Chapter Summaries:
Dole: The Princess Drubetskaya urges Prince Vasili to forward the interests of her son Boris. The value of influence. Discussion of the coronation of Bonaparte at Milan. The viscount's views of matters in France. Pierre's eulogy of Napoleon. Pierre's smile. Prince Ippolit's story.
Briggs: Pierre's faux pas in conversation.
Translation:
IV. Anna Pavlovna smiled and promised to help Pierre, which, she knew, was kin by his father to Prince Vasiliy. The elderly lady, sitting before with Aunty, hastily got up and caught up to Prince Vasiliy in the front. From her face disappeared all the former pretense of interest. Her good, but tattered face expressed only anxiety and fear. — What again do you say to me, prince, about my Boris? — she said, catching up to him in the front. (She pronounced the name Boris with a special emphasis). — I cannot stay longer in Petersburg. Say what news can I bring to my poor boy? Despite this, Prince Vasiliy reluctantly and almost disrespectfully listened to the elderly lady and even showed impatience while she affectionately and touchingly smiled at him and, so he would not leave, took his arm. — What does it cost you to say a word to the sovereign so he will be transferred to the guard, — she requested. — You believe that I can do everything, princess, — responded Prince Vasiliy, — but it is difficult for me to ask the sovereign; I would advise you to turn to Rumyantsev, through Prince Golitsin: this would be smarter. The elderly lady carried the name of Princess Drubetskoy, one of the best names of Russia, but she was poor, exiting out of the light a long time ago and losing her former communications. She arrived now to procure a place in the guard for her only son. Only then, as to see Prince Vasiliy, she called and arrived at the evening of Anna Pavlovna, only then she listened to the story of the viscount. She scared Prince Vasiliy with these; when her beautiful face expressed bitterness, but this went on for only a moment. She again smiled and grabbed the arm of Prince Vasiliy tighter. — Listen, prince, — she said, — I never requested from you, never asked, never reminded you about the friendship of my father to you. But now, I, by God, implore you to do this for my son, and I will count you as my benefactor, — she hastily added. — No, do not be angry, but you promise me. I asked Golitisin, he refused. Be kind, how you have been before,68 — she said, trying to smile, as in her eyes were tears. — Papa, we’re late. — said, turning her beautiful head on her classical shoulders, Princess Elen, awaiting at the door. Yet influence in the world is capital, which needs to be guarded, so it does not disappear. Prince Vasiliy knew this, and, once realizing that if he would ask for everything for those who ask him, that soon he wouldn’t be able to ask for himself, he seldom used his influence. In the case of Princesses Drubetskoy he felt, however, after her new call, something in the kind of reproach of conscience. She reminded him of the truth: the first steps of his own service were from her father. Besides this, he saw her in the reception and that she was one of those women, especially mothers, which, once taking something in their head, will not be left behind until those that can carry out their willingness, and are ready to be on the case in not only a daily, but every minute, harassment and even creating scenes. This latter consideration shook him. — Dear Anna Mihaylovna, — he said with his always familiar boredom in his voice, — for me it is almost impossible to do that what you want me to; but to prove to you, how I love you and I honor the memory of your deceased father, I’ll do the impossible: your son will be transferred to the guard, here is my hand. Are you satisfied? — My sweet benefactor! I was waiting for you; I knew how kind you are. He wanted to leave. — Wait, two words. But when he is transferred to the guard...69 — she hesitated: — you’re good with Mihail Ilarionovich Kutuzov, recommend to him Boris as an adjutant. Then I would be calm, and then I would really... Prince Vasiliy smiled. — This I don’t promise. You don’t know the besieging of Kutuzov from those since he’s been assigned as commander in chief. He himself said this to me; all of Moscow’s lords have conspired to give him all their children as adjutants. — No, promise, I will not release you, my sweet benefactor. — Father, — again in that same tone repeated the beauty, — we’re late. — Well, goodbye,70 farewell. You see? — So tomorrow you’ll report back to the sovereign? — Certainly, but Kutuzov I will not promise. — No, promise, promise, Basil,71 — said, following him, Anna Mihaylovna, with the smile of a young coquette, which once must have been peculiar to her, but now didn’t go with her emaciated face. She, apparently, forgot her years and letting, by habit, all the vintage means of women.Yet when she became alone, her face again accepted that same cold, mocking expression which was on it before. She returned to the circle in which the viscount continued talking and again made a view that she was listening, waited for a time to leave, as her business was done. — But how do you find this last comedy the coronation in Milan? 72 — said Anna Pavlovna. This new comedy: the peoples of Genoa and Lucca pronounce their willingness of Lord Bonaparte. And sir Bonaparte sitting on the throne to carry out the will of the people. Oh! This is delightful! No, this isn’t possible to get my mind off. You would think that all of the world has lost their head. 73 Prince Andrey grinned, all looking at the face of Anna Pavlovna. —God gave me the crown. Woe to those who touch it, — he said (words Bonaparte said of the responsibilities of the crown). — They say, he was very good at pronouncing these words,74 — he added and one more time repeated these words in Italian: “Dio mi la dona, guai a chi la tocca” (God gave me the crown. Woe to those who touch it). —I hope that this was, — continued Anna Pavlovna, — the last drop which overfills the glass. The sovereigns may not stand more of this person which threatens our allу. 75 — Sovereigns! I do not speak about Russia.— said the viscount courteously and hopelessly: —Sovereigns! What did they do for Louis XVII, for the queen, for Elizabeth? Nothing. — he continued, animated. —and, I believe, they carry punishment for their treason in the business of the Bourbons. Sovereigns! They send ambassadors to greet this thief and kidnapper. 