Chapter Summaries: Dole: Prince Andrei entertained by the witty Bilibin. His character and career. Diplomatic subtleties. Occupation of Vienna. Buonaparte or Bonaparte? Illusions.
Briggs: Andrey stays with Bilibin.
Maude: Prince Andrew and Bilibin.
Translation:
X. Prince Andrey stopped in Brno at his friend’s, the Russian diplomat Bilibin. — Ah, sweet prince, a no more pleasant guest, — said Bilibin, exiting towards Prince Andrey. — Franz, in my bedroom put the things of the prince! — he turned to his servant, escorting Bolkonsky. — What, a messenger of victory? Perfect. But I am sitting sick, as you see. Prince Andrey, having washed and dressed, got out to the luxurious office of the diplomat and sat down for the prepared dinner. Bilibin quietly sat down at the fireplace. Prince Andrey not only after his travels, but after any trip while he was deprived of all the cleanliness of amenities and the grace of life, felt a pleasant feeling of recreation among these luxurious conditions of life to which he was used to from childhood. Besides this it was nice after the Austrian reception to talk though not in Russian (they spoke French), but with a Russian person, whom, he assumed, shared a common Russian revulsion (now especially lively experienced) to Austrians. Bilibin was a thirty-five-year-old man, single, in the same society as Prince Andrey. They were familiar still in Petersburg, yet still nearer flew together at the last arrival of Prince Andrey in Vienna with Kutuzov. As Prince Andrey was a young person, promising to go far in the military field, so, and still more, promised Bilibin in the diplomatic. He was still a young person, but now a middle-aged diplomat, as he started to serve from sixteen-years-old, was in Paris, in Copenhagen and now in Vienna occupied quite a significant place. And the chancellor and our messenger in Vienna knew him and cherished him. He was not of the quantity of most diplomats, that are required to have only negative virtues, not to do famous things and speak French so that to be a very good diplomat; he was one of those diplomats that love and are able to work, and, despite his laziness, he sometimes spent the night behind the writing table. He worked equally well no matter what consisted the essence of his work. He was not interested in the question “what for?”, but the question “how?”. In what consisted the diplomatic business, he did not care; but to make a skillfully, aptly and gracefully circular, memorandum or report — in this he found great pleasure. The merits Bilibin valued, besides written work, most was his art to handle and speak in the higher sphere. Bilibin loved conversation the same as he loved his job, only then when the conversation could be graceful and witty. In society he constantly waited for the case to say something wonderful and marched into conversation not otherwise than in these conditions. The conversation of Bilibin constantly poured original witty, finished phrases, having a common interest. These phrases were made in the internal laboratory of Bilibin, as if its purpose was portable properties, so if insignificant societal people could conveniently remember them and carry them across living rooms to other living rooms. and really, the reviews Bilibin diverged on Viennese living room,262 as they said, and often had an impact on so called important affairs. The thin, emaciated, yellowish face of his was all covered with large wrinkles, which always seemed so cleanly and carefully washed, as the tips of fingers after a bathhouse. The movements of these wrinkles formed the main game of his physiognomy. That in his frowned forehead broad folds, the eyebrows rose up, then the eyebrows went back down, and in his cheeks formed large wrinkles. His deep setting, small eyes always looked all around and funnily. — Well, now tell me about your exploits, — he said. Bolkonsky, in a very humble way, not once mentioning himself, talked about the business and the reception of the war minister. — They passed me with these tidings how you accept a dog in a skittle game,263 — he concluded. Bilibin grinned and loosened folds of skin. —However, my dear, —he said, looking at him from afar and with his nail picking at the skin above the left eye, — all my respect to the “Orthodox Russian army”, I suppose, that your victory is not of the most brilliant.264 He continued all so again in the French language, pronouncing in Russian only those words that he contemptuously wanted to underline. — How again? You with all its mass collapsed on the miserable Mortier in one division, and this Mortier went away in between your hands? Where again is the victory? — However, seriously said, — was the response of Prince Andrey, — all the same we can say without boasting that this is a little