, he would feel useful and fulfilling his duty, he would find one side of primeval bliss,” the author says in the work. And this state of impeccable idleness, according to Leo Tolstoy, is used precisely by the military class.

After 1807, Nikolai Rostov already commanded a squadron in the Pavlograd regiment. He became hardened and kind, was loved by all fellow soldiers, and quite contented with life.

Therefore, when his mother called him home, complaining that things were going badly on the estate, he was upset because he did not want to leave the place where he lived quietly and calmly. One of the letters from relatives especially upset Nikolai - the one where Natasha Rostova's engagement to Andrei Bolkonsky was reported. At first he even tried to go home, but after that he put these thoughts aside. As it turned out, I still had to go home, after a letter from my mother, who reported on the troubles that befell the family: the threat of losing the estate, the father's illness.

But it was difficult for Rostov to reorganize: after all, he was already accustomed to rotating among his fellow soldiers and making plans for the army. And then suddenly it is necessary "to go from this clear, good world somewhere to where everything was nonsense and confusion."

And here is Nikolai at home. An enthusiastic meeting passed, and the young man began to settle down again in his native walls. His brother Petya and sister Natasha grew up and got stronger: a thirteen-year-old, handsome and smart-playful boy and a girl who was unrecognizable. Natalya told Nikolai that she was going to marry Andrei Bolkonsky, but she saw that her brother was unhappy that the wedding was postponed for a year. He wondered how Natalya could be calm, because she was in love with Andrei, and he saw some kind of catch in the upcoming marriage.

Chapter Two

At first, Nikolai did not want to interfere in the affairs of the household and was angry that he was called home. Out of vexation, he went to Mitenka and not only scolded him strongly, but also kicked him out with the words: “Out! so that your spirit, bastard, is not here!

The countess, having learned about what had happened in the wing, thought that now their condition should get better, but she was afraid to disturb her son, who, still angry with Mitenka, smoked pipe after pipe. However, Nikolai's father, Ilya Andreevich, the next day called his son to him and gently remarked that he was wrong about Mitenka and that he was not at all a thief or a deceiver.

One day, his mother called Nikolai and reported on Anna Mikhailovna's bill for two thousand, asking for advice on what to do with it. Rostov, angry and saying that he did not love either Anna Mikhailovna or Boris, tore up the bill in front of Countess Natalya.

Chapter Three

Autumn began, and for Nikolai these were the most favorable days to enjoy hunting to the fullest. As partners, he took a commoner, a hunter Danila, but did not expect that both Natasha and Petya would express a desire to go to the forest. It was hard for him to think about it.

Chapter Four

Count Ilya Andreevich also decided to go hunting. An hour later, everyone was standing at the porch, getting ready to go. Finally, they set off: “Fifty-four dogs were bred out of all the hounds, under which six people rode out as riders and survivors.” Having met the old man on the way, they greeted each other, got into conversation, calling him "uncle". The old hunter, in turn, expressed displeasure that children were taken to such a serious matter. Hunting, they got excited, especially when the dogs were set on a wolf. But they could not catch the beast, he "went in the bushes."

Chapter Five

Nikolai Rostov was inflamed with the desire to catch the wolf at all costs, but he did not succeed. He even prayed to God, begged Him to make it so that “the seasoned one would get out and so that Karay, in front of the uncle, who was looking over there, slapped him with a death grip on the throat.” But nothing happened. Nikolay complained that he was always and in everything just unlucky, when he suddenly realized that there was still a chance to go hunting for a wolf. After a hard struggle of dogs with a wild beast, to the great joy of Nikolai Rostov, they managed to take the wolf alive and show the prey to everyone. The hunter Danilo played a big role in this.

Chapter six

Natasha and Petya stayed on the hunt, and Ilya Andreevich went home. The hunt went on because it was still early. “The hounds had just been brought in, Nikolai heard the rare rut of the dog known to him - Voltorna; other dogs joined him, now falling silent, then again starting to drive. The hunter, who was standing in the pit, saw a strange red fox. The dogs rushed after her, but, as it turned out, not only the hunters of the Rostovs were thirsty for this prey. Some time later there was a fight between the "uncle's" hunters and strangers. Nikolai, without talking to the hunter, asked Natalya and Petya to wait for him and went to the place where this hostile Ilaginsky hunt took place. The landowner Ilagin, contrary to rumors about his unkind and intractable disposition, turned out to be a courteous gentleman who even wanted to punish the hunters responsible for the fight so that they would not poison from under the dogs, and wanted to get acquainted with Rostov. In order to smooth over the guilt of his hunter, Ilagin invited Nikolai to his eel, where, as he claimed, there were many hares. In addition, Rostov began to praise Ilagin's dogs, which aroused even greater disposition. They started talking, and the new hunter turned out to be a good conversationalist.

