Chapter Summaries: Dole: Boris visits Prince Andrei at Olmutz. Headquarters. The unwritten code. Prince Andrei and the general. Prince Andrei takes Boris to see prince Dolgorukof. The council of war Prince Dolgorukof's anecdotes of Napoleon. The men who decide the fate of nations.
Briggs: Boris visits Andrey at Olmutz. Prince Dolgorukov.
Maude: Boris visits Prince Andrew at Olmutz. Prince Dolgorukov
Pevear and Volkhonsky: Boris visits Prince Andrei in Olmutz. They meet with Prince Dolgorukov.
Translation:
IX. On the day after the review Boris, dressed in his best uniform and parting by wishing to the success of his friend Berg, went into Olmutz to Bolkonsky, wishing to benefit from his affection and arrange himself the best position, in particular the position of an adjutant to an important face, appearing to him especially tempting in the army. "It is okay for Rostov, to whom his father sends 10 thousand, to reason about how he does not want to bow to anyone and to whom he will not go into the lackeys; but I, having nothing besides my head, need to make my career and not miss cases to use them". In Olmutz he did not catch on this day Prince Andrey. But the view of Olmutz, where the main apartment stood, the diplomatic corps and both emperors living with their own suites — the approximate courtiers only more strengthened his wish to belong to this supreme world. He knew nobody, and, despite his nifty guard uniform, all these higher people scurrying by the street in nifty carriages, plumes, ribbons and orders, the courtiers and military, it seemed were standing so immeasurably above him, a guards officer, that not only would they not like to, but could not acknowledge his existence. Indoors was the commander in chief Kutuzov, where he asked for Bolkonsky, all these adjutants and even orderlies looked at him so, as if they wanted to inspire in him that these, as himself, officers very much were hanging around here and that they all now were extremely bothered. Despite this, or rather owing to this, on a different day, the 15th, he after lunch again went into Olmutz and, entering into the house occupied by Kutuzov, asked for Bolkonsky. Prince Andrey was at home, and Boris was held in the big hall, in which, probably, before was dancing, but now there were standing five beds, and heterogeneous furniture: a table, chairs and a clavichord. One adjutant, nearest to the door, in a Persian smock, sat behind the table and wrote. Another, the red, thick Nesvitsky, lied on the bed, planting his hand under his head, and laughed with the sitting down officer. A third played on the clavichord a Viennese waltz, a fourth lied on this clavichord and sang along with him. Bolkonsky was not there. None of these gentlemen noticed Boris, not changing their situation. That, which wrote, and to whom turned to Boris, annoyingly turned around and said to him that Bolkonsky was on duty, and so he was to walk left at the door, into the reception room, if he needed to see him. Boris thanked him and went into the reception room. In the reception room were nine officers and generals. In that time, as arose Boris, Prince Andrey, contemptuously squinting (with that special look of kind fatigue, which clearly said that if it were not my duty, I would for minutes with you not speak), listened to an old Russian General on orders, who was almost on tiptoe, in a stretching soldier-like obsequious expression on his crimson face reported something to Prince Andrey. — Very well, kindly wait, — he said to the general in Russian, by that French reprimand, which he spoke when he wanted to speak contemptuously, and, noticing Boris, did not turned more to the general (which with a plea ran behind him, asking for more something to listen), Prince Andrey with a fun smile, nodded to him, turning to Boris. To Boris in that moment now it was clearly understood what he foresaw before, that, in the army, besides that subordination and discipline which was written in the charter, and which was known in the regiment, he knew there was another, more significant subordination, that, which was forced in this dragged out with crimson face General respectfully was waiting for, in that time as the Captain Prince Andrey for his pleasure found it more comfortable to speak with Ensign Drubetskoy. More than ever Boris decided to serve henceforth not by what was written in the charter, but by this unwritten subordination. He now felt, that only owing to that he was recommended by Prince Andrey, he already had become right away higher than the general, which in other cases, in the front, could destroy him, a guards ensign. Prince Andrey came up to him and took him behind the arm. — Extremely pitiful that yesterday you did not catch me. I for the whole day fussed around with Germans. I rode with Weyrother to check the disposition. How