better than Ulm... — From what you took not one marshal? — Because that not all is done how it is supposed to, and not so regularly as in a parade. We imposed, as I spoke to you, a call for the rear at the seventh hour of the morning, but did not come until five in the evening. — From why again did you not come at the seventh hour morning? You needed to come at the seventh hour of the morning, — smilingly said Bilibin, — the need was to come at the seventh hour of the morning. — From what did you not inspire Bonaparte to a diplomatic path, and that it was better for him to leave Genoa? — by that same tone said Prince Andrey. — I know, — interrupted Bilibin, — you think that it is very easy to take a marshal, sitting on the couch before the fireplace. This is really, but all the same, what for did you not take him? And do not be surprised that not only the war minister, but the august Emperor and King Franz will not be very happy in your victory; yes and I, the unhappy secretary of the Russian embassy, do not feel any special joys... He looked at Prince Andrey and suddenly lowered the gathered skin to his forehead. — Now is it my turn to ask you “from what”, my sweet? — said Bolkonsky. — I confess to you that I do not understand, maybe, here are the diplomatic subtleties above the preparation of a weak mind, but I do not understand: Mack loses a whole army, Archduke Ferdinand and Archduke Karl give no signs of life and make mistakes behind mistakes, finally, Kutuzov wins one real victory, destroys the vow of invincibility265 of the French, and the war minister is not even interested to know the details! — It was from this, my sweet. Whether to see,266 hoorah! For the tsar, for Russia, for the faith! This is perfect for everyone,267 but what we, I say — the Austrian court, for what business are your victories? Bring you here to us pretty news about a victory of Archduke Karl or Ferdinand — one archduke is worth another,268 as you know — though against a company of the fire department of commanders of Bonaparte, this is another business, we thunder with the guns. But that this, as a purpose, may only tease us. Archduke Karl does nothing, Archduke Ferdinand is covered in shame. Vienna you throw away, not defending anymore, as if you would tell us:269 with us is God, but God is with you, and with your capital. One general, whom we all loved, Schmidt: you let him down under a bullet and congratulate us with victory!... Agreed that it is more tantalizing than this news, which you bring and cannot be figured out. This as if on purpose, as if on purpose.270 Besides this, well, hold on to your exactly brilliant victory, hold on to the victory of even Archduke Karl, but what would this have changed in the overall course of affairs? Now it is really late, when Vienna is busy with French troops. — How busy? Vienna busy? — Not only busy, but Bonaparte is at Schonbrunn, but our count, our sweet Count Vrbna was sent to him for orders. Bolkonsky after the fatigue and impressions of travel, reception and in the peculiarities after lunch felt that he did not understand the meanings of the words that he heard. — Now in the morning Count Lichtenfels was here, — continued Bilibin, — and showed me a letter, in which in detail described the parade of the French in Vienna. Prince Murat and everyone else...271 you see that your victory is not very joyful, and that you may not be accepted as a Savior... — Right, for I don’t care, completely don’t care! — said Prince Andrey, beginning to understand that his news about the battle below Krems really had little importance in view of these events, as the occupation of the capitals of Austria. — How again was Vienna taken? But the bridge and the famous strengthening,272 and Prince Auersperg? We have gossip that Prince Auersperg defended Vienna, — he said. — Prince Auersperg stayed in this, on our side and defended us; I think, very badly defended, but all the same defended. But Vienna on that side. No, the bridge was still not taken and, I hope, will not be taken because of how he mined it and he ordered to blow it up. Otherwise it would be the case that we were for a long time be in the mountains of Bohemia, and you with your army would hold a bad quarter hour between two lights. — Yet this all the same does not mean that the campaign is over, — said Prince Andrey. — But I think that it is over. And so think the large caps here, but they do not dare to say this. It will be as I spoke in the beginning of the campaign that your skirmish under Durenstein,273 not at all will gunpowder decide this business, but those who thought it up, — said Bilibin, repeating one of his catchwords,274 loosening the skin on his forehead and pausing. — The question only is in what will be said at the Berlin appointment