76 And he contemptuously sighed, again changing position. Prince Ippolit, long watching through his lorgnette at the viscount, suddenly at these words turned his body to the little princess and, asking for her needle, began to show her, drawing with a needle on the table, the Conde emblem. He interpreted this emblem to her with a significant look as if the princess requested him to tell her about this. — A stick from the mouth, braided with azure mouths — the house of Conde,77 — he spoke. The princess, smiling, listened. — If for another year Bonaparte remains on the throne of France, — continued the viscount beginning the conversation, with the look of a person not listening to others, but in this case, better and more famous, following alone their thoughts already underway, — affairs have gone too far. Intrigue, violence, exile, executions, society, I mean good society, French, forever will be destroyed, and so... He shook his shoulders and spread his hands. Pierre wanted to say something: the conversation interested him, but Anna Pavlovna, watchful of him, interrupted. — The Emperor Aleksandr, — she said with the sadness always accompanying her speeches about the imperial name, — declared that he will leave to the French themselves to choose their form of government. And I think, no doubt, that all nations, free from the usurper, will throw their hand to the legal king, — said Anna Pavlovna, trying to be kind with the emigrant and royalist. — This is doubtful, — said Prince Andrey. — sir viscount78 completely and fairly believes that affairs have already carried too far. I think that it will be difficult to return to the old. — How much I hear, — blushing, again intervening in the conversation, Pierre, — almost all the nobility has passed now to the side of Bonaparte. — This is the speech of the Bonapartists, — said the viscount, not looking at Pierre. — it is difficult to know the public opinion of France. — This was said by Bonaparte, 79 — said Prince Andrey with a grin. (It was seen that he did not like the viscount, and that he, although not watching him, turned against him with his speech). —I showed them the way to fame: They did not like it; — he said after a brief silence, again repeating the words of Napoleon: “I opened my front to them: they threw in as a crowd…” I don’t know to what extent he had the right to speak so. — 80 — No,81 — objected the viscount. — after the killing of the duke even the most biased people stopped seeing in him a hero. If he was a hero for some people, — said the viscount, turning to Anna Pavlovna, —then after the killing of the duke a martyr has become one in heaven and one hero less on land. 82 In the time Anna Pavlovna and others smiled at these words of the viscount, Pierre again burst into the conversation, and Anna Pavlovna, although foreboding that he would say something indecent, now could not stop him. — The execution of the Duke Engien, — said Pierre, — was a state necessity; and I see it as a greatness of soul in this, that Napoleon was not afraid to accept in himself sole liability in this act. —My God!83 — in a terrible whisper spoke Anna Pavlovna . — How, Monsieur Pierre, you see in killing a greatness of soul,84 — said the small princess, smiling and pushing herself in her work. — Ah! Oh! — said different voices. — Capital!85 — in English Prince Ippolit said and began to beat his palm on his knee. The viscount only shook his shoulders. Pierre solemnly looked over his glasses at the listeners. — I began saying so, — he continued with desperation, — the Bourbons ran from the revolution, leaving the people to anarchy; but Napoleon alone understands the revolution, conquered it, and because of the common good he could not keep the life of one person. — Do you not want to come to the table? — said Anna Pavlovna. But Pierre, not answering, continued his speech. — No, — he said, all the more animated, — Napoleon is great, because he has become higher than the revolution, crushed its abuse, holding everything good — the equality of citizens, the freedom of words and print — and alone brought this power. — Yes, if he would take power, not taking advantage of it for killings, gave it the rightful king, — said the viscount, — then I would call him a great human. — He would and could not do this. The people gave him power alone so he delivered them from the Bourbons, and because people saw him as a great human. The revolution was a great business, — continued Monsieur Pierre, showing by this desperate and defiant introductory proposal his great youth and wish to quickly express everything. — The revolution and regicide great business?.. After this... yes do you not want to come to the table? — repeated Anna Pavlovna. — “The Social Contract”86 — with a meek smile said the viscount. — I don’t speak about regicide. I speak about ideas. — Yes, the ideas of robbery, killing and regicide, — again interrupted an ironic voice. — There have been extremes, of course, but not in everything that matters, what matters is the rights of humanity, the emancipation from prejudice, the equality of citizens; and in all these ideas Napoleon kept his strength throughout. — Freedom and equality, — contemptuously said the viscount, as if decided, finally, serious to prove that from his youth came all of the stupidity of his speeches, — all loud words, which were compromised long time. Who already does not love freedom and equality? Our Savior preached freedom and equality. After the revolution did people become happier? The opposite. We would like freedom, but Bonaparte destroyed it. Prince Andrey, with a smile, looked at Pierre, then at the viscount, then at the hostess. At the first moment of the antics of Pierre Anna Pavlovna was terrified, despite his habit in the world; but when she saw how, despite what was spoken by Pierre’s blasphemous speech, the viscount didn’t go outside of himself, and now she was sure that to hush these speeches up already couldn’t be, so she gathered forces and, joining the viscount, attacked the speaker. — But, my kind Monsieur Pierre,87 — said Anna Pavlovna, — how can you explain the same great human, which could execute a duke, a simple human, without trial and without guilt? — I would ask, — said viscount, — how the monsieur can explain the 18th of Brumaire? Is this not cheating? This is cheating, quite not similar to the image or action of a great person.88 — And the captives in Africa, which he killed? — said the small princess, — This is terrible! — and she shook her shoulders. —An upstart, that can be said,89 — said Prince Ippolit. Monsieur Pierre didn’t know who to respond to, and looked around all and smiled. The smile in him was not as in other people, merging with a frown. In him, the opposite, when a smile came, that suddenly, the serious and even a somewhat gloomy face instantly disappeared and was replaced with another — a childish, kind, even stupid smile, as if asking for forgiveness. For the viscount, who saw this for the first time, it became clear that this Jacobin was really not as scary as his words. All fell silent. — How do you want him to respond to all so suddenly? — said Prince Andrey. — Moreover one needs to differentiate the acts of state of a person and the actions of a private personality, commander or emperor. It seems so to me. — Yes, yes, of course, — picked up Pierre, delighted in the speaker giving him help. — It can be confessed, — continued Prince Andrey, — Napoleon was a great person on the bridge at Arcole, in the hospital at Jaffe, where he served by hand in the plague, but... but other actions are difficult to justify. Prince Andrey, apparently wishing to soften the awkwardness of the speech of Pierre, rose, pulling himself together to go and giving a sign to his wife. Suddenly Prince Ippolit rose and, giving a sign with his hands for all to stop and to sit down, began talking: — Ah, today I was told a charming Moscow anecdote; that I need to tell you for fun. Sorry, viscount, I will be telling it in Russian: otherwise all the salt of the anecdote will disappear.90 And Prince Ippolit started to speak in Russian in an accent that the French speak when they’ve stayed a year in Russia. Everyone paused: so lively and strongly Prince Ippolit demanded attention to his story. — In Moscou (Moscow) is a single lady, une dame. and she was very stingy. She needed to have two lackeys91 for her coach. And very large height. This was her taste. And she had a girl92 with still more height. She said... Here Prince Ippolit thought, apparently from the labor of thinking. — She said... Yes, she said: “Girl (à la femme de chambre), put on livery93 and ride with me, behind the coach, to make a visit”.94 Here Prince Ippolit snorted and laughed before his listeners that made a disadvantageous impression of the narrator. However, many, including the elderly lady and Anna Pavlovna, smiled. — She went. Suddenly there was a strong wind. The girl lost the hat, and the long combed hair... Here he could not hold himself anymore and became jerky in laughter and through this laughter spoke: — And the whole world found out... By then that anecdote was over. Although it was unclear why he told this and why he needed to say it in Russian, Anna Pavlovna and others appreciated the societal courtesy of Prince Ippolit, so nicely finishing the unpleasant and unfriendly antics of Monsieur Pierre. The conversation after the anecdote crumbled into small, insignificant talk about future and past balls, performances, and when and where people will be seen. 68. Soyez le bon enfant que vous avez été, (Be the good child that you have been,) 69. Une fois passé aux gardes…(Once passed to the guards...) 