the Germans take for accuracy — no end! Boris smiled, as if he understood that what was hinted by Prince Andrey was well known. But he for the first time heard the last name Weyrother and even the word disposition. — Well what, my sweet, all into the adjutants you want? I about you have thought for this for a while. — Yes, I thought, — unwittingly from something blushing, said Boris, — to ask the commander in chief; to him was a letter about me from Prince Kuragin; I wanted to ask only because, — he added, as an excuse, — that, I am afraid, the guard will not be in this case. — Okay! Okay! We will talk all about you, — said Prince Andrey, — only to give the report about this gentlemen, and I will belong to you. At that time as Prince Andrey went with the report about the crimson General, this general, apparently, did not share the concepts of Boris about the benefits of unwritten subordination, so rested his eyes on the impudent ensign who interrupted him finishing with the adjutant that Boris had become awkward. He turned away and with impatience saw when Prince Andrey returned from the office of the commander in chief. — Here is what, my sweet, I have thought about you, — said Prince Andrey, when they had passed into the big hall with the clavichord. — To the commander in chief your walk there is nothing, — spoke Prince Andrey, — he speaks to you a lot of courtesies, will say so that you come to him for dinner ("this would still not be so bad for the service by that subordination," thought Boris), but of this nothing farther comes out; we, adjutants and orderlies, soon will be a battalion. Yet here is what we will do: in me there is a good buddy, a general adjutant and a beautiful person, Prince Dolgorukov; and although you may not know this, but the business is that now Kutuzov with his staff and we all smoothly mean nothing: all now focus on the sovereign; so here we come on to Dolgorukov, I need to go to him, I already spoke to him about you; so we'll see; and find out whether it is not possible to attach you to himself, or somewhere there, closer to the sun. Prince Andrey always especially perked up, when he accounted for leading a young man and to help him in social success. Under the pretext of this assistance to another, which he with pride would never have accepted for himself, he was found near that environment, which gave success and which attracted it to himself. He quite willingly took for Boris and went with him to Prince Dolgorukov. It was now late at night when they rose into the Olmutz palace, occupied by the emperors and their approximates. On this very day was the military advice, in which participated all the members of the Hofkriegsrat and both emperors. On the advice, against the opinion of the old people — Kutuzov and Prince Schwarzenberg, it was decided immediately to advance and to give general battle to Bonaparte. The military advice was only now over, when Prince Andrey, accompanied by Boris, came into the palace looking for Prince Dolgorukov. Still all faces of the main apartment were found under the charm of today’s victory for the parties of the young, military council. The voice of the procrastinators, expecting advising still something not to advance, so unanimously were muffled and their arguments refuted by the undeniable evidence for the benefits of the offensive, something about that was interpreted in their advice, the future battle and, without doubt, a victory, seemed now not the future, but the past. All benefits were on our side. Huge forces, without doubt, superior than the forces of Napoleon, were pulled together in one place; the troops were animated in the presence of the emperors and were torn at the business; the strategic point, which accounted for the act, was to the slightest detail the famous Austrian General Weyrother, who led the troops (as happy accident would make it that the Austrian troops in the past year were in the maneuvers of those of the Poles, which were now to fight with the French); to the slightest detail was known and delivered in maps prepossessing the terrain, and Bonaparte, apparently, weakened, undertook nothing. Dolgorukov, one of the hottest supporters of the offensive, only now returned from the council, tired, tormented, yet lively and proud of the obsessed victory. Prince Andrey represented to patronize his officer, but Prince Dolgorukov, courteously and shaking his hand hard, saying nothing to Boris and, obviously not in his forces to hold on from statements of those thoughts that only strongly occupied him in this moment, in French turned to Prince Andrey. — Well, my sweet, we have passed the battle! Give God alone, so that which will be the consequence of Him, would so the same be triumphantly. However, my sweet, — he spoke sketchily and lively, — I should acknowledge the