of Emperor Aleksandr with the Prussian king. Should Prussia march in union, then Austria will be forced275 and will go to war. Should again it be no, the business only in this is to agree where to form the initial articles of the new Campo Formio..276 — But what for an extraordinary genius! — suddenly cried out Prince Andrey, squeezing his little hand and hitting it on the table. — and what for happiness is this person! — Buonaparte?277 — interrogatively said Bilibin, wrinkling his forehead and by this gave the feeling that now will be a word278 — Buonaparte? — he said, hitting especially on the u. I think, however, that now, when he prescribes the laws of Austria from Schonbrunn, we need to rid him from of the u279 and I resolutely make the innovation and call him simply Bonaparte.280 — No, without jokes, — said Prince Andrey, — is it really you think that the campaign is over? — Here is what I think. Austria is left as a fool, and she is not used to this. And she will repay. But as a fool she is left because that first, the provinces are busted (they say, the Orthodox cruelly robs,),281 the army broken, capital taken, and all this is for the beautiful eye,282 of the Sardinian majesty. And because — between us, my dear283 — I listen instinctively, how we deceive, I listened instinctively to the intercourse with France and project peace, secret peace, and separate prisoners. — This may not be! — said Prince Andrey, — This would be too nasty. — Live and see,284 — said Bilibin, loosening more skin in a sign of graduation of the conversation. When Prince Andrey came into the prepared for him room and on the clean linen lied down on the down jackets and scented warmed pillows, — he felt that then the battle about which he brought news, was far away, far away from him. The Prussian union, the treason of Austria, the new triumph of Bonaparte, the exit and the parade, and the reception of Emperor Franz tomorrow occupied him. He closed his eyes, but at that same moment in his ears tore cannonade, firing, knocking wheels of the crew, and here again coming down from the mountains stretched to the thread musketeers, and the French shooting, and he felt, as his heart shuddered, and he left forward nearby with Schmidt, and bullets funnily whistling around him, and he tested that feeling tenfold to the joys of life, which he had not felt with himself since childhood. He awakened... “Yes, all this was!...” he said, happily, childishly smiling to himself, and slept a strong, young sleep. 262. les mots de Bilibine se colportaient dans les salons de Vienne, (the words of Bilibine peddled in the salons of Vienna,) 263. Ils m’ont reçu avec ma nouvelle, comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles, (They received me with my news, like a dog in a game of skittles,) 264. Cependant, mon cher, malgré la haute estime que je professe pour le “Orthodox Russian army”, j’avoue que votre victoire n est pas des plus victorieuses. (However, my dear, despite the high esteem that I profess for the “Orthodox Russian army,” I confess that your victory is not the most victorious.) 265. Charme (Charm) 266. Voyez-vous, mon cher: (You see, my dear:) 267. Tout ça est bel et bon, (This is all well and good,) 268. un archiduc vaut l’autre, (an archduke is worth another) 269. comme si vous nous disiez: (as if you were telling us:) 270. C’est comme un fait exprès, comme un fait exprès. (This is like it was done on purpose, like it was done on purpose.) 271. Le prince Murat et tout le tremblement…(Prince Murat and all the trembling...) 272. tête de pont, (head of the bridge,) 273. echauffourée de Dürenstein, (scuffle of Dürenstein,) 274. Mots, (Words,) 275. forcera la main à l’Autriche, (force the hand of Austria,) 276. Campo Formio (Campo Formio) 277. Buonaparte? (Buonaparte?) 278. un mot. (a word.) 279. il faut lui faire grâce de l’u. (he must be pardoned of the u.) 280. Bonaparte tout court. (Bonaparte, quite simply.) 281. on dit, le Orthodox est terrible pour le pillage (they say, the Orthodox is terrible for pillaging) 282. pour les beaux yeux (for beautiful eyes) 283. entre nous, mon cher (between us, my dear) 284. Qui vivra verra, (Who will live will see,) Time: See previous chapter
Locations: Brunn (at Bilibin's)
Mentioned: Austria (and Austrian and l'Autriche), Russia (and Russian), St. Petersburg, Vienna (Vienne in French. Briggs, Garnett, and Maude use Viennese.), Paris, Copenhagen, Ulm, Genoa, France (and French), Schonbrunn, Krems, the bridge, the mountains of Bohemia (wilds of Bohemia in Bell.), Durenstein (Durrenstein in Maude, Mandelker, and Briggs. Diernstein in Bell.), Berlin (missing in Garnett), Prussia, Campo Formio, Sardinian
Pevear and Volkhonsky notes:
Briggs: Andrey stays with Bilibin.
Maude: Prince Andrew and Bilibin.