The hunt for the Rostovs made a good impression. Natasha was especially happy, who "joyfully and enthusiastically squealed so piercingly that her ears rang."

Chapter Seven

When Ilagin said goodbye to Nikolai, Rostov was so far from home that he accepted his uncle's offer to spend the night with him, in Mikhailovka. Yard men, as well as dozens of curious women, ran out to look at the hunters who had arrived. The uncle, who got off his horse, after examining his household, shouted, commanding that the superfluous depart and do everything for the reception of guests and the forthcoming hunt. Through the front uncle, he led his new acquaintances into a small hall with a folding table and red chairs, then into a living room with a round birch table and a sofa, then into an office where there was a tattered sofa, and portraits of Suvorov, mother, father, and himself hung on the walls - in military uniform. In the office, the uncle suggested that the guests be comfortable. Petya, Nikolai and Natasha, having undressed, sat down on the sofa. Petya immediately fell asleep. Suddenly Anisya Petrovna, the uncle's wife, entered the room. She was "a fat, ruddy, beautiful woman in her forties, with a double chin and full, ruddy lips." She carried a tray with all sorts of food, on which there were herbalists, and liqueurs, and mushrooms, and flat cakes of black flour in yurag, and honeycomb, and boiled and effervescent honey, and apples, and raw and roasted nuts, and nuts in honey, and chicken, and ham. The hostess hospitably and with pleasure offered dishes to the guests. Uncle told Mitka the coachman to play the balalaika. He played very beautifully, so beautifully that he involuntarily surprised the guests. But it turned out that my uncle also knows how to play the guitar. Natasha, Nikolai, and other guests liked his game. Natasha once again asked: “Charm, charm, uncle! More more". Finally, she began to dance, and those who saw it admired the gracefulness of the girl, who knew how to understand everything that was ... in every Russian person.

When uncle sang his favorite hunting song, everyone was touched by the heart. Natasha was delighted with her uncle's singing. “At ten o’clock, a line, a droshky, and three riders arrived for Natasha and Petya, sent to look for them.” The countess and count did not know where their children were and were very worried. On the way, Natasha sang the motive of the song “Like powder from the evening” and was happy. Nikolai was also glad that he had such a sweet sister.

Chapter Eight

Count Ilya Andreevich no longer worked as a leader, because this position was associated with high costs. Alas, things did not get better for him. The parents secretly and restlessly talked, consulting among themselves about the sale of the rich family home of the Rostovs. Natasha and Nikolai often witnessed these conversations. Life in Otradnoye was quieter than before, however, the huge house and outbuilding were always full of people, so more than twenty people sat down to dine. These were either their own, people, or those who were needed by Rostov as a worker, or simply people who were better or more profitable to live with the count than at home. Nikolay's hunting has also been increased.

The count tried not to think that he was confused in business. On the contrary, he felt powerless to change anything and therefore simply lived as before, convincing himself that nothing had happened.

Countess Natalya tried to find a way out of a difficult situation and thought that Nikolai's marriage to a rich girl would save the situation. She found a bride for him and was very afraid that her son would refuse, and the chance would be lost. This party was Julie Karagina. Nikolai's mother elicited his opinion about marriage, hinted at the need for this, but Nikolai said bluntly that for him love is more important than the financial situation of the bride, even if she comes from a poor family. Nikolai still did not go to Moscow, and the countess did not resume the conversation about marriage, seeing that her son was getting closer and closer to Sonya Rostova, a girl without a dowry. Natalya was angry, sometimes found fault with her poor niece, but she could not do anything. The fourth letter had already been received from Andrey Rostov, where he said that he was already on his way to Russia.