blame before the Austrians and in particular before Weyrother. What for accuracy, what for detail, what for knowledge of the terrain, what for the foresight of all opportunities, all conditions, all the slightest details! No, my sweet, more profitable are those conditions in which we are found, and cannot be made for any purposes. Compound Austrian distinctness with Russian courage — what the same do you want more? — So the offensive is finally decided? — said Bolkonsky. — And whether you know, my sweet, to me it seems, how resolutely Buonaparte has lost his Latin. You know that now received from him a letter to the emperor. — Dolgorukov smiled very much. — Here’s how! What did he write? — asked Bolkonsky. — What may he write? “Tradiridir” and so on, all only with the purpose to win time. I to you speak that he is in our hands; this is right! Yet what is more fun only, — he said, suddenly good-naturedly laughing, — this is that, there is no way not to figure out how to address him in answer. If not consul, himself of course not emperor, that General Buonaparte, as to me it seemed. — Yet between that, so not to admit him as emperor, and so to call him General Buonaparte, is a difference, — said Bolkonsky. — In this and that business, — laughing and interrupting, quickly spoke Dolgorukov. — You know Bilibin, he is a very smart person, he suggested to address him: "usurper and enemy of the human family." Dolgorukov funnily laughed. — Not more of this? — see Bolkonsky. — But all the same Bilibin found a serious title of address. And a witty and smart person... — How again? — Head of the French government, au chef du gouvernement français, — serious and with pleasure Prince Dolgorukov said. — Whether not really was that okay? — Okay, but it will not be extremely liked by him, — noticed Bolkonsky. — Ah, extremely! My brother knows him; he not once lunched with him, in the presence of the emperor, in Paris and told me that he had not seen a more sophisticated and cunning diplomat: you know, compound French agility and Italian acting! You know his anecdotes with Count Markov? Only one Count Markov was able to handle him. You know the story of the shawl? This is a beauty! And the talkative Dolgorukov, turning now to Boris, now to Prince Andrey, told, how Bonaparte, wishing to test Markov, our messenger, purposely dropped before him his handkerchief and stopped, looking at him, expecting, probably, service from Markov and how, Markov immediately the same dropped nearby his handkerchief and raised it, not raising the handkerchief Bonaparte. — Lovely,370 — said Bolkonsky, — but here is that, prince, I came to you as a petitioner for this young man. See if what?... Yet Prince Andrey did not have time to finish off, as into the room entered an adjutant who called Prince Dolgorukov to the emperor. — Ah, how annoying! — said Dolgorukov, hastily getting up and shaking the hands of Prince Andrey and Boris. — You know, I am very glad to do all that for those that depend on me, and for you and for this sweet young man. — He another time shook the hand of Boris with an expression of good-natured, sincere and busy frivolity. — But you see... to another time! Boris was worried by the idea about that proximity to higher authorities, in which he at this moment felt himself. He was aware of himself here in touch with those springs that led by all those huge movements of masses, which he in his regiment felt himself a little, submissive and insignificant part. They come out of the corridor following behind Prince Dolgorukov and met coming out (from that door of the room of the sovereign in which entered Dolgorukov) a low human in civilian dress, with a smart face and a sharp line exposed forward of his jaw, which, not spoiling him, gave him a particular liveliness and a resourcefulness of expression. This not tall person nodded at Dolgorukov intently and coldly looking and peered at Prince Andrey, went at him and, apparently, expecting that Prince Andrey to bow to him or give the road. Prince Andrey did not do this, or another; in his face put malice, and the young person, turning away, passed around the corridor. — Who is this? — asked Boris. — This is one of the most wonderful, yet unpleasant people to me. This is a minister of foreign affairs, Prince Adam Chartorizhsky. — Here are those people, — said Bolkonsky with a sigh, which he could not crush, in that time as they exited from the palace, — Here are those people that decide the fate of peoples. On the next day the troops came forward on a trip, and Boris did not have time before the battle of Austerlitz to visit Bolkonsky, or Dolgorukov and stayed still at the time in the Izmailovsky regiment. 370 Charmant, (Charming)
Time: the day after the review, the following day the 15th (twenty-seventh in Dole), then late in the evening.