70. au revoir, (goodbye,) 71. Basile, (Basil) 72. du sacre de Milan? (of the coronation of Milan?) 73. Et la nouvelle comédie des peuples de Gênes et de Lucques, qui viennent présenter leurs voeux à M. Buonaparte. M. Buonaparte assis sur un trône, et exauçant les voeux des nations! Adorable! Non, mais c’est à en devenir folle! On dirait, que le monde entier a perdu la tête. (And the new comedy of the peoples of Genoa and Lucca, who come to present their wishes to Mr. Buonaparte. Mr. Buonaparte seated on a throne, and fulfilling the wishes of the nations! Adorable! No, but it's becoming crazy! It looks like the whole world has lost its mind.) 74. "Dieu me la donne, gare à qui la touche" — On dit qu’il a été très beau en prononçant ces paroles, (God gave it to me, beware of those who touch it" — They say he was very fair when he pronounced these words,) 75. J’espère enfin, que ça a été la goutte d’eau qui fera déborder le verre. Les souverains ne peuvent plus supporter cet homme, qui menace tout. (I hope, finally, that was the drop of water that will overflow the glass. The sovereigns can no longer support this man who menaces all.) 76. Les souverains? Je ne parle pas de la Russie, Les souverains, madame! Qu’ont ils fait pour Louis XVII, pour la reine, pour madame Elisabeth? Rien, Et croyez-moi, ils subissent la punition pour leur trahison de la cause des Bourbons. Les souverains? Ils envoient des ambassadeurs complimenter l’usurpateur. (The sovereigns? I'm not talking about Russia, Sovereigns, madame! What did they do for Louis XVII, for the queen, for Madame Elisabeth? Nothing, and believe me, they suffer the punishment for their treason of the Bourbon cause. The sovereigns? They send ambassadors to compliment the usurper.) 77. Bâton de gueules, engrêlé de gueules d’azur — maison Condé, (A red staff, entangled with blue — the house of Conde)
Dole: The Princess Drubetskaya urges Prince Vasili to forward the interests of her son Boris. The value of influence. Discussion of the coronation of Bonaparte at Milan. The viscount's views of matters in France. Pierre's eulogy of Napoleon. Pierre's smile. Prince Ippolit's story.
Briggs: Pierre's faux pas in conversation.
Translation:
IV. Anna Pavlovna smiled and promised to help Pierre, which, she knew, was kin by his father to Prince Vasiliy. The elderly lady, sitting before with Aunty, hastily got up and caught up to Prince Vasiliy in the front. From her face disappeared all the former pretense of interest. Her good, but tattered face expressed only anxiety and fear. — What again do you say to me, prince, about my Boris? — she said, catching up to him in the front. (She pronounced the name Boris with a special emphasis). — I cannot stay longer in Petersburg. Say what news can I bring to my poor boy? Despite this, Prince Vasiliy reluctantly and almost disrespectfully listened to the elderly lady and even showed impatience while she affectionately and touchingly smiled at him and, so he would not leave, took his arm. — What does it cost you to say a word to the sovereign so he will be transferred to the guard, — she requested. — You believe that I can do everything, princess, — responded Prince Vasiliy, — but it is difficult for me to ask the sovereign; I would advise you to turn to Rumyantsev, through Prince Golitsin: this would be smarter. The elderly lady carried the name of Princess Drubetskoy, one of the best names of Russia, but she was poor, exiting out of the light a long time ago and losing her former communications. She arrived now to procure a place in the guard for her only son. Only then, as to see Prince Vasiliy, she called and arrived at the evening of Anna Pavlovna, only then she listened to the story of the viscount. She scared Prince Vasiliy with these; when her beautiful face expressed bitterness, but this went on for only a moment. She again smiled and grabbed the arm of Prince Vasiliy tighter. — Listen, prince, — she said, — I never requested from you, never asked, never reminded you about the friendship of my father to you. But now, I, by God, implore you to do this for my son, and I will count you as my benefactor, — she hastily added. — No, do not be angry, but you promise me. I asked Golitisin, he refused. Be kind, how you have been before,68 — she said, trying to smile, as in her eyes were tears. — Papa, we’re late. — said, turning her beautiful head on her classical shoulders, Princess Elen, awaiting at the door. Yet influence in the world is capital, which needs to be guarded, so it does not disappear. Prince Vasiliy knew this, and, once realizing that if he would ask for everything for those who ask him, that soon he wouldn’t be able to ask for himself, he seldom used his influence. In the case of Princesses Drubetskoy he felt, however, after her new call, something in the kind of reproach of conscience. She reminded him of the truth: the first steps of his own service were from her father. Besides this, he saw her in the reception and that she was one of those women, especially mothers, which, once taking something in their head, will not be left behind until those that can carry out their willingness, and are ready to be on the case in not only a daily, but every minute, harassment and even creating scenes. This latter consideration shook him. — Dear Anna Mihaylovna, — he said with his always familiar boredom in his voice, — for me it is almost impossible to do that what you want me to; but to prove to you, how I love you and I honor the memory of your deceased father, I’ll do the impossible: your son will be transferred to the guard, here is my hand. Are you satisfied? — My sweet benefactor! I was waiting for you; I knew how kind you are. He wanted to leave. — Wait, two words. But when he is transferred to the guard...69 — she hesitated: — you’re good with Mihail Ilarionovich Kutuzov, recommend to him Boris as an adjutant. Then I would be calm, and then I would really... Prince Vasiliy smiled. — This I don’t promise. You don’t know the besieging of Kutuzov from those since he’s been assigned as commander in chief. He himself said this to me; all of Moscow’s lords have conspired to give him all their children as adjutants. — No, promise, I will not release you, my sweet benefactor. — Father, — again in that same tone repeated the beauty, — we’re late. — Well, goodbye,70 farewell. You see? — So tomorrow you’ll report back to the sovereign? — Certainly, but Kutuzov I will not promise. — No, promise, promise, Basil,71 — said, following him, Anna Mihaylovna, with the smile of a young coquette, which once must have been peculiar to her, but now didn’t go with her emaciated face. She, apparently, forgot her years and letting, by habit, all the vintage means of women.Yet when she became alone, her face again accepted that same cold, mocking expression which was on it before. She returned to the circle in which the viscount continued talking and again made a view that she was listening, waited for a time to leave, as her business was done. — But how do you find this last comedy the coronation in Milan? 