Translation:
X. Prince Andrey stopped in Brno at his friend’s, the Russian diplomat Bilibin. — Ah, sweet prince, a no more pleasant guest, — said Bilibin, exiting towards Prince Andrey. — Franz, in my bedroom put the things of the prince! — he turned to his servant, escorting Bolkonsky. — What, a messenger of victory? Perfect. But I am sitting sick, as you see. Prince Andrey, having washed and dressed, got out to the luxurious office of the diplomat and sat down for the prepared dinner. Bilibin quietly sat down at the fireplace. Prince Andrey not only after his travels, but after any trip while he was deprived of all the cleanliness of amenities and the grace of life, felt a pleasant feeling of recreation among these luxurious conditions of life to which he was used to from childhood. Besides this it was nice after the Austrian reception to talk though not in Russian (they spoke French), but with a Russian person, whom, he assumed, shared a common Russian revulsion (now especially lively experienced) to Austrians. Bilibin was a thirty-five-year-old man, single, in the same society as Prince Andrey. They were familiar still in Petersburg, yet still nearer flew together at the last arrival of Prince Andrey in Vienna with Kutuzov. As Prince Andrey was a young person, promising to go far in the military field, so, and still more, promised Bilibin in the diplomatic. He was still a young person, but now a middle-aged diplomat, as he started to serve from sixteen-years-old, was in Paris, in Copenhagen and now in Vienna occupied quite a significant place. And the chancellor and our messenger in Vienna knew him and cherished him. He was not of the quantity of most diplomats, that are required to have only negative virtues, not to do famous things and speak French so that to be a very good diplomat; he was one of those diplomats that love and are able to work, and, despite his laziness, he sometimes spent the night behind the writing table. He worked equally well no matter what consisted the essence of his work. He was not interested in the question “what for?”, but the question “how?”. In what consisted the diplomatic business, he did not care; but to make a skillfully, aptly and gracefully circular, memorandum or report — in this he found great pleasure. The merits Bilibin valued, besides written work, most was his art to handle and speak in the higher sphere. Bilibin loved conversation the same as he loved his job, only then when the conversation could be graceful and witty. In society he constantly waited for the case to say something wonderful and marched into conversation not otherwise than in these conditions. The conversation of Bilibin constantly poured original witty, finished phrases, having a common interest. These phrases were made in the internal laboratory of Bilibin, as if its purpose was portable properties, so if insignificant societal people could conveniently remember them and carry them across living rooms to other living rooms. and really, the reviews Bilibin diverged on Viennese living room,262 as they said, and often had an impact on so called important affairs. The thin, emaciated, yellowish face of his was all covered with large wrinkles, which always seemed so cleanly and carefully washed, as the tips of fingers after a bathhouse. The movements of these wrinkles formed the main game of his physiognomy. That in his frowned forehead broad folds, the eyebrows rose up, then the eyebrows went back down, and in his cheeks formed large wrinkles. His deep setting, small eyes always looked all around and funnily. — Well, now tell me about your exploits, — he said. Bolkonsky, in a very humble way, not once mentioning himself, talked about the business and the reception of the war minister. — They passed me with these tidings how you accept a dog in a skittle game,263 — he concluded. Bilibin grinned and loosened folds of skin. —However, my dear, —he said, looking at him from afar and with his nail picking at the skin above the left eye, — all my respect to the “Orthodox Russian army”, I suppose, that your victory is not of the most brilliant.264 He continued all so again in the French language, pronouncing in Russian only those words that he contemptuously wanted to underline. — How again? You with all its mass collapsed on the miserable Mortier in one division, and this Mortier went away in between your hands? Where again is the victory? — However, seriously said, — was the response of Prince Andrey, — all the same we can say without boasting that this is a little better than Ulm... — From what you took not one marshal? — Because that not all is done how it is supposed to, and not so regularly as in a parade. We imposed, as I spoke to you, a call for the rear at the seventh hour of the morning, but did not come until five in the evening. — From why again did you not come at the seventh hour morning? You needed to come at the seventh hour of the morning, — smilingly said Bilibin, — the need was to come at the seventh hour of the morning. — From what did you not inspire Bonaparte to a diplomatic path, and that it was better for him to leave Genoa? — by that same tone said Prince Andrey. — I know, — interrupted Bilibin, — you think that it is very easy to take a marshal, sitting on the couch before the fireplace. This is really, but all the same, what for did you not take him? And do