Locations: Olmutz (and Olmutz palace)
Mentioned: Persian, Viennese, Russian, Germans, Austrian, French, Paris, Italian, Austerlitz
Pevear and Volkhonsky Notes: Boris has a good point here, as it is again emphasized how he is ingratiating himself and trying to progress while Rostov, who gets money from his parents, is critiquing him. Rostov’s parents real money problems do complicate things. As does Boris’ own situation, which was acquired by his mother rather than his own hard work. He feels small, feels overlooked, this idea where the soldiers were but specks of sand. Again, like at the soiree at the first of the book, Andrei has contempt for those who he isn’t interested in and brightens up when he sees someone he recognizes or cares about.
Briggs: Boris visits Andrey at Olmutz. Prince Dolgorukov.
Maude: Boris visits Prince Andrew at Olmutz. Prince Dolgorukov
Pevear and Volkhonsky: Boris visits Prince Andrei in Olmutz. They meet with Prince Dolgorukov.
Translation:
IX. On the day after the review Boris, dressed in his best uniform and parting by wishing to the success of his friend Berg, went into Olmutz to Bolkonsky, wishing to benefit from his affection and arrange himself the best position, in particular the position of an adjutant to an important face, appearing to him especially tempting in the army. "It is okay for Rostov, to whom his father sends 10 thousand, to reason about how he does not want to bow to anyone and to whom he will not go into the lackeys; but I, having nothing besides my head, need to make my career and not miss cases to use them". In Olmutz he did not catch on this day Prince Andrey. But the view of Olmutz, where the main apartment stood, the diplomatic corps and both emperors living with their own suites — the approximate courtiers only more strengthened his wish to belong to this supreme world. He knew nobody, and, despite his nifty guard uniform, all these higher people scurrying by the street in nifty carriages, plumes, ribbons and orders, the courtiers and military, it seemed were standing so immeasurably above him, a guards officer, that not only would they not like to, but could not acknowledge his existence. Indoors was the commander in chief Kutuzov, where he asked for Bolkonsky, all these adjutants and even orderlies looked at him so, as if they wanted to inspire in him that these, as himself, officers very much were hanging around here and that they all now were extremely bothered. Despite this, or rather owing to this, on a different day, the 15th, he after lunch again went into Olmutz and, entering into the house occupied by Kutuzov, asked for Bolkonsky. Prince Andrey was at home, and Boris was held in the big hall, in which, probably, before was dancing, but now there were standing five beds, and heterogeneous furniture: a table, chairs and a clavichord. One adjutant, nearest to the door, in a Persian smock, sat behind the table and wrote. Another, the red, thick Nesvitsky, lied on the bed, planting his hand under his head, and laughed with the sitting down officer. A third played on the clavichord a Viennese waltz, a fourth lied on this clavichord and sang along with him. Bolkonsky was not there. None of these gentlemen noticed Boris, not changing their situation. That, which wrote, and to whom turned to Boris, annoyingly turned around and said to him that Bolkonsky was on duty, and so he was to walk left at the door, into the reception room, if he needed to see him. Boris thanked him and went into the reception room. In the reception room were nine officers and generals. In that time, as arose Boris, Prince Andrey, contemptuously squinting (with that special look of kind fatigue, which clearly said that if it were not my duty, I would for minutes with you not speak), listened to an old Russian General on orders, who was almost on tiptoe, in a stretching soldier-like obsequious expression on his crimson face reported something to Prince Andrey. — Very well, kindly wait, — he said to the general in Russian, by that French reprimand, which he spoke when he wanted to speak contemptuously, and, noticing Boris, did not turned more to the general (which with a plea ran behind him, asking for more something to listen), Prince Andrey with a fun smile, nodded to him, turning to Boris. To Boris in that moment now it was clearly understood what he foresaw before, that, in the army, besides that subordination and discipline which was written in the charter, and which was known in the regiment, he knew there was another, more significant subordination, that, which was forced in this dragged out with crimson face General respectfully was waiting for, in that time as the Captain Prince Andrey for his pleasure found it more comfortable to speak with Ensign Drubetskoy. More than ever Boris decided to serve henceforth not by what was written in the charter, but by this unwritten subordination. He now felt, that only owing to that he was recommended by Prince Andrey, he already had become