72 — said Anna Pavlovna. This new comedy: the peoples of Genoa and Lucca pronounce their willingness of Lord Bonaparte. And sir Bonaparte sitting on the throne to carry out the will of the people. Oh! This is delightful! No, this isn’t possible to get my mind off. You would think that all of the world has lost their head. 73 Prince Andrey grinned, all looking at the face of Anna Pavlovna. —God gave me the crown. Woe to those who touch it, — he said (words Bonaparte said of the responsibilities of the crown). — They say, he was very good at pronouncing these words,74 — he added and one more time repeated these words in Italian: “Dio mi la dona, guai a chi la tocca” (God gave me the crown. Woe to those who touch it). —I hope that this was, — continued Anna Pavlovna, — the last drop which overfills the glass. The sovereigns may not stand more of this person which threatens our allу. 75 — Sovereigns! I do not speak about Russia.— said the viscount courteously and hopelessly: —Sovereigns! What did they do for Louis XVII, for the queen, for Elizabeth? Nothing. — he continued, animated. —and, I believe, they carry punishment for their treason in the business of the Bourbons. Sovereigns! They send ambassadors to greet this thief and kidnapper. 76 And he contemptuously sighed, again changing position. Prince Ippolit, long watching through his lorgnette at the viscount, suddenly at these words turned his body to the little princess and, asking for her needle, began to show her, drawing with a needle on the table, the Conde emblem. He interpreted this emblem to her with a significant look as if the princess requested him to tell her about this. — A stick from the mouth, braided with azure mouths — the house of Conde,77 — he spoke. The princess, smiling, listened. — If for another year Bonaparte remains on the throne of France, — continued the viscount beginning the conversation, with the look of a person not listening to others, but in this case, better and more famous, following alone their thoughts already underway, — affairs have gone too far. Intrigue, violence, exile, executions, society, I mean good society, French, forever will be destroyed, and so... He shook his shoulders and spread his hands. Pierre wanted to say something: the conversation interested him, but Anna Pavlovna, watchful of him, interrupted. — The Emperor Aleksandr, — she said with the sadness always accompanying her speeches about the imperial name, — declared that he will leave to the French themselves to choose their form of government. And I think, no doubt, that all nations, free from the usurper, will throw their hand to the legal king, — said Anna Pavlovna, trying to be kind with the emigrant and royalist. — This is doubtful, — said Prince Andrey. — sir viscount78 completely and fairly believes that affairs have already carried too far. I think that it will be difficult to return to the old. — How much I hear, — blushing, again intervening in the conversation, Pierre, — almost all the nobility has passed now to the side of Bonaparte. — This is the speech of the Bonapartists, — said the viscount, not looking at Pierre. — it is difficult to know the public opinion of France. — This was said by Bonaparte, 79 — said Prince Andrey with a grin. (It was seen that he did not like the viscount, and that he, although not watching him, turned against him with his speech). —I showed them the way to fame: They did not like it; — he said after a brief silence, again repeating the words of Napoleon: “I opened my front to them: they threw in as a crowd…” I don’t know to what extent he had the right to speak so. — 80 — No,81 — objected the viscount. — after the killing of the duke even the most biased people stopped seeing in him a hero. If he was a hero for some people, — said the viscount, turning to Anna Pavlovna, —then after the killing of the duke a martyr has become one in heaven and one hero less on land. 82 In the time Anna Pavlovna and others smiled at these words of the viscount, Pierre again burst into the conversation, and Anna Pavlovna, although foreboding that he would say something indecent, now could not stop him. — The execution of the Duke Engien, — said Pierre, — was a state necessity; and I see it as a greatness of soul in this, that Napoleon was not afraid to accept in himself sole liability in this act. —My God!83 — in a terrible whisper spoke Anna Pavlovna . — How, Monsieur Pierre, you see in killing a greatness of soul,84 — said the small princess, smiling and pushing herself in her work. — Ah! Oh! — said different voices. — Capital!85 — in English Prince Ippolit said and began to beat his palm on his knee. The viscount only shook his shoulders. Pierre solemnly looked over his glasses at the listeners. — I began saying so, — he continued with desperation, — the Bourbons ran from the revolution, leaving the people to anarchy; but Napoleon alone understands the revolution, conquered it, and because of the common good he could not keep the life of one person. — Do you not want to come to the table? — said Anna Pavlovna. But Pierre, not answering, continued his speech. — No, — he said, all the more animated, — Napoleon is great, because he has become higher than the revolution, crushed its abuse, holding everything good — the equality of citizens, the freedom of words and print — and alone brought this power. — Yes, if he would take power, not taking advantage of it for killings, gave it the rightful king, — said the viscount, — then I would call him a great human. — He would and could not do this. The people gave him power alone so he delivered them from the Bourbons, and because people saw him as a great human. The revolution was a great business, — continued Monsieur Pierre, showing by this desperate and defiant introductory proposal his great youth and wish to quickly express everything. — The revolution and regicide great business?.. After this... yes do you not want to come to the table? — repeated Anna Pavlovna. — “The Social Contract”86 — with a meek smile said the viscount. — I don’t speak about regicide. I speak about ideas. — Yes, the ideas of robbery, killing and regicide, — again interrupted an ironic voice. — There have been extremes, of course, but not in everything that matters, what matters is the rights of humanity, the emancipation from prejudice, the equality of citizens; and in all these ideas Napoleon kept his strength throughout. — Freedom and equality, — contemptuously said the viscount, as if decided, finally, serious to prove that from his youth came all of the stupidity of his speeches, — all loud words, which were compromised long time. Who already does not love freedom and equality? Our Savior preached freedom and equality. After the revolution did people become happier? The opposite. We would like freedom, but Bonaparte destroyed it. Prince Andrey, with a smile, looked at Pierre, then at the viscount, then at the hostess. At the first