Chapter Nine

Christmas time came, but nothing special happened: the usual holidays with their peculiarities: boring congratulations from neighbors and courtyards, wearing new dresses for everyone. When the third day of the holiday passed, after dinner, the Rostovs went to their rooms. It was the most boring time of the day, Nikolai, who went to the neighbors in the morning, fell asleep in the sofa room, Ilya Andreevich rested in the office. Sonya Rostova was sitting in the living room and sketching a pattern. Suddenly Natasha came up to her mother with a sad face and began to complain that she misses Andrey very much. “I need it,” she repeated. Frustrated, Natasha began to give orders to the servants, trying to give them a lot of work, but they did not fulfill anyone's orders so willingly as they did this young lady. Finally, the girl went into the hall, and, taking the guitar, began to play, plucking the strings. Sonya came into the room, and Natalya asked to wake Nikolai to play the guitar for her brother. The girl was burdened by the monotony of life, bored. She "with horror felt the disgust that rose in her against all the household because they were all the same."

Chapter Ten

Dejected and upset, Natasha asked her brother a question: “It happens to you that it seems to you that nothing will happen - nothing; what all that good was then? And not just boring, but sad? Nikolai answered in the affirmative and even said that the blues came over him at the most unexpected moment: when everyone is cheerful, but it seems to you that there is no point in anything, and you need to die. Sister and brother, as well as Sonya Rostova, shared childhood memories and comforted each other. They touched on the topic of eternity, and Dimmler, who approached the young people with a contemptuous smile, remarked: “Yes, but it’s hard for us to imagine eternity,” to which Natasha objected: “Today it will be, tomorrow it will always be, and yesterday was and the third day was ". Finally, the girl began to sing her mother's favorite play, and, despite the fact that she had not wanted to sing before, she performed it amazingly, causing emotion to the listeners. Countess Natalya plunged into memories, worried about the upcoming marriage of her daughter to Andrei Bolkonsky, Sonya Rostova dreamed of being as charming as her cousin. Suddenly, the singing was interrupted by the voice of Petya Rostov's younger brother, who, running into the room, said: "The mummers are coming." At first, Natasha was so upset that she sobbed a lot, but later, in costumes, in a good mood, everyone began to participate in the masquerade. Finally, they decided to go to Melyukova, a widow with children of various ages, also with governesses and tutors, who lived four miles from the Rostovs. Three horses were harnessed to the sleigh, and everyone, except for the head of the family, Ilya Andreevich, cheerful and contented, set off.

Chapter Eleven

Pelageya Danilovna Melyukova was sitting in the drawing room entertaining her daughters, when suddenly there was a noise in the front door. Hussars, ladies, witches, payas, bears entered the hall, clearing their throats and wiping their faces frosted with frost. Candles were quickly lit. Pelageya Danilovna, having cleared the place for the guests and prepared treats for the gentlemen and the courtyards, without taking off her glasses, with a suppressed smile, walked among the mummers, looked at them closely and did not recognize anyone: not only the Rostovs and Dimmler, but “neither her daughters, nor those men's robes and uniforms that were on them. We played a lot, had fun, having a lot of fun. Nikolai Rostov drew attention to Sonya and looked at her with completely new eyes, realizing that he had fallen in love. They met as they left the house, by the barn. Feelings surged in young people, and the kiss was a confirmation of the nascent love between two hearts.

Chapter Twelve

On the way back from Pelageya Danilovna, everyone tried to accommodate themselves so that Sonya sat with Nikolai. Natalia's brother confessed to her that he had decided to propose to the girl. Arriving home, they began to guess near the mirror, and Sonya claimed that she saw Andrei Bolkonsky, Natalya's fiancé. “When will he return? When I see him! My God! how I am afraid for him and for myself, and for everything I am afraid ... ”the girl asked and so far did not find an answer.

Chapter Thirteen

After Christmas, Nikolai Rostov announced to his mother his firm decision to marry Sophia, but for the first time he felt that the countess was unhappy, that she would not let him go so easily. And so it happened. Ilya Andreevich tried to exhort his son, but seeing that this would have absolutely no effect and feeling guilty before Nikolai, he could not be angry with him. But the mother, although she no longer touched on this topic in a conversation with Nikolai, once called Sonya to her office and cruelly told her that she was thinking about the upcoming unequal marriage, which made the girl sad and not herself. The discord between Nikolai and his mother continued, each tried to insist on his own, once Natalya even had to intervene in the matter of reconciliation, and she brought it to the point that Nikolai received a promise from his mother that Sonya would not be oppressed, and he, in turn , will not undertake anything secretly from the parents.