right away higher than the general, which in other cases, in the front, could destroy him, a guards ensign. Prince Andrey came up to him and took him behind the arm. — Extremely pitiful that yesterday you did not catch me. I for the whole day fussed around with Germans. I rode with Weyrother to check the disposition. How the Germans take for accuracy — no end! Boris smiled, as if he understood that what was hinted by Prince Andrey was well known. But he for the first time heard the last name Weyrother and even the word disposition. — Well what, my sweet, all into the adjutants you want? I about you have thought for this for a while. — Yes, I thought, — unwittingly from something blushing, said Boris, — to ask the commander in chief; to him was a letter about me from Prince Kuragin; I wanted to ask only because, — he added, as an excuse, — that, I am afraid, the guard will not be in this case. — Okay! Okay! We will talk all about you, — said Prince Andrey, — only to give the report about this gentlemen, and I will belong to you. At that time as Prince Andrey went with the report about the crimson General, this general, apparently, did not share the concepts of Boris about the benefits of unwritten subordination, so rested his eyes on the impudent ensign who interrupted him finishing with the adjutant that Boris had become awkward. He turned away and with impatience saw when Prince Andrey returned from the office of the commander in chief. — Here is what, my sweet, I have thought about you, — said Prince Andrey, when they had passed into the big hall with the clavichord. — To the commander in chief your walk there is nothing, — spoke Prince Andrey, — he speaks to you a lot of courtesies, will say so that you come to him for dinner ("this would still not be so bad for the service by that subordination," thought Boris), but of this nothing farther comes out; we, adjutants and orderlies, soon will be a battalion. Yet here is what we will do: in me there is a good buddy, a general adjutant and a beautiful person, Prince Dolgorukov; and although you may not know this, but the business is that now Kutuzov with his staff and we all smoothly mean nothing: all now focus on the sovereign; so here we come on to Dolgorukov, I need to go to him, I already spoke to him about you; so we'll see; and find out whether it is not possible to attach you to himself, or somewhere there, closer to the sun. Prince Andrey always especially perked up, when he accounted for leading a young man and to help him in social success. Under the pretext of this assistance to another, which he with pride would never have accepted for himself, he was found near that environment, which gave success and which attracted it to himself. He quite willingly took for Boris and went with him to Prince Dolgorukov. It was now late at night when they rose into the Olmutz palace, occupied by the emperors and their approximates. On this very day was the military advice, in which participated all the members of the Hofkriegsrat and both emperors. On the advice, against the opinion of the old people — Kutuzov and Prince Schwarzenberg, it was decided immediately to advance and to give general battle to Bonaparte. The military advice was only now over, when Prince Andrey, accompanied by Boris, came into the palace looking for Prince Dolgorukov. Still all faces of the main apartment were found under the charm of today’s victory for the parties of the young, military council. The voice of the procrastinators, expecting advising still something not to advance, so unanimously were muffled and their arguments refuted by the undeniable evidence for the benefits of the offensive, something about that was interpreted in their advice, the future battle and, without doubt, a victory, seemed now not the future, but the past. All benefits were on our side. Huge forces, without doubt, superior than the forces of Napoleon, were pulled together in one place; the troops were animated in the presence of the emperors and were torn at the business; the strategic point, which accounted for the act, was to the slightest detail the famous Austrian General Weyrother, who led the troops (as happy accident would make it that the Austrian troops in the past year were in the maneuvers of those of the Poles, which were now to fight with the French); to the slightest detail was known and delivered in maps prepossessing the terrain, and Bonaparte, apparently, weakened, undertook nothing. Dolgorukov, one of the hottest supporters of the offensive, only now returned from the council, tired, tormented, yet lively and proud of the obsessed victory. Prince Andrey represented to patronize his officer, but Prince Dolgorukov, courteously and shaking his hand hard, saying nothing to Boris and, obviously not in his forces to hold on from statements of those thoughts that only strongly occupied him in this moment, in French turned to Prince Andrey. — Well, my sweet, we have passed the battle! Give God alone, so