not be surprised that not only the war minister, but the august Emperor and King Franz will not be very happy in your victory; yes and I, the unhappy secretary of the Russian embassy, do not feel any special joys... He looked at Prince Andrey and suddenly lowered the gathered skin to his forehead. — Now is it my turn to ask you “from what”, my sweet? — said Bolkonsky. — I confess to you that I do not understand, maybe, here are the diplomatic subtleties above the preparation of a weak mind, but I do not understand: Mack loses a whole army, Archduke Ferdinand and Archduke Karl give no signs of life and make mistakes behind mistakes, finally, Kutuzov wins one real victory, destroys the vow of invincibility265 of the French, and the war minister is not even interested to know the details! — It was from this, my sweet. Whether to see,266 hoorah! For the tsar, for Russia, for the faith! This is perfect for everyone,267 but what we, I say — the Austrian court, for what business are your victories? Bring you here to us pretty news about a victory of Archduke Karl or Ferdinand — one archduke is worth another,268 as you know — though against a company of the fire department of commanders of Bonaparte, this is another business, we thunder with the guns. But that this, as a purpose, may only tease us. Archduke Karl does nothing, Archduke Ferdinand is covered in shame. Vienna you throw away, not defending anymore, as if you would tell us:269 with us is God, but God is with you, and with your capital. One general, whom we all loved, Schmidt: you let him down under a bullet and congratulate us with victory!... Agreed that it is more tantalizing than this news, which you bring and cannot be figured out. This as if on purpose, as if on purpose.270 Besides this, well, hold on to your exactly brilliant victory, hold on to the victory of even Archduke Karl, but what would this have changed in the overall course of affairs? Now it is really late, when Vienna is busy with French troops. — How busy? Vienna busy? — Not only busy, but Bonaparte is at Schonbrunn, but our count, our sweet Count Vrbna was sent to him for orders. Bolkonsky after the fatigue and impressions of travel, reception and in the peculiarities after lunch felt that he did not understand the meanings of the words that he heard. — Now in the morning Count Lichtenfels was here, — continued Bilibin, — and showed me a letter, in which in detail described the parade of the French in Vienna. Prince Murat and everyone else...271 you see that your victory is not very joyful, and that you may not be accepted as a Savior... — Right, for I don’t care, completely don’t care! — said Prince Andrey, beginning to understand that his news about the battle below Krems really had little importance in view of these events, as the occupation of the capitals of Austria. — How again was Vienna taken? But the bridge and the famous strengthening,272 and Prince Auersperg? We have gossip that Prince Auersperg defended Vienna, — he said. — Prince Auersperg stayed in this, on our side and defended us; I think, very badly defended, but all the same defended. But Vienna on that side. No, the bridge was still not taken and, I hope, will not be taken because of how he mined it and he ordered to blow it up. Otherwise it would be the case that we were for a long time be in the mountains of Bohemia, and you with your army would hold a bad quarter hour between two lights. — Yet this all the same does not mean that the campaign is over, — said Prince Andrey. — But I think that it is over. And so think the large caps here, but they do not dare to say this. It will be as I spoke in the beginning of the campaign that your skirmish under Durenstein,273 not at all will gunpowder decide this business, but those who thought it up, — said Bilibin, repeating one of his catchwords,274 loosening the skin on his forehead and pausing. — The question only is in what will be said at the Berlin appointment of Emperor Aleksandr with the Prussian king. Should Prussia march in union, then Austria will be forced275 and will go to war. Should again it be no, the business only in this is to agree where to form the initial articles of the new Campo Formio..276 — But what for an extraordinary genius! — suddenly cried out Prince Andrey, squeezing his little hand and hitting it on the table. — and what for happiness is this person! — Buonaparte?277 — interrogatively said Bilibin, wrinkling his forehead and by this gave the feeling that now will be a word278 — Buonaparte? — he said, hitting especially on the u. I think, however, that now, when he prescribes the laws of Austria from Schonbrunn, we need to rid him from of the u279 and I resolutely make the innovation and call him simply Bonaparte.280 — No, without jokes, — said Prince Andrey, — is it really you think that the campaign is over? — Here is what I think. Austria is left as a fool, and she is not used to this. And she will repay. But as a fool she is left because that first, the provinces are busted (they say, the Orthodox cruelly robs,),281 the army broken, capital taken, and all this is for the beautiful eye,282 of the Sardinian majesty. And because — between us, my dear283 — I listen instinctively, how we deceive, I listened instinctively to the intercourse with France and project peace, secret peace, and separate prisoners. — This may not