Dear readers! We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the novel by L. N. Tolstoy “War and Peace” chapter by chapter.

In early January, Nikolai left for the regiment, and the Rostovs' house became sadder than usual. The countess fell ill, Natasha was more and more difficult to experience separation from Andrei Bolkonsky. She wrote him monotonous, classic dry letters, which she did not attach importance to. Natalya's health did not improve, but it was no longer possible to postpone the trip to Moscow. “The countess remained in the village, and the count, taking Sonya and Natasha with him, went to Moscow at the end of January.”

Features of the creation of the novel "War and Peace" by L. N. Tolstoy

The large-scale novel by Leo Tolstoy "War and Peace" was created for six years - from 1863 to 1869. Its writing required titanic efforts, hard work from the author, which he recalled in his drafts. Five thousand two hundred written sheets, which are preserved in the writer's archive, clearly testify to the history of the creation of the epic novel.

But what was the impetus for the creation of the novel "War and Peace"? It all started with the writing in 1856 of a work about a Decembrist who was returning from Siberian exile to Russia. The first chapters of the new novel "The Decembrists", in which the author shows the hero's youth, which coincided with the formidable times of the Patriotic War of 1812, were read by the writer to Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev at the beginning of 1861.

And 1863 is considered to be the date of birth of the novel "War and Peace". During the first year, the author worked hard on the beginning of the work. He hoped to express in this book everything that hurt his soul, that he wanted to tell readers. It is noteworthy that fifteen variants of creating the beginning of the novel have been preserved in the archive of Leo Tolstoy. The author's deep interest in history, as well as in philosophical and socio-political issues, was at the heart of the idea of ​​this great work. The main question of that era was the question of the role of the people in the history of Russia, of its fate. And the work on the novel reflected the search for answers to these topical and topical questions.

The writer's hopes for the early birth of his offspring did not come true, and the first chapters began to appear in print only from 1867, and were not yet entitled "War and Peace", in addition, they were subsequently subjected to strict editing. Initially, the author titled his plan to capture the history of the country in literary form “Three Pores”, but time passed and the writer abandoned this title, because in this case the novel was supposed to begin with a description of the war of 1812. The second version of "1805" was also rejected, because it did not correspond to the author's intention. The third title “All is well that ends well” did not fit either, in which the writer wanted to focus the reader's attention on the happy ending of the work. But this title could not reflect the scale of the work as a whole. The final title of the novel "War and Peace" was published in 1867. The word "world" means the whole universe, the whole world, the whole human race.

The last volume of the epic novel was published in December 1869, thirteen years after the idea arose to write a novel about the exiled Decembrist.

Nowadays, the novel "War and Peace" is read by people of all ages - young men, old people, and children. It is studied at school, essays are written, serials and films are staged. Perhaps centuries will pass, and this work of Leo Tolstoy will be as important and burning for mankind as in the first years of its publication.

After the death of Prince Andrei, Natasha and Princess Mary became very close to each other. However, they spoke surprisingly little. “If they spoke, then about the most insignificant subjects. Both avoided mentioning anything related to the future.

“But pure, complete sadness is just as impossible as pure and complete joy. Princess Marya, in her position as one independent mistress of her fate, guardian and tutor of her nephew, was the first to be called to life from that world of sadness in which she lived for the first two weeks. She received letters from relatives that had to be answered; the room in which Nikolenka was placed was damp, and he began to cough. Many other things appeared, "the cares of life demanded her participation, and she involuntarily gave herself to them."

Princess Mary began to prepare for her departure to Moscow. Natasha refused to go.

She lived with memories of Prince Andrei. When the letter about Petya's death arrived, Natasha forgot about herself and did not leave her mother, who was struggling in sobs.

“Princess Mary has postponed her departure. Sonya and the count tried to replace Natasha, but they could not. They saw that she alone could keep her mother from insane despair. For three weeks, Natasha lived hopelessly with her mother, slept in an armchair in her room, gave her water, fed her and talked to her without ceasing - she spoke, because one gentle, caressing voice calmed the countess.