that which will be the consequence of Him, would so the same be triumphantly. However, my sweet, — he spoke sketchily and lively, — I should acknowledge the blame before the Austrians and in particular before Weyrother. What for accuracy, what for detail, what for knowledge of the terrain, what for the foresight of all opportunities, all conditions, all the slightest details! No, my sweet, more profitable are those conditions in which we are found, and cannot be made for any purposes. Compound Austrian distinctness with Russian courage — what the same do you want more? — So the offensive is finally decided? — said Bolkonsky. — And whether you know, my sweet, to me it seems, how resolutely Buonaparte has lost his Latin. You know that now received from him a letter to the emperor. — Dolgorukov smiled very much. — Here’s how! What did he write? — asked Bolkonsky. — What may he write? “Tradiridir” and so on, all only with the purpose to win time. I to you speak that he is in our hands; this is right! Yet what is more fun only, — he said, suddenly good-naturedly laughing, — this is that, there is no way not to figure out how to address him in answer. If not consul, himself of course not emperor, that General Buonaparte, as to me it seemed. — Yet between that, so not to admit him as emperor, and so to call him General Buonaparte, is a difference, — said Bolkonsky. — In this and that business, — laughing and interrupting, quickly spoke Dolgorukov. — You know Bilibin, he is a very smart person, he suggested to address him: "usurper and enemy of the human family." Dolgorukov funnily laughed. — Not more of this? — see Bolkonsky. — But all the same Bilibin found a serious title of address. And a witty and smart person... — How again? — Head of the French government, au chef du gouvernement français, — serious and with pleasure Prince Dolgorukov said. — Whether not really was that okay? — Okay, but it will not be extremely liked by him, — noticed Bolkonsky. — Ah, extremely! My brother knows him; he not once lunched with him, in the presence of the emperor, in Paris and told me that he had not seen a more sophisticated and cunning diplomat: you know, compound French agility and Italian acting! You know his anecdotes with Count Markov? Only one Count Markov was able to handle him. You know the story of the shawl? This is a beauty! And the talkative Dolgorukov, turning now to Boris, now to Prince Andrey, told, how Bonaparte, wishing to test Markov, our messenger, purposely dropped before him his handkerchief and stopped, looking at him, expecting, probably, service from Markov and how, Markov immediately the same dropped nearby his handkerchief and raised it, not raising the handkerchief Bonaparte. — Lovely,370 — said Bolkonsky, — but here is that, prince, I came to you as a petitioner for this young man. See if what?... Yet Prince Andrey did not have time to finish off, as into the room entered an adjutant who called Prince Dolgorukov to the emperor. — Ah, how annoying! — said Dolgorukov, hastily getting up and shaking the hands of Prince Andrey and Boris. — You know, I am very glad to do all that for those that depend on me, and for you and for this sweet young man. — He another time shook the hand of Boris with an expression of good-natured, sincere and busy frivolity. — But you see... to another time! Boris was worried by the idea about that proximity to higher authorities, in which he at this moment felt himself. He was aware of himself here in touch with those springs that led by all those huge movements of masses, which he in his regiment felt himself a little, submissive and insignificant part. They come out of the corridor following behind Prince Dolgorukov and met coming out (from that door of the room of the sovereign in which entered Dolgorukov) a low human in civilian dress, with a smart face and a sharp line exposed forward of his jaw, which, not spoiling him, gave him a particular liveliness and a resourcefulness of expression. This not tall person nodded at Dolgorukov intently and coldly looking and peered at Prince Andrey, went at him and, apparently, expecting that Prince Andrey to bow to him or give the road. Prince Andrey did not do this, or another; in his face put malice, and the young person, turning away, passed around the corridor. — Who is this? — asked Boris. — This is one of the most wonderful, yet unpleasant people to me. This is a minister of foreign affairs, Prince Adam Chartorizhsky. — Here are those people, — said Bolkonsky with a sigh, which he could not crush, in that time as they exited from the palace, — Here are those people that decide the fate of peoples. On the next day the troops came forward on a trip, and Boris did not have time before the battle of Austerlitz to visit Bolkonsky, or Dolgorukov and stayed still at the time in the Izmailovsky regiment. 370 Charmant, (Charming)
Time: the day after the review, the following day the 15th (twenty-seventh in Dole), then late in the evening.
