Chapter Summaries: Dole: Pierre's journey to Petersburg. At Torzhok. Pierre's reflections. "Right and wrong" once more. The screw that would not hold. The little old man. The strange servant. The ring.
Briggs: Pierre meets Osip Bazdeyev, a celebrated freemason.
Maude (chapters 1-2): Pierre meets Bazdeev
Pevear and Volkhonsky (chapters 1-2): Pierre meets the Mason Bazdeev.
Translation:
Part the second. After his explanations with his wife, Pierre went to Petersburg. In Torzhok at the station there were no horses, or the caretaker did not want to give them. Pierre was to wait. He, not undressing, lied down on the leather sofa before the round table, placed on this table his large legs in warm boots and thought. — Order to make the suitcases? A bed to lie down, an order of tea? — asked the valet. Pierre did not respond because he heard and saw nothing. He thought still on the past station and continued to think all about the same — about something so important that he did not turn any attention to that what was happening around him. He was not only not interested in that he would be late or early in coming to Petersburg, or that he will or will not have places to relax in this station, but he did not care in comparison with those thoughts which now occupied him, whether he will stay a few hours or all his life at this station. The caretaker, caretakeress, valet, and a woman with Torzhok sewing called into the room, offering their service. Pierre, not changing the situation of his lifted feet, watched them through glasses, and did not understand what they needed and in what way all of them could live, not allowing those issues which occupied him. But he was occupied alone in those same questions with himself on this day, as he after the duel returned from Sokolnikov, and spent the first, painful, sleepless night; alone now, in the solitude of travel, they with special force controlled them. When he started to think about them, he returned to that one and same question, which he could not allow, and could not stop to ask himself. As if in his head curled up that main screw, which held him all of his life. The screw did not enter farther, did not go out, but spun around, seizing nothing, all in this same cut, and could not stop twirling in him. Entered the caretaker and humiliatingly began to ask his excellency to wait only two hours, after which he for his excellency (what will be, will be) will give the courier’s. The caretaker obviously lied and wanted to only get from the traveler extra money. "Whether this is bad or okay?" asked Pierre to himself. "For me it is okay, for another passing it is bad, but for him it was inevitable, because of how for him there is nothing: he spoke that he was nailed for this officer. But the officer was nailed for that he was rather needed. But I shot Dolohov for that I considered myself offended. But Louis XVI was executed for that he was counted a criminal, but in a year was killed those who executed him, also for something. What is bad? What is okay? What is needed to love, what to hate? For what to live, and what such am I? What such is life, what do I dare? How does power govern all?" he asked himself. And there was not an answer to one of these issues, besides one, not logical answer, quite not in these questions. This answer was: "You die — all is finished. You die and all will recognize, or will stop asking." And yet death was fearful. The Torzhok trader in a shrill voice offered their product and in particular goatskin shoes. "On me is hundreds of rubles, which I have nothing to do with, but she is in a torn fur coat worth and is timidly watching me, — thought Pierre. — and what for do I need this money? In exactly one hair may add to her happiness, and calmness of soul, this money? May something in the world make her and I less subject to evil and death? Dare all to finish and which should come now or tomorrow — all cared for in a moment, in comparison with eternity." And he again pressed on nothing seizing the screw, and the screw all the same spinning around again in the same location. His servant gave him his cut off to the half book, a novel of the letters of Ms. Syuza.418 He began to read about the misery and virtuous struggle of some Amali Mansfeld.419 "And what for she fought against her seducer, — he thought, —When she loved him? Could not God insert in her soul aspirations, against his will? My former wife did not fight and, maybe, she was right. Finding nothing, again Pierre spoke to himself, inventing nothing. I know only that we cannot know anything. And this is the highest measure of human wisdom." Everything in him and around him presented to him as confusing, meaningless and disgusting. Yet in this very disgust to all surrounding Pierre found his family of annoying enjoyment. — I dare to ask your excellency to make a little room here for them, — said the caretaker, entering into the room and introducing behind himself another that had stopped for the lack of horses passing by. Passing was a squat, broad-shouldered yellow, wrinkled old man with gray-haired looming eyebrows above his brilliant, uncertain greyish colored eyes. Pierre stripped off his legs from the desk, got up and moved to the prepared for him bed, occasionally glancing at the