The emotional wound of the mother could not heal. A month after the news of Petya's death, which found her "a fresh, vigorous fifty-year-old woman," she left her room "half-dead and not taking part in the life of an old woman."

"But the same wound that half killed the countess, this new wound called Natasha to life."

Natasha “thought her life was over. But suddenly love for her mother showed her that the essence of her life - love - was still alive in her. Love woke up, and life woke up.

Princess Marya told Natasha everything about her childhood, about her mother, about her father, about her dreams. Natasha fell in love with Princess Mary and understood her better than anyone else.

“At the end of January, Princess Marya left for Moscow, and the count insisted that Natasha go with her in order to consult with the doctors.”

This was due to Natasha's failing health.

"The rapid movement of the Russians behind the French acted on the Russian army just as destructively as the flight of the French."

Many blamed Kutuzov for all the troubles. But Tolstoy says: “Meanwhile, it is difficult to imagine a historical person whose activity would be so invariably and constantly directed towards the same goal. It is difficult to imagine a goal more worthy and more in line with the will of the whole people. It is even more difficult to find another example in history where the goal set by a historical person would be so completely achieved as the goal to which Kutuzov’s entire activity was directed in 1812.

November 5, circling the troops, Kutuzov delivered a solemn speech. He thanked the troops for their faithful service.

While in Vilna, Kutuzov held back the troops in every way, did not want to make a trip abroad. Kutuzov believed that his mission was accomplished, because he drove the enemies out of Russia. However, Alexander was unhappy that the old commander was so slow and did not want to go to Europe. Gradually Kutuzov lost power, she passed to the sovereign. Kutuzov died in April 1813.

After being released from captivity, Pierre was ill for three months. Then everyone noticed how much he had changed. Now he listened attentively and with interest to people. Pierre began to perceive God's will in a different way: "Everything is God, without whose will no hair will fall from a person's head."

When the French left Moscow, local residents began to return.

“In a week there were already fifteen thousand inhabitants in Moscow, in two it was twenty-five thousand, and so on.

Rising and rising, this number by the autumn of 1813 reached a figure exceeding the population of the 12th year. Life in Moscow gradually improved.

Pierre decided to visit Princess Mary in Moscow. There he met Natasha Rostova, and tender feelings flared up again in Bezukhov's heart. Princess Mary understood that love was possible between Natasha and Pierre, and this sincerely pleased her.

Soon Pierre asked Marya to help him in the matchmaking. Natasha figured it out.

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Petersburg life, "preoccupied only with ghosts, reflections of life," went on in the old way. Anna Pavlovna Scherer had an evening at which Metropolitan Platon's letter to the sovereign was read and Helen Bezukhova's illness was discussed. The next day, news was received about the abandonment of Moscow; after some time, Colonel Michaud arrived from Kutuzov with the news of the abandonment and fire of Moscow; during a conversation with Michaud, Alexander said that he himself would stand at the head of his army, but would not sign peace. Meanwhile, Napoleon sends Loriston to Kutuzov with an offer of peace, but Kutuzov refuses "any kind of deal." The tsar demanded offensive actions, and, despite Kutuzov's reluctance, the Tarutino battle was given.

One autumn night, Kutuzov receives news that the French have left Moscow. Until the very expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia, all the activities of Kutuzov are aimed only at keeping the troops from useless offensives and clashes with the dying enemy. The French army melts in retreat; Kutuzov, on the way from Krasnoe to the main apartment, addresses the soldiers and officers: “While they were strong, we did not feel sorry for ourselves, but now you can feel sorry for them. They are people too." Intrigues do not stop against the commander-in-chief, and in Vilna the sovereign reprimands Kutuzov for his slowness and mistakes. Nevertheless, Kutuzov was awarded George I degree. But in the upcoming campaign - already outside of Russia - Kutuzov is not needed. “There was nothing left for the representative of the people's war but death. And he died."

Nikolai Rostov goes for repairs (to buy horses for the division) to Voronezh, where he meets Princess Marya; he again has thoughts of marrying her, but he is bound by the promise he made to Sonya. Unexpectedly, he receives a letter from Sonya, in which she returns his word to him (the letter was written at the insistence of the Countess). Princess Mary, having learned that her brother is in Yaroslavl, near the Rostovs, goes to him. She sees Natasha, her grief and feels closeness between herself and Natasha. She finds her brother in a state where he already knows that he will die. Natasha understood the meaning of the turning point that occurred in Prince Andrei shortly before her sister's arrival: she tells Princess Marya that Prince Andrei is "too good, he cannot live." When Prince Andrei died, Natasha and Princess Marya experienced "reverent emotion" before the sacrament of death.