be! — said Prince Andrey, — This would be too nasty. — Live and see,284 — said Bilibin, loosening more skin in a sign of graduation of the conversation. When Prince Andrey came into the prepared for him room and on the clean linen lied down on the down jackets and scented warmed pillows, — he felt that then the battle about which he brought news, was far away, far away from him. The Prussian union, the treason of Austria, the new triumph of Bonaparte, the exit and the parade, and the reception of Emperor Franz tomorrow occupied him. He closed his eyes, but at that same moment in his ears tore cannonade, firing, knocking wheels of the crew, and here again coming down from the mountains stretched to the thread musketeers, and the French shooting, and he felt, as his heart shuddered, and he left forward nearby with Schmidt, and bullets funnily whistling around him, and he tested that feeling tenfold to the joys of life, which he had not felt with himself since childhood. He awakened... “Yes, all this was!...” he said, happily, childishly smiling to himself, and slept a strong, young sleep. 262. les mots de Bilibine se colportaient dans les salons de Vienne, (the words of Bilibine peddled in the salons of Vienna,) 263. Ils m’ont reçu avec ma nouvelle, comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles, (They received me with my news, like a dog in a game of skittles,) 264. Cependant, mon cher, malgré la haute estime que je professe pour le “Orthodox Russian army”, j’avoue que votre victoire n est pas des plus victorieuses. (However, my dear, despite the high esteem that I profess for the “Orthodox Russian army,” I confess that your victory is not the most victorious.) 265. Charme (Charm) 266. Voyez-vous, mon cher: (You see, my dear:) 267. Tout ça est bel et bon, (This is all well and good,) 268. un archiduc vaut l’autre, (an archduke is worth another) 269. comme si vous nous disiez: (as if you were telling us:) 270. C’est comme un fait exprès, comme un fait exprès. (This is like it was done on purpose, like it was done on purpose.) 271. Le prince Murat et tout le tremblement…(Prince Murat and all the trembling...) 272. tête de pont, (head of the bridge,) 273. echauffourée de Dürenstein, (scuffle of Dürenstein,) 274. Mots, (Words,) 275. forcera la main à l’Autriche, (force the hand of Austria,) 276. Campo Formio (Campo Formio) 277. Buonaparte? (Buonaparte?) 278. un mot. (a word.) 279. il faut lui faire grâce de l’u. (he must be pardoned of the u.) 280. Bonaparte tout court. (Bonaparte, quite simply.) 281. on dit, le Orthodox est terrible pour le pillage (they say, the Orthodox is terrible for pillaging) 282. pour les beaux yeux (for beautiful eyes) 283. entre nous, mon cher (between us, my dear) 284. Qui vivra verra, (Who will live will see,) Time: See previous chapter
Locations: Brunn (at Bilibin's)
Mentioned: Austria (and Austrian and l'Autriche), Russia (and Russian), St. Petersburg, Vienna (Vienne in French. Briggs, Garnett, and Maude use Viennese.), Paris, Copenhagen, Ulm, Genoa, France (and French), Schonbrunn, Krems, the bridge, the mountains of Bohemia (wilds of Bohemia in Bell.), Durenstein (Durrenstein in Maude, Mandelker, and Briggs. Diernstein in Bell.), Berlin (missing in Garnett), Prussia, Campo Formio, Sardinian
Pevear and Volkhonsky notes:
Nice for Andrei to be back to the pampered lifestyle and speak his familiar French and hate on the Austrians with a friend.
“Our ambassador in Vienna: The Russian ambassador in Vienna at that time was Count Razumovsky, who is best known for the “Razumovsky” string quartets he commissioned from Beethoven. He built a fine neoclassical embassy
in Vienna at his own expense, and was the chief Russian negotiator at the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815, which reorganized Europe after the fall of Napoleon.”
in Vienna at his own expense, and was the chief Russian negotiator at the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815, which reorganized Europe after the fall of Napoleon.”
On Bilibin: “He was interested not in the question “Why” but in the question “How?”’
You can see how much Tolstoy likes him in this description.
“In society he constantly waited for the opportunity to say something remarkable and entered into conversation not otherwise than on that condition.” Why do people talk? Compare Berg at the Rostov party; Pierre and Andrei at
the soiree.
the soiree.
Andrei: “He went on in the same way, in French, pronouncing in Russian only those words he wanted to underscore contemptuously.”
Andrei: “Because not everything goes as it’s supposed to, and with such regularity as on parade.”
Really this all seems to be about the explanation for why Andrei didn’t get the recognition he thought he deserved. He begins to understand that his part is a very small component in a larger picture.
“Bonaparte is in Schonbrun...Count Vrbna...orders: Having taken Vienna on 1 November 1805, Napoleon chose as his headquarters the superb imperial residence of the Hapsburgs in the Schonbrunn quarter of the city. Count
Rudolf Vrbna acted as a mediator in the negotiations between the Austrians and the French.”
Rudolf Vrbna acted as a mediator in the negotiations between the Austrians and the French.”
“Those who invented gunpowder: Russians say of a stupid person that he “won’t invent gunpowder.” Bilibin’s mot reverses the saying.”