moment of the antics of Pierre Anna Pavlovna was terrified, despite his habit in the world; but when she saw how, despite what was spoken by Pierre’s blasphemous speech, the viscount didn’t go outside of himself, and now she was sure that to hush these speeches up already couldn’t be, so she gathered forces and, joining the viscount, attacked the speaker. — But, my kind Monsieur Pierre,87 — said Anna Pavlovna, — how can you explain the same great human, which could execute a duke, a simple human, without trial and without guilt? — I would ask, — said viscount, — how the monsieur can explain the 18th of Brumaire? Is this not cheating? This is cheating, quite not similar to the image or action of a great person.88 — And the captives in Africa, which he killed? — said the small princess, — This is terrible! — and she shook her shoulders. —An upstart, that can be said,89 — said Prince Ippolit. Monsieur Pierre didn’t know who to respond to, and looked around all and smiled. The smile in him was not as in other people, merging with a frown. In him, the opposite, when a smile came, that suddenly, the serious and even a somewhat gloomy face instantly disappeared and was replaced with another — a childish, kind, even stupid smile, as if asking for forgiveness. For the viscount, who saw this for the first time, it became clear that this Jacobin was really not as scary as his words. All fell silent. — How do you want him to respond to all so suddenly? — said Prince Andrey. — Moreover one needs to differentiate the acts of state of a person and the actions of a private personality, commander or emperor. It seems so to me. — Yes, yes, of course, — picked up Pierre, delighted in the speaker giving him help. — It can be confessed, — continued Prince Andrey, — Napoleon was a great person on the bridge at Arcole, in the hospital at Jaffe, where he served by hand in the plague, but... but other actions are difficult to justify. Prince Andrey, apparently wishing to soften the awkwardness of the speech of Pierre, rose, pulling himself together to go and giving a sign to his wife. Suddenly Prince Ippolit rose and, giving a sign with his hands for all to stop and to sit down, began talking: — Ah, today I was told a charming Moscow anecdote; that I need to tell you for fun. Sorry, viscount, I will be telling it in Russian: otherwise all the salt of the anecdote will disappear.90 And Prince Ippolit started to speak in Russian in an accent that the French speak when they’ve stayed a year in Russia. Everyone paused: so lively and strongly Prince Ippolit demanded attention to his story. — In Moscou (Moscow) is a single lady, une dame. and she was very stingy. She needed to have two lackeys91 for her coach. And very large height. This was her taste. And she had a girl92 with still more height. She said... Here Prince Ippolit thought, apparently from the labor of thinking. — She said... Yes, she said: “Girl (à la femme de chambre), put on livery93 and ride with me, behind the coach, to make a visit”.94 Here Prince Ippolit snorted and laughed before his listeners that made a disadvantageous impression of the narrator. However, many, including the elderly lady and Anna Pavlovna, smiled. — She went. Suddenly there was a strong wind. The girl lost the hat, and the long combed hair... Here he could not hold himself anymore and became jerky in laughter and through this laughter spoke: — And the whole world found out... By then that anecdote was over. Although it was unclear why he told this and why he needed to say it in Russian, Anna Pavlovna and others appreciated the societal courtesy of Prince Ippolit, so nicely finishing the unpleasant and unfriendly antics of Monsieur Pierre. The conversation after the anecdote crumbled into small, insignificant talk about future and past balls, performances, and when and where people will be seen. 68. Soyez le bon enfant que vous avez été, (Be the good child that you have been,) 69. Une fois passé aux gardes…(Once passed to the guards...) 70. au revoir, (goodbye,) 71. Basile, (Basil) 72. du sacre de Milan? (of the coronation of Milan?) 73. Et la nouvelle comédie des peuples de Gênes et de Lucques, qui viennent présenter leurs voeux à M. Buonaparte. M. Buonaparte assis sur un trône, et exauçant les voeux des nations! Adorable! Non, mais c’est à en devenir folle! On dirait, que le monde entier a perdu la tête. (And the new comedy of the peoples of Genoa and Lucca, who come to present their wishes to Mr. Buonaparte. Mr. Buonaparte seated on a throne, and fulfilling the wishes of the nations! Adorable! No, but it's becoming crazy! It looks like the whole world has lost its mind.) 74. "Dieu me la donne, gare à qui la touche" — On dit qu’il a été très beau en prononçant ces paroles, (God gave it to me, beware of those who touch it" — They say he was very fair when he pronounced these words,) 75. J’espère enfin, que ça a été la goutte d’eau qui fera déborder le verre. Les souverains ne peuvent plus supporter cet homme, qui menace tout. (I hope, finally, that was the drop of water that will overflow the glass. The sovereigns can no longer support this man who menaces all.) 76. Les souverains? Je ne parle pas de la Russie, Les souverains, madame! Qu’ont ils fait pour Louis XVII, pour la reine, pour madame Elisabeth? Rien, Et croyez-moi, ils subissent la punition pour leur trahison de la cause des Bourbons. Les souverains? Ils envoient des ambassadeurs complimenter l’usurpateur. (The sovereigns? I'm not talking about Russia, Sovereigns, madame! What did they do for Louis XVII, for the queen, for Madame Elisabeth? Nothing, and believe me, they suffer the punishment for their treason of the Bourbon cause. The sovereigns? They send ambassadors to compliment the usurper.) 77. Bâton de gueules, engrêlé de gueules d’azur — maison Condé, (A red staff, entangled with blue — the house of Conde)
78. Monsieur le vicomte (Mr. Viscount)
79. Bonaparte l’a dit, (Bonaparte said so)
80. "Je leur ai montré le chemin de la gloire" "ils n’en ont pas voulu; je leur ai ouvert mes antichambres, ils se sont précipités en foule"... Je ne sais pas à quel point il a eu le droit de le dire. ("I showed them the way to glory," "They didn't want it; I opened my entryways to them, they rushed in crowds"...I do not know to what extent he had the right to say it.)
81. Aucun, (None)
82. Si même ça été un héros pour certaines gens, depuis l’assassinat du duc il y a un martyr de plus dans le ciel, un héros de moins sur la terre. (Even if he was a hero for certain people, since the assassination of the duke there is one more martyr in heaven, one less hero on earth.)
83. Dieu! mon Dieu! (God! My God!)
84. Comment, М. Pierre, vous trouvez que l’assassinat est grandeur d’âme, (How, Mr. Pierre, do you find that assassination is greatness of soul)
85. Capital!
86. Contrat social, (Social contract)
87. Mais, mon cher m-r Pierre, (But, my dear Mr. Pierre,)
88. C’est un escamotage, qui ne ressemble nullement à la manière d’agir d’un grand homme (It's a sham, which in no way resembles the manners of actions of a great man)
89. C’est un roturier, vous aurez beau dire, (He is a commoner, you may well say)
90. Ah! aujourd’hui on m’a raconté une anecdote moscovite, charmante: il faut que je vous en régale. Vous m’excusez, vicomte, il faut que je raconte en russe. Autrement on ne sentira pas le sel de l’histoire. (Ah! Today I was told a charming Moscow anecdote: I have to regale you. Excuse me, Viscount, I have to tell it in Russian. Otherwise we will not feel the salt of the story.)