Locations: Olmutz (and Olmutz palace)
Mentioned: Persian, Viennese, Russian, Germans, Austrian, French, Paris, Italian, Austerlitz
Pevear and Volkhonsky Notes: Boris has a good point here, as it is again emphasized how he is ingratiating himself and trying to progress while Rostov, who gets money from his parents, is critiquing him. Rostov’s parents real money problems do complicate things. As does Boris’ own situation, which was acquired by his mother rather than his own hard work. He feels small, feels overlooked, this idea where the soldiers were but specks of sand. Again, like at the soiree at the first of the book, Andrei has contempt for those who he isn’t interested in and brightens up when he sees someone he recognizes or cares about.
“The unwritten subordination”, that isn’t so much about rank, but rather, access.
“When Germans start being accurate, there’s no end to it!”-Prince Andrei
Boris is so outside this world that the vocab and the names are quite nonsensical to him. Andrei really does want to help him. As seen in the previous chapter, Alexander being there has completely changed the dynamic of the military.
The “old men” have the opinion that it isn’t wise to go on the offensive, while the war council, and assumedly Alexander, want to be offensive against Bonaparte.
Tolstoy satirizes the council by oversimplifying their optimism and their belief in what will happen.
“The combination of Austrian clarity with Russian courage.”
The debate about how to address Napoleon.
Dolgorukov might remind one of the soiree or Rostov dinner characters or perhaps Bilbin, whom he references.
“He (Boris) was conscious of himself being in touch with the springs that controlled all those huge mass movements, of which he, in his regiment, felt himself a small, submissive, and insignificant part.”
Andrei does not greet the minister of foreign affairs, who he famously claims “it’s these people who decide the fates of nations.”
In a direct sense, the chapter is pointless. It introduces a motive for Boris and his effort to accomplish it, with Andrei serving as a guide, but he neither reaches it nor fails completely. Other circumstances get in the way. Randomness
and the actions around him cause the focus to shift elsewhere.
and the actions around him cause the focus to shift elsewhere.
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 *):
Boris (also “Ensign Drubetskoi”. Garnett, Dunnigan, and Briggs use Lieutenant.)
Berg (could be argued either way as whether he is in the chapter or not)
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (also has a Captain prefix in this chapter.)
Nikolai Rostof (just “Rostof”)
Czar Alexander (“emperor”)
Emperor of Austria (not mentioned by name and only in connection with Alexander)
Kutuzof (also “commander-in-chief”)
Nesvitsky
Old Russian General (with the purple face, that Andrei dismisses and tries to ignore. Bell doesn’t have the “old” and has him “red-faced”)
General Weirother
Prince Vasily (just “Prince Kuragin” here)
Prince Dolgorukof (as in Dole. “Prince Dolgorukov” in Edmonds, Wiener, and Maude. Bell calls him “General Prince Dolgoroukow”)
Schwartzenberg (as in Dole, Briggs, and Mandelker. one of the old generals that agree with Kutuzof.
“Schwarzenberg” in Bell)
Napoleon Bonaparte (big debate over how to address him inside the chapter itself. “Consul”, “emperor”, “General Bonaparte”, “Usurper and Enemy of the Human Race”, then finally “Head of the French Government” (“Chief
of the French Government” in Garnett))
of the French Government” in Garnett))
Bilibin
Prince Dolgorukof’s brother (has dined with Napoleon)
Count Markof (as in Dole. “Markov” in Maude, Mandelker, and Wiener. “Markhow” in Bell.)
Prince Adam Czartorisky (as in Dole. minister of foreign affairs. “....Czartoryski” in Briggs, Edmonds, and Dunnigan. “...Tchartorizhsky” in Garnett.)
(other undifferentiated adjutants and many other officers and generals)
Abridged Versions: Bell: end of Chapter 6.