“The meeting in Berlin...a new Campo Formio: In October 1805, Alexander I went to Berlin to try to persuade the Prussian king Friedrich-Wilhelm III to join the war against Napoleon. They reached a secret agreement in Potsdam,
but before the Prussian envoy Haugwitz could reach Napoleon with an ultimatum, the Russian-Austrian alliance had already been defeated, and it was Napoleon who dictated the terms of the peace. Eight years earlier, on 17
October 1797, in the Italian town of Campo Formio, a peace agreement had been signed between the French republic and the Austrian empire which ended Napoleon’s campaign in Italy.”
but before the Prussian envoy Haugwitz could reach Napoleon with an ultimatum, the Russian-Austrian alliance had already been defeated, and it was Napoleon who dictated the terms of the peace. Eight years earlier, on 17
October 1797, in the Italian town of Campo Formio, a peace agreement had been signed between the French republic and the Austrian empire which ended Napoleon’s campaign in Italy.”
Bilibin’s opinion: “Here’s what I think. Austria’s been played for a fool, and she’s not used to it. And she’ll pay it back. She’s been played for a fool because, first, the provinces are devastated...her army is destroyed, her capital
has been taken...I feel instinctively that we’re being deceived...a secret peace...being concluded separately.”
has been taken...I feel instinctively that we’re being deceived...a secret peace...being concluded separately.”
Pevear and Volkhonsky note here: “Before the French took Vienna, the Austrian emperor Franz I indeed sent an ambassador to Napoleon with an offer of a separate peace, and on the eve of abandoning the capital, he sent
Napoleon another offer of a truce. Neither offer was accepted.”
Napoleon another offer of a truce. Neither offer was accepted.”
Conclusion of the chapter shows that Andrei again feels the event and triumph is far away, but now when he closes his eyes, it is no longer nightmarish, but glorious. He views it positively. Significance of change.
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 *)
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky
Bilibin (“Bilibine” in Bell, who offers an alternative reading)
Franz (“the valet who had admitted the visitor” in Dole.)
Kutuzof
Chancellor (as in Dole, Wiener, and Edmonds, “foreign minister” in Garnett.)
Russian embassdador at the court of Vienna (as in Dole, “the ambassador at Vienna” in Bell. “Our ambassador in Vienna” in Mandelker, Dunnigan, and Briggs.)
Mortier
Napoleon Bonaparte (“Bonaparte”, significantly also “Buonaparte” with Bilibin explicitly referencing the possibility of him losing the u by gaining respect due to his victories)
Minister of war
Czar Alexander (just “his most august majesty, the emperor” in Dole, Dunnigan (omitting the “the”) and Mandelker (the latter using capitalization). Briggs omits “majesty”. Also, “Tsar” or “Czar”, as in Bell. Wiener adds
“Alexander” in one of the references to the emperor)
“Alexander” in one of the references to the emperor)
Emperor Franz (also “King Franz”)
General Mack (just “Mack”)
Archduke Ferdinand
Archduke Karl (Bell provides an alternative reading in “Charles”
General Schmidt
Count Vrbna (“Urbna” in Garnett and Bell, providing an alternative reading)
Count Lichtenfels (as in Dole, Mandelker, and Wiener. “Lichtenfeld” in Bell.)
Prince Murat
Prince Auersperg
Friedrich (just “Prussian king” as in Dole or “King of Prussia” as in Edmonds, Bell, and Wiener)
King of Sardinia (as in Dole. “His Sardinian Majesty” in Mandelker, Dunnigan, and Briggs (the latter doesn’t capitalize “his”)
(Interesting translation note, Edmonds just drops the nearly nonsensical passage “giving my Franz a thaler and letting him take his Liebchen for a walk in the prater. To be sure, there’s no prater here!”
Abridged Versions:
No break in Bell.
Gibian: Chapter 7
Gibian: Chapter 7
Fuller: Entire chapter is cut
Komroff: Bilibin’s lengthy description is cut down to perhaps half the length. Andrei’s answer “Why didn’t you suggest to Bonaparte…” is removed. Bilibin’s long answer about Austria wanting her own victories is slightly shortened.
Count Vrbna’s reference is removed. The chapter ends when Bilibin says “Time will show”, removing a lot of the talk of Napoleon and more importantly, Andrei’s thoughts and feelings at the end of the chapter.
Count Vrbna’s reference is removed. The chapter ends when Bilibin says “Time will show”, removing a lot of the talk of Napoleon and more importantly, Andrei’s thoughts and feelings at the end of the chapter.