91. valets de pied (footmen)
92. une femme de chambre, (a chambermaid)
93. Livrée (livery)
94. faire des visites (make visits)
Time: Still July 1805, despite not explicitly said.
Locations: Anna Pavlovna's parlour and antechamber (entry in Dole. hall in Garnett.) in St. Petersburg.
Mentioned: Milan, Genoa, Lucca, France, Africa (Bell calls them Turkish prisoners rather than referring to Africa), the bridge of Arcole (Arcola in Dole and Bell.), the hospital at Jaffa (not mentioned explicitly in Bell.), Moscow ("Moscou" in French.), Russia
Notes from Pevear and Volkhonsky read-through:
Locations: Anna Pavlovna's parlour and antechamber (entry in Dole. hall in Garnett.) in St. Petersburg.
Mentioned: Milan, Genoa, Lucca, France, Africa (Bell calls them Turkish prisoners rather than referring to Africa), the bridge of Arcole (Arcola in Dole and Bell.), the hospital at Jaffa (not mentioned explicitly in Bell.), Moscow ("Moscou" in French.), Russia
Notes from Pevear and Volkhonsky read-through:
The Royalists versus the Bonapartists appear in Tolstoy (and probably in a modern view as well) as two equally stupid sides, the difference seems to lie in Pierre’s youth and sincerity. Neither side support the revolution, with Pierre
needing a strong leader with Napoleon needed to stop the abuses of the revolution. Napoleon brought the rights of man, the Rousseau ideas (“Its central idea is that social life is based on a contract in which each party resigns his
freedom to the community and agrees to submit to the expression of the general will.”) to light. I do think the viscount’s words “Our Savior already preached liberty and equality” are important, but the lack of sincerity in drawing room
politics is probably what we should notice. Pierre is allowed to say murder is good because it doesn’t affect him. The reactionaries want to be able to keep doing what they are doing and not have change or equality, using
religion to pacify people. All the arguments of Napoleon not being a great man are real arguments that we can agree Tolstoy agrees with (though notice that Prince Ippolit calls him a commoner, meaning the arguments insinuate that there are great men and these are the monarchs). Pierre is found to be not as frightening as his words are (perhaps this should be kept in mind in the domestic violence scene later in the novel).
The little princess shrugs her shoulders (one of three references in the chapter to shrugging of the shoulders, the others being by the viscount and Andrei) when talking about the prisoners in Africa being slaughtered.
“Four Thousand Turkish soldiers, who had surrendered to Napoleon at the siege of the Palestinian port city of Jaffa in 1799 on condition that their lives would be spared, were shot on his orders, supposedly in punishment for the killing of a French peace envoy.”
needing a strong leader with Napoleon needed to stop the abuses of the revolution. Napoleon brought the rights of man, the Rousseau ideas (“Its central idea is that social life is based on a contract in which each party resigns his
freedom to the community and agrees to submit to the expression of the general will.”) to light. I do think the viscount’s words “Our Savior already preached liberty and equality” are important, but the lack of sincerity in drawing room
politics is probably what we should notice. Pierre is allowed to say murder is good because it doesn’t affect him. The reactionaries want to be able to keep doing what they are doing and not have change or equality, using
religion to pacify people. All the arguments of Napoleon not being a great man are real arguments that we can agree Tolstoy agrees with (though notice that Prince Ippolit calls him a commoner, meaning the arguments insinuate that there are great men and these are the monarchs). Pierre is found to be not as frightening as his words are (perhaps this should be kept in mind in the domestic violence scene later in the novel).
The little princess shrugs her shoulders (one of three references in the chapter to shrugging of the shoulders, the others being by the viscount and Andrei) when talking about the prisoners in Africa being slaughtered.
“Four Thousand Turkish soldiers, who had surrendered to Napoleon at the siege of the Palestinian port city of Jaffa in 1799 on condition that their lives would be spared, were shot on his orders, supposedly in punishment for the killing of a French peace envoy.”
Vassily and Pierre are related through Count Bezukhov.
The elderly lady provides a big character moment for Vassily and sets up Boris. She had been insincere, her
whole presence at the party has been insincere, she came for one reason just like Vassily (also compare Andrei,
who is really only there for his wife, and does not want to be there).
whole presence at the party has been insincere, she came for one reason just like Vassily (also compare Andrei,
who is really only there for his wife, and does not want to be there).
Influence is like a currency or “a capital.” Vassily felt “something like a pang of conscience.” However, his real
motivation is to avoid causing a scene.
motivation is to avoid causing a scene.
The elderly lady is referred to as trying to have a smile like a young coquette, something Helen was explicitly
described as not having in previous scene. Notice Helen’s role in the scene, pleading for her father to go,
focused on leaving to the festival of the English Ambassador.
described as not having in previous scene. Notice Helen’s role in the scene, pleading for her father to go,
focused on leaving to the festival of the English Ambassador.
Again a reference to Italy and the crowning of Napoleon is referenced as a comedy (Buonaparte again).
Is Andrei pro-Napoleon or making insincere arguments? Throughout the novel, Andrei's view of Napoleon
evolves. The text suggests a personal dislike for him. Why? His division of people’s personal, professional, and
political actions would not have been something Tolstoy would come to agree with.
evolves. The text suggests a personal dislike for him. Why? His division of people’s personal, professional, and
political actions would not have been something Tolstoy would come to agree with.
Good society will be destroyed by Napoleon, as will French society. And the sovereigns are not standing up to
him. “It would be hard to return to the old ways.”
him. “It would be hard to return to the old ways.”
Everything has come off the wheels, the machine has broken down for Anna Pavlovna.
The eighteenth Brumaire: “On 9 November 1799 (18 Brumaire of the year VIII according to the French
Republican calendar), Napoleon, having returned from Egypt, overthrew the Directoire in a bloodless coup d’etat
and instituted the Consulat, consolidating all power in his own hands as first consul.”)
Republican calendar), Napoleon, having returned from Egypt, overthrew the Directoire in a bloodless coup d’etat
and instituted the Consulat, consolidating all power in his own hands as first consul.”)
"Bonaparte Visiting the Plague Victims of Jaffa" by Antoine-Jean Gros.
Line break after Prince Andrei gets up and before Prince Ippolit rises.
The Prince Ippolit Russian story: Obviously can’t speak Russian very well, the story is senseless, but gets the ball machine working back on track and off of politics and on the more insignificant facts of life.