entered, who with a sullenly tired look, not looking at Pierre, heavily undressed with the help of a servant. Staying in a worn covered yellow sheepskin coat and in knitted boots on his thin bony legs, the carriage rider sat down on the sofa, leaned his very big and wide back and on his temples was short trimmed hair that looked at Bezuhov. The strict, clever and insightful expression of this sight struck Pierre. He wanted to begin talking with the passing, but when he gathered to turn to him with the issue about the way, the passing had already closed his eyes and folded his shriveled old hands, on one of his fingers was a big cast iron ring with the image of the Adamov heads, still sat, rested, or about something thoughtfully and calmly pondered, as it seemed to Pierre. The servant of the passing was all covered in wrinkles, also a yellow old man, without mustache and beard which apparently were not shaved, but never grew in him. The agile old man servant sorted the travel chest, brought a tea table, and brought boiling samovar. When everything was ready, the passing opened their eyes, moved forward to the table and poured himself one glass of tea, poured another for the beardless old man and gave it to him. Pierre started to feel anxious and miserable, and even inevitable entry into conversation with this passing. The servant brought back their empty, inverted glass with an unfinished piece of sugar and asked whether anything was needed. — Nothing. Give me the book, — said the passing. The servant gave the book, which seemed to Pierre spiritual, and the passing deepened into reading it. Pierre watched him. Suddenly the passing put aside the book, laying down and closing it and, again closed his eyes and leaning on the backrest, sat down in his former position. Pierre watched him and did not have time to turn away, as the old man opened his eyes and set up his hard and strict look at the face of Pierre. Pierre felt himself embarrassed and wanted to stray from this sight, but his brilliant, senile eyes irresistibly attracted him to himself. 418 m-me Suza. (Mrs. Suza.) 419 Amélie de Mansfeld. (Amelie from Mansfeld.) Time: undefined (After his explanation with his wife is how the chapter opens)
Mentioned: two little hours, a year later (after Louis XVI's execution)
Locations: Torzhok post-station (Torjok, a post-town in Bell. Bell also mentions Moscow
Mentioned: St. Petersburg, Sokolniki
Pevear and Volkhonsky: Couple sentences early on remind me of the awkward Savory sentences, with “Pierre had to wait.”
Briggs: Pierre meets Osip Bazdeyev, a celebrated freemason.
Maude (chapters 1-2): Pierre meets Bazdeev
Pevear and Volkhonsky (chapters 1-2): Pierre meets the Mason Bazdeev.
Translation:
Part the second. After his explanations with his wife, Pierre went to Petersburg. In Torzhok at the station there were no horses, or the caretaker did not want to give them. Pierre was to wait. He, not undressing, lied down on the leather sofa before the round table, placed on this table his large legs in warm boots and thought. — Order to make the suitcases? A bed to lie down, an order of tea? — asked the valet. Pierre did not respond because he heard and saw nothing. He thought still on the past station and continued to think all about the same — about something so important that he did not turn any attention to that what was happening around him. He was not only not interested in that he would be late or early in coming to Petersburg, or that he will or will not have places to relax in this station, but he did not care in comparison with those thoughts which now occupied him, whether he will stay a few hours or all his life at this station. The caretaker, caretakeress, valet, and a woman with Torzhok sewing called into the room, offering their service. Pierre, not changing the situation of his lifted feet, watched them through glasses, and did not understand what they needed and in what way all of them could live, not allowing those issues which occupied him. But he was occupied alone in those same questions with himself on this day, as he after the duel returned from Sokolnikov, and spent the first, painful, sleepless night; alone now, in the solitude of travel, they with special force controlled them. When he started to think about them, he returned to that one and same question, which he could not allow, and could not stop to ask himself. As if in his head curled up that main screw, which held him all of his life. The screw did not enter farther, did not go out, but spun around, seizing nothing, all in this same cut, and could not stop twirling in him. Entered the caretaker and humiliatingly began to ask his excellency to wait only two hours, after which he for his excellency (what will be, will be) will give the courier’s. The caretaker obviously lied and wanted to only get from the traveler extra money. "Whether this is bad or okay?" asked Pierre to himself. "For me it is okay, for another passing it is bad, but for him it was inevitable, because of how for him there is nothing: he spoke that he was nailed for this officer. But the officer was nailed for that he was rather needed. But I shot Dolohov for that I considered myself offended. But Louis XVI was executed for that he was counted a criminal, but