Kropotkin: Chapter 6: references to Franz the valet removed, description of Bilibin cut rather significantly. A lot of Andrei’s early dialogue and description of what happened is removed. Count Lichtenfels reference removed, as is
Auersperg, but the Napoleon parts are kept. Overall, the conversation moves much more quickly. The ending is preserved, but there is no break.
Auersperg, but the Napoleon parts are kept. Overall, the conversation moves much more quickly. The ending is preserved, but there is no break.
Bromfield: Chapter 11: Andrei has a brief conversation with the servant Franz, there is a reference to the Cossack with Andrei. Bilibin's (called Herr von Bilibin by the servant) early dialogue and greetings are different, the
sickness is played up more. Also reference to a roast meal they are eating together and occasionally the dialogue is interrupted by Bilibin telling Andrei to eat this or that. The secret peace is framed differently, Alexander is
referenced more directly, and then the two move from politics to talking about a woman Baroness Seifer. Hippolyte Kuragin is referenced in connection to her as well. Chapter ends the same.
Simmons: Chapter 7: The description of Bilibin is shorter and the conversation is also a little shorter with the reference to removing the u in Buonaparte's name being a notable cut. Andrei's dream at the end is also removed.
sickness is played up more. Also reference to a roast meal they are eating together and occasionally the dialogue is interrupted by Bilibin telling Andrei to eat this or that. The secret peace is framed differently, Alexander is
referenced more directly, and then the two move from politics to talking about a woman Baroness Seifer. Hippolyte Kuragin is referenced in connection to her as well. Chapter ends the same.
Simmons: Chapter 7: The description of Bilibin is shorter and the conversation is also a little shorter with the reference to removing the u in Buonaparte's name being a notable cut. Andrei's dream at the end is also removed.
Additional Notes:
Garnett notes help with nonsensical passage: “thaler” being “a large silver coin used throughout Europe”. “Liebchen” being “sweetheart” in German. “Prater” being “Large park in Vienna”
Other Garnett notes: “Bilibin: ….based on Price Alexander Mikhaylovitch Gorchakov...who served as Russian foreign minister for a quarter century, beginning in 1856.”
“Archduke Karl...became minister of war in 1806...he went on to lose the decisive battle of Wagram.”
“In October 1805, Alexander I went to Potsdam to persuade Friedrich Wilhelm III...to join in fighting Napoleon...Friedrich entered the war only in September 1806 after Napoleon’s refusal to cede Hanover.”
“Draw up articles of the new Campo Formio’: This 1797 peace treaty, signed between Austria and France in this township in the province of Udine, ended the first phase of the Napoleonic Wars. In the agreement, Austria
surrendered the Netherlands, Milan, and Mantua to France in exchange for Venice, Istria, and Dalmatia.”
surrendered the Netherlands, Milan, and Mantua to France in exchange for Venice, Istria, and Dalmatia.”
Maude: “At the Potsdam Conference, Prussia insisted that an ultimatum should be sent to Napoleon that, among other demands, stipulated that he should compensate the King of Sardinia. Napoleon rejected all the demands,
but Prussia was so frightened by his defeat of the Austrians that it remained passive.”
but Prussia was so frightened by his defeat of the Austrians that it remained passive.”
“Alexander and the King of Prussia...knelt at the grave of Frederick the Great and swore friendship with one another”
Garrett/Frank Introduction: "His intellectual and literary aspirations knew no bounds, and during a summer vacation, when he had returned to the family estate and was "up to my neck in estate management," he wrote his older
brother that he was working away at three books.
(Tolstoy Worldview in War and Peace)
Kutuzov is wise and not merely clever as, for example, the time-serving Drubetzkoy or Bilibin are clever, and he is not a victim to abstract theories or dogma as the German military experts are...
Garrett/Frank Introduction: "His intellectual and literary aspirations knew no bounds, and during a summer vacation, when he had returned to the family estate and was "up to my neck in estate management," he wrote his older
brother that he was working away at three books.
(Tolstoy Worldview in War and Peace)
Kutuzov is wise and not merely clever as, for example, the time-serving Drubetzkoy or Bilibin are clever, and he is not a victim to abstract theories or dogma as the German military experts are...
Radzinsky: Page 87: Here is another description, from Tolstoy's Khadji Murat. "Returning to the village, Sado found his house looted. His son, a handsome boy with shining eyes, had been brought dead to the mosque. He had been bayoneted in the back. Women wailed in all the houses. Small children wailed with their mothers. The hungry cattle wailed, too, and there was no food for them."'
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