The arrested Pierre is brought to the guardhouse, where he is kept along with other detainees; he is interrogated by French officers, then he gets interrogated by Marshal Davout. Davout was known for his cruelty, but when Pierre and the French marshal exchanged glances, they both vaguely felt that they were brothers. This look saved Pierre. He, along with others, was taken to the place of execution, where the French shot five, and Pierre and the rest of the prisoners were taken to the barracks. The spectacle of the execution had a terrible effect on Bezukhov, in his soul "everything fell into a heap of senseless rubbish." A neighbor in the barracks (his name was Platon Karataev) fed Pierre and reassured him with his affectionate speech. Pierre forever remembered Karataev as the personification of everything "Russian kind and round." Plato sews shirts for the French and several times notices that there are different people among the French. A party of prisoners is taken out of Moscow, and together with the retreating army they go along the Smolensk road. During one of the crossings, Karataev falls ill and is killed by the French. After that, Bezukhov has a dream at a halt in which he sees a ball, the surface of which consists of drops. Drops move, move; “Here he is, Karataev, spilled over and disappeared,” Pierre dreams. The next morning, a detachment of prisoners was repulsed by Russian partisans.

Denisov, the commander of the partisan detachment, is about to join forces with a small detachment of Dolokhov to attack a large French transport with Russian prisoners. From the German general, the head of a large detachment, a messenger arrives with a proposal to join in joint action against the French. This messenger was Petya Rostov, who remained for a day in Denisov's detachment. Petya sees Tikhon Shcherbaty returning to the detachment, a peasant who went to "take his tongue" and escaped the chase. Dolokhov arrives and, together with Petya Rostov, goes on reconnaissance to the French. When Petya returns to the detachment, he asks the Cossack to sharpen his saber; he almost falls asleep, and he dreams of the music. The next morning, the detachment attacks the French transport, and Petya dies during the skirmish. Among the captured prisoners was Pierre.

After his release, Pierre is in Orel - he is ill, the physical hardships he has experienced are affecting, but mentally he feels freedom he has never experienced before. He learns about the death of his wife, that Prince Andrei was alive for another month after being wounded. Arriving in Moscow, Pierre goes to Princess Mary, where he meets Natasha. After the death of Prince Andrei, Natasha closed herself in her grief; from this state she is brought out by the news of the death of Petya. She does not leave her mother for three weeks, and only she can ease the grief of the countess. When Princess Marya leaves for Moscow, Natasha, at the insistence of her father, goes with her. Pierre discusses with Princess Mary the possibility of happiness with Natasha; Natasha also awakens love for Pierre.

EPILOGUE

Seven years have passed. Natasha marries Pierre in 1813. The old Count Rostov is dying. Nikolai retires, accepts an inheritance - the debts turn out to be twice as much as the estates. He, along with his mother and Sonya, settled in Moscow, in a modest apartment. Having met Princess Marya, he tries to be restrained and dry with her (the thought of marrying a rich bride is unpleasant to him), but an explanation takes place between them, and in the fall of 1814 Rostov marries Princess Bolkonskaya. They move to the Bald Mountains; Nikolai skillfully manages the household and soon pays off his debts. Sonya lives in his house; “She, like a cat, took root not with people, but with the house.”

In December 1820, Natasha and her children stayed with her brother. They are waiting for Pierre's arrival from Petersburg. Pierre arrives, brings gifts to everyone. In the office between Pierre, Denisov (he is also visiting the Rostovs) and Nikolai, a conversation takes place, Pierre is a member of a secret society; he talks about bad government and the need for change. Nikolai disagrees with Pierre and says that he cannot accept the secret society. During the conversation, Nikolenka Bolkonsky, the son of Prince Andrei, is present. At night, he dreams that he, along with Uncle Pierre, in helmets, as in the book of Plutarch, are walking ahead of a huge army. Nikolenka wakes up with thoughts of her father and the future glory.