in a year was killed those who executed him, also for something. What is bad? What is okay? What is needed to love, what to hate? For what to live, and what such am I? What such is life, what do I dare? How does power govern all?" he asked himself. And there was not an answer to one of these issues, besides one, not logical answer, quite not in these questions. This answer was: "You die — all is finished. You die and all will recognize, or will stop asking." And yet death was fearful. The Torzhok trader in a shrill voice offered their product and in particular goatskin shoes. "On me is hundreds of rubles, which I have nothing to do with, but she is in a torn fur coat worth and is timidly watching me, — thought Pierre. — and what for do I need this money? In exactly one hair may add to her happiness, and calmness of soul, this money? May something in the world make her and I less subject to evil and death? Dare all to finish and which should come now or tomorrow — all cared for in a moment, in comparison with eternity." And he again pressed on nothing seizing the screw, and the screw all the same spinning around again in the same location. His servant gave him his cut off to the half book, a novel of the letters of Ms. Syuza.418 He began to read about the misery and virtuous struggle of some Amali Mansfeld.419 "And what for she fought against her seducer, — he thought, —When she loved him? Could not God insert in her soul aspirations, against his will? My former wife did not fight and, maybe, she was right. Finding nothing, again Pierre spoke to himself, inventing nothing. I know only that we cannot know anything. And this is the highest measure of human wisdom." Everything in him and around him presented to him as confusing, meaningless and disgusting. Yet in this very disgust to all surrounding Pierre found his family of annoying enjoyment. — I dare to ask your excellency to make a little room here for them, — said the caretaker, entering into the room and introducing behind himself another that had stopped for the lack of horses passing by. Passing was a squat, broad-shouldered yellow, wrinkled old man with gray-haired looming eyebrows above his brilliant, uncertain greyish colored eyes. Pierre stripped off his legs from the desk, got up and moved to the prepared for him bed, occasionally glancing at the entered, who with a sullenly tired look, not looking at Pierre, heavily undressed with the help of a servant. Staying in a worn covered yellow sheepskin coat and in knitted boots on his thin bony legs, the carriage rider sat down on the sofa, leaned his very big and wide back and on his temples was short trimmed hair that looked at Bezuhov. The strict, clever and insightful expression of this sight struck Pierre. He wanted to begin talking with the passing, but when he gathered to turn to him with the issue about the way, the passing had already closed his eyes and folded his shriveled old hands, on one of his fingers was a big cast iron ring with the image of the Adamov heads, still sat, rested, or about something thoughtfully and calmly pondered, as it seemed to Pierre. The servant of the passing was all covered in wrinkles, also a yellow old man, without mustache and beard which apparently were not shaved, but never grew in him. The agile old man servant sorted the travel chest, brought a tea table, and brought boiling samovar. When everything was ready, the passing opened their eyes, moved forward to the table and poured himself one glass of tea, poured another for the beardless old man and gave it to him. Pierre started to feel anxious and miserable, and even inevitable entry into conversation with this passing. The servant brought back their empty, inverted glass with an unfinished piece of sugar and asked whether anything was needed. — Nothing. Give me the book, — said the passing. The servant gave the book, which seemed to Pierre spiritual, and the passing deepened into reading it. Pierre watched him. Suddenly the passing put aside the book, laying down and closing it and, again closed his eyes and leaning on the backrest, sat down in his former position. Pierre watched him and did not have time to turn away, as the old man opened his eyes and set up his hard and strict look at the face of Pierre. Pierre felt himself embarrassed and wanted to stray from this sight, but his brilliant, senile eyes irresistibly attracted him to himself. 418 m-me Suza. (Mrs. Suza.) 419 Amélie de Mansfeld. (Amelie from Mansfeld.) Time: undefined (After his explanation with his wife is how the chapter opens)
Mentioned: two little hours, a year later (after Louis XVI's execution)
Locations: Torzhok post-station (Torjok, a post-town in Bell. Bell also mentions Moscow
Mentioned: St. Petersburg, Sokolniki
Pevear and Volkhonsky: Couple sentences early on remind me of the awkward Savory sentences, with “Pierre had to wait.”
Mix of crippling apathy and stuck in his own thoughts.
“Without understanding what they could possibly want or how they could possibly live without resolving the questions that occupied him.”
“It was as if the main screw in his head, which held his whole life together, had become stripped.”
The screw and its own will is described somewhat like how Tolstoy describes the armies as like a clock.