Gibian: Chapter 8.
Gibian: Chapter 8.
Fuller: entire chapter is cut.
Komroff: Actually reorders some of the text, using the last two paragraphs of the last chapter (“When the review was over...” to “...they all felt certain of victory” after Boris talks to himself about Rostov. Why this is so doesn’t
make much sense, as it disrupts the flow of the narrative. Boris does not have to look around for Andre in this version and the old general is cut. Only the plot essential information Prince Dolgorukov gives is retained, so the
information about Napoleon’s name, Count Markov, and Bilbin are all cut. Prince Adam Czartorisky is also cut.
make much sense, as it disrupts the flow of the narrative. Boris does not have to look around for Andre in this version and the old general is cut. Only the plot essential information Prince Dolgorukov gives is retained, so the
information about Napoleon’s name, Count Markov, and Bilbin are all cut. Prince Adam Czartorisky is also cut.
Kropotkin: Chapter 7: Cut from Boris thinking about Rostov directly to finding Andrei not wanting to speak to the general. The rest of the chapter seems preserved.
Bromfield: Chapter 6: Boris seems slightly more conflicted in the wording at the first of the chapter. Nesvitsky is not named, the adjutant is just “red and fat”. Chapter break after they walk into the palace with the emperors and
before the information about the council of war. Chapter 7 follows the same pattern of the standard version and ends.
Simmons: Chapter 8: The discussion about what to call Napoleon is removed, as is the Adam Czartorisky episode.
before the information about the council of war. Chapter 7 follows the same pattern of the standard version and ends.
Simmons: Chapter 8: The discussion about what to call Napoleon is removed, as is the Adam Czartorisky episode.
Additional Notes: Garnett: “Prince Schwarzenberg...Karl Philip Schwarzenberg….An ambassador to France, in 1810 he helped negotiate the marriage of Napoleon to Marie-Louise Hapsburg, daughter of the Austrian emperor Francis I. As commander-in-chief, he led the allied forces to victory over Napoleon in 1814”
Montefiore: Page 286: “Czartoryski was widely distrusted at court, but he himself appreciated his increasingly contradictory role as a Polish patriot serving the Russian tsar, as a liberal serving an autocrat: “I had no inclination to serve Russia” but “I was there merely by accident like an exotic plant in a foreign land.”’
Kaufman: Page 74: Tolstoy reminds us, it is life circumstances that have made Boris into who he is: “‘It is all right for (Nikolai) Rostov, whose father sends him ten thousand rubles at a time to talk about how he doesn’t want to bow to anybody or be anybody’s lackey,’” Boris muses at one point. “‘(B)ut I, who have nothing except my own head, must make my career and not let chances slip, but avail myself of them’”’
Montefiore: Page 286: “Czartoryski was widely distrusted at court, but he himself appreciated his increasingly contradictory role as a Polish patriot serving the Russian tsar, as a liberal serving an autocrat: “I had no inclination to serve Russia” but “I was there merely by accident like an exotic plant in a foreign land.”’
Kaufman: Page 74: Tolstoy reminds us, it is life circumstances that have made Boris into who he is: “‘It is all right for (Nikolai) Rostov, whose father sends him ten thousand rubles at a time to talk about how he doesn’t want to bow to anybody or be anybody’s lackey,’” Boris muses at one point. “‘(B)ut I, who have nothing except my own head, must make my career and not let chances slip, but avail myself of them’”’
Roberts: Page 380: “Napoleon...met Tsar Alexander’s arrogant young aide-de-camp, the twenty-seven-year-old Prince Peter Petrovich Dolgoruky, on the Olmutz road outside Posorsitz on November 28. ‘I had a conversation with this whippersnapper,’ Napoleon told Elector Frederick II of Wurttemberg a week later, ‘in which he spoke to me as he would have spoken to a boyar that he was sending to Siberia.’ Dolgoruky demanded that Napoleon hand over Italy to the King of Sardinia, and Belgium and Holland to a Prussian or British prince. He was answered suitably drily, but Napoleon didn’t send him away until he was allowed to spot what looked like preparations for a retreat.”
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