Characters (characters who do not appear, but are mentioned are placed in italics. First appearances are in Bold. First mentions are underlined. Final appearance denoted by *):
Anna Pavlovna
Pierre
Prince Vasilly (also referred to as “Basile” by The Elderly Lady, though Maude has its normal “Vasili” and Bell keeps its normal “Basil” there)
The Elderly Lady (revealed as “Anna Mikhailovna” in Dole and Dunnigan, “Mihalovna” in Garnett, “Mikhaylovna” in Wiener, Maude)
Boris (assumedly “Boris Mikhailovna”, the son of The Elderly Lady, who puts “accent” (Dole and Edmonds, “accentuating strongly” in Wiener, “particular emphasis on the O” in Mandelker) on the O)
Czar Alexander (referred to as “emperor” and “majesty”)
Rumyantsof (as in Dole, “Rumyantsev” in Briggs, Dunnigan, and Maude, “Rumyantsov” in Garnett)
Prince Golitain (as in Dole, “Golitsyn” in Wiener, Mandelker, and Edmonds, “Galitzine” in Bell)
Princess Drubetskaya (as in Dole, Dunnigan, and Maude, less of as a person but more of the family Anna Mikhailovna comes from. “Drubetskoy” in Briggs, Garnett, “Droubetzkoi” in Bell)
The Elder Lady’s Father (helped Vassily get into society and probably of Drubetskoy family)
Princess Helene
Mikhail Ilarionovitch Kutuzof (in Dole, “... Ilarionovich Kutuzov” in Wiener and Mandelker, “Mihail Ilarionovich…” in Edmonds, “...Ilarionovitch…” in Garnett. Briggs just shortens it to “General Kutuzov” and Bell only puts the last name)
Napoleon Bonaparte (see note on Bounaparte above, Anna Pavlovna calls him “Mr” (Wiener) or Monsieur (Dole, Edmonds, Bell, and Briggs), the M. for Monsieur used by Mandelker)
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (the last name is not used in the chapter)
Mortemart (only referred to as “the viscount” in this chapter, also has "emigre" and "Royalist" pronounced as adjectives on him)
Princess Lisa Bolkonsky (referred to as “the little princess” throughout)
Louis XVIII (as in Dole and Wiener, “Louis the Sixteenth” in Garnett, “Louis XVI” in Bell, Edmonds, and Dunnigan, “Louis XVII” in Maude. See Gibian note below.)
The Queen (Marie Antoinette)
Madame Elizabeth (as in Dole and Maude, “...Elisabeth” in Briggs, Garnett, and Dunnigan)
Prince Ippolit
Duc d’Enghien (Mandelker calls him “Prince Herzog Engienskii” in Pierre’s dialogue, but the Russian text uses герцога Энгиенского meaning “Duke of Enghien”)
(Dole and Edmonds include Rousseau’s (as in Jean-Jacques Rousseau) name in front of “Contrat social”, though the name isn’t in the Russian text)
(The Bourbons as a family as well as the Conde symbol is discussed, but not specific people and thus are not included here).
(I am also not counting any reference to God or Jesus as characters)
(I am not counting the woman in Prince Ippolit’s story as a character)
Abridged Versions: Beginning of chapter 2 for Bell, no line break at what is the end of the chapter for other
versions. For Maude, chapter 4, beginning with the entrance of Andrei Bolkonsky, ends with the elderly lady’s
task being accomplished. Chapter 5 begins with the conversational shift to politics and ends where other
versions end their chapter 4.
Gibian: Line break after "made a sign to his wife that it was time to go." End of Chapter 1.
versions. For Maude, chapter 4, beginning with the entrance of Andrei Bolkonsky, ends with the elderly lady’s
task being accomplished. Chapter 5 begins with the conversational shift to politics and ends where other
versions end their chapter 4.
Gibian: Line break after "made a sign to his wife that it was time to go." End of Chapter 1.
Fuller: the long O part of Boris is cut, the repeating of the plea and cause for promise for Vasilly is removed
and the episode is left a little more open (though he keeps the line about “her object had been attained.”)
The Prince Ippolit showing the coat of arms is removed, as well as his story at the end of the chapter, but the
argument is kept intact.
and the episode is left a little more open (though he keeps the line about “her object had been attained.”)
The Prince Ippolit showing the coat of arms is removed, as well as his story at the end of the chapter, but the
argument is kept intact.
Komroff: Takes out emphasis on O part. Removes Anna’s last name, but this section otherwise kept or
retained, the paragraph about the duke being a martyr is removed, as is Anna’s desire to compliment the
viscount and restrain Pierre before he agrees with the duke’s execution. The contrat social is removed, as
are the majority of the counterarguments against Pierre, Andrei’s defense of him (in fact, his leaving is
described as being because he wanted to tone down Pierre’s remarks), and Prince Ippolit’s story is cut.
retained, the paragraph about the duke being a martyr is removed, as is Anna’s desire to compliment the
viscount and restrain Pierre before he agrees with the duke’s execution. The contrat social is removed, as
are the majority of the counterarguments against Pierre, Andrei’s defense of him (in fact, his leaving is
described as being because he wanted to tone down Pierre’s remarks), and Prince Ippolit’s story is cut.
Kropotkin: Chapter 3: removes the Anna promising to take care of Pierre and the fact that he is related to
Vassily. The long O part is cut, gives the elderly lady’s full name instead of just mentioning she is part of the
Drubetskoy line. The paragraph about the elder lady pretending to be interested in the viscount although she
only came to talk to Vasilly is whittled down significantly and that episode cuts to not the start of Pavlovna
introducing the topic, but the viscount saying a year longer for Bonaparte will destroy French society. This
removes Andrei’s sarcastic taunts of Pavlovna as well as the coat of arms Prince Ippolit paragraph. The
sarcastic back and forth about the “Bonapartists say” also is removed and we get to Pierre’s defense of
Napoleon faster. The contrat social line is removed, and Andrei’s defense of Pierre, as well as his getting up
to leave is also removed. Prince Ippolit’s story is retained, however.
Vassily. The long O part is cut, gives the elderly lady’s full name instead of just mentioning she is part of the
Drubetskoy line. The paragraph about the elder lady pretending to be interested in the viscount although she
only came to talk to Vasilly is whittled down significantly and that episode cuts to not the start of Pavlovna
introducing the topic, but the viscount saying a year longer for Bonaparte will destroy French society. This
removes Andrei’s sarcastic taunts of Pavlovna as well as the coat of arms Prince Ippolit paragraph. The
sarcastic back and forth about the “Bonapartists say” also is removed and we get to Pierre’s defense of
Napoleon faster. The contrat social line is removed, and Andrei’s defense of Pierre, as well as his getting up
to leave is also removed. Prince Ippolit’s story is retained, however.
Bromfield (the material covers chapter 5-7): the stress on the o section is retained (obviously Bromfield's version comes from an earlier version of the text, so retained isn't quite the right word). The elderly woman
episode is retained, except perhaps made more explicit with “the mother lied and demeaned herself.” and
that she “begged, like a gypsy.” The end of this episode, where she goes back and pretends to the listen to
the viscount, ends chapter 5. Chapter 6 begins with the viscount continuing his story about the duke, which
does not happen in the other versions. There is this whole weird thing about an elixir of life for the house of
the Conde. The duke gives this elixir to Bonaparte, which makes Bonaparte an enemy of the family. The
death of the duke is described by the viscount as “The angel and the demon. And that was how the most
terrible crime in history was committed.” Prince Andrei calls the murder a mistake (see notes) and makes fun
of the viscount and Pavlovna’s dialogue about “the latest farce” cuts in much more smoothly. Most of this is
retained more or less exactly with the exception being Andrei not retorting back about the “legitimate King”
being put back in place by the people. The big change comes at the end of chapter 6 when Pavlovna wants
to know Pierre’s opinion, rather than not wanting him to talk in other versions. Chapter 7 begins with Pierre
saying France will die for its emperor and that Napoleon is “The Greatest genius of our age.” Pierre is
compared to a wild horse and speaks quickly and loudly. Only three months since his return from France.
More explicit that Napoleon is Pierre’s hero. His Russianness is questioned and Pavlovna negatively
compares him to the viscount in regards to him being a man of society. The rest of the argument plays out
just about as it does in the latter version, with Andrei helping less but supporting with a smile. Prince Ippolit’s
story remains the same and chapter 7 ends.
Simmons: Entire chapter is cut. See previous chapter's post.
episode is retained, except perhaps made more explicit with “the mother lied and demeaned herself.” and
that she “begged, like a gypsy.” The end of this episode, where she goes back and pretends to the listen to
the viscount, ends chapter 5. Chapter 6 begins with the viscount continuing his story about the duke, which
does not happen in the other versions. There is this whole weird thing about an elixir of life for the house of
the Conde. The duke gives this elixir to Bonaparte, which makes Bonaparte an enemy of the family. The
death of the duke is described by the viscount as “The angel and the demon. And that was how the most
terrible crime in history was committed.” Prince Andrei calls the murder a mistake (see notes) and makes fun
of the viscount and Pavlovna’s dialogue about “the latest farce” cuts in much more smoothly. Most of this is
retained more or less exactly with the exception being Andrei not retorting back about the “legitimate King”
being put back in place by the people. The big change comes at the end of chapter 6 when Pavlovna wants
to know Pierre’s opinion, rather than not wanting him to talk in other versions. Chapter 7 begins with Pierre
saying France will die for its emperor and that Napoleon is “The Greatest genius of our age.” Pierre is
compared to a wild horse and speaks quickly and loudly. Only three months since his return from France.
More explicit that Napoleon is Pierre’s hero. His Russianness is questioned and Pavlovna negatively
compares him to the viscount in regards to him being a man of society. The rest of the argument plays out
just about as it does in the latter version, with Andrei helping less but supporting with a smile. Prince Ippolit’s
story remains the same and chapter 7 ends.
Simmons: Entire chapter is cut. See previous chapter's post.
Edmundson: Still Act One Scene One: The Vicomte is introduced and begins telling his story. Pierre makes his comment,
but this is immediately interrupted by Andrei's entrance. The Vicomte, Andrei, and Anna then continue to talk about Napoleon.
Pierre has to make his comment again (the Aunt is the one that says "Capital").The scene ends with Pierre still proclaiming
his Napoleonic political opinions.
Additional Notes:
Mandelker: Ippolit gets confused on the coat of arms and messes up what it looks like. The duke was the last
heir of the Conde. Maude considered this untranslatable nonsense
heir of the Conde. Maude considered this untranslatable nonsense
The bridge of Arcole: Napoleon turned the tide against the Austrians by grabbing a standard (flag) and
leading his troops across the bridge.
leading his troops across the bridge.
Briggs notes this and plague victims as two “risks”
Briggs has 3000 prisoners, Maude has 2000, Mandelker has 4000. Maude adds note about chopped off
heads, bodies thrown in Nile.
heads, bodies thrown in Nile.
Garnett: The Guards were founded by Peter the Great
Masculine names end in itch, female in ovna or evna
Count Nikolay Petrovitch Rumyantsov served as minister of commerce from 1802-1811, foreign minister from
1808-1814, president of state council of 1810-1814.
1808-1814, president of state council of 1810-1814.
Prince Alexander Nikolayevitch Galitsin: minister of public education, spiritual affairs.
Louis XVI 1774 became king, executed in 1793 with wife, his sister (Elisabeth-Philippine-Marie-Helene) executed in the next year.
Gibian: Louis XVIII ruled from 1815-1825, mistake Tolstoy made in text by mentioning him instead of Louis XVI.
Louis XVII died in prison.
Louis XVII died in prison.
The description of Anna Mikhailovna's smile no longer matching her face and how she has forgotten her age will
remind attentive readers of how the mother of Nekhyludov's Missy pretended and wanted to be much younger
than she was.
S.L. Tolstoi: Essays on the Past: Page 108: ‘“There are three kinds of joke-tellers. The worst kind, who laugh while
telling a joke, though their hearers do not laugh; the middling kind, who laugh together with their hearers; and the
best kind, who do not laugh, leaving it to their hearers.”’
Roberts:
Page 189: “Napoleon’s treatment of the prisoners captured at Jaffa, of whom some, though not all, were men who had given their word at El-Arish and then broken it, was extremely harsh...In his own account Berthier stated his
belief that these men had forfeited their lives when Jaffa refused to surrender, regardless of what had happened at El-Arish, and he didn’t differentiate between the deaths taken in battle or in cold blood.”
Page 190: “There was, of course, a racial element to this; Napoleon would not have executed European prisoners-of-war.”
Page 191: “In an all-too-rare example of poetic justice in history, the French caught the plague off Jaffa’s inhabitants whom they had raped and pillaged.”
Durant:
Page 7: The Jacobins of the Revolution accepted the doctrine of The Social Contract: that man is by nature good, and becomes bad by being subjected to corrupt institutions and unjust law; that men are born free and become slaves in an artificial civilization. When in power the Revolutionarly leaders adopted Rousseau’s idea that the citizen, by receiving the protection of the state, implicitly pledges obedience to it...Rousseau’s sovereignity of the people became, in the Revolution, the sovereignty of the state, then of the Committee of Public Safety, then of one man…”
Herold: Pages 160-161: d’Enghien….ninety minutes after his trial had begun, he was shot...Czar Alexander decreed solemn mourning for his court and sent a fiery protest to Paris”
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