Again comparing his own situation to the French revolution: “What is bad? What is good?...What power rules over everything?”
“You will die--and everything will end. You will die and learn everything--or stop asking.” But to die was also frightening.”
“Can anything in the world make her or me less subject to evil and death?”
Here I think we see the seeds of the unfortunate Tolstoy belief that money won’t really help the peasants.
“God could not have put into her soul a yearning that was contrary to His will. My former wife didn’t struggle, and maybe she was right. Nothing has been discovered...We can know only that we know nothing.”
Long descriptions of the traveler and the traveler’s servant.
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 *):
Pierre Bezukhoi (also “his illustriousness”.)
Ellen (“his wife” and “former wife”.)
Pierre’s Valet
The station master (Dole later adds a hyphen between “station” and “master”.“the post-master” in Bell, Maude, and Edmonds. “the inspector” in Wiener. “Postmaster” in Mandelker and Dunnigan. “Station-master” in Briggs. “Overseer”
in Garnett.)
in Garnett.)
The station master’s wife
An old woman who sold Torzhok embroidery (Wiener and Bell both drop “old” and Bell elaborates “gold and silver embroidery-- a specialty of the town..” Later “The Torzhok pedlar woman”.)
Dolokhof
Louis XVI (Robespierre is also referenced obliquely, with “those who had beheaded him…”)
Osip Alekseyevitch Bazdeyef (only “this gentleman”, “the new comer”, “stranger”, “the old man” and “traveller” here.)
His servant
(Pierre in his inner monologuing, references “some officer” that the station-master mentioned)
(Madame de Souza and Amelie de Mansfield are references that may or may not be considered characters. Garnett calls the former “Madame Suza”.)
Abridged Versions: Start of Part Two for Dunnigan, Briggs, Mandelker, and Edmonds. Part Second for Dole. Start of Part the Fifth in Wiener. Start of Part Five for Garnett. Start of Book Five in Maude. Chapter 17 for Bell. No chapter
break at end for Bell.
Gibian: Start of Book Five 1806-1807. Dates of Principal Historical Events (1807)
Old Style New Style
Jan. 27 Feb. 8 Battle of Preussich-Fylau.
June 2 June 18 Battle of Friedland.
June 13 June 25 The Emperors meet at Tilsit.
Line break instead of chapter break at the end.
break at end for Bell.
Gibian: Start of Book Five 1806-1807. Dates of Principal Historical Events (1807)
Old Style New Style
Jan. 27 Feb. 8 Battle of Preussich-Fylau.
June 2 June 18 Battle of Friedland.
June 13 June 25 The Emperors meet at Tilsit.
Line break instead of chapter break at the end.
Fuller: Entire chapter is cut.
Komroff: Start of Book Five 1806-1807: Interestingly, the detail about the station master being unable to provide the horses is removed. A lot of the detail before his inner monologue, including the talk of the screw, is removed. The
information about the book he is reading is also removed. Most of the detail about the traveller is removed and is severely shortened. No break before moving into the next chapter.
information about the book he is reading is also removed. Most of the detail about the traveller is removed and is severely shortened. No break before moving into the next chapter.
Kropotkin: Start of Part Fifth with intro:
"An indecisive battle at Eylau has begun the campaign of 1807; the Russians are deemed victorious, yet the French advance. In June the opposing Russian and French forces draw up at Friedland, far into East Prussia. It is
another great victory for Napoleon. Now peace is forced on Russia by military exigency; but beyond that, the Tsar Alexander is physically ready for it. He admires Napoleon's strength, and many of Napoleon's reforms appeal to the
young (thirty years old), liberally inclined Tsar. Napoleon and Alexander meet as brother-emperors at Tilsit. In the peace that results Napoleon emerges as the undisputed master of the continent. Only the British fight on."
another great victory for Napoleon. Now peace is forced on Russia by military exigency; but beyond that, the Tsar Alexander is physically ready for it. He admires Napoleon's strength, and many of Napoleon's reforms appeal to the
young (thirty years old), liberally inclined Tsar. Napoleon and Alexander meet as brother-emperors at Tilsit. In the peace that results Napoleon emerges as the undisputed master of the continent. Only the British fight on."
The section with the screw is removed, along with some a couple other details in the early part of the chapter. The Madame de Souza reference is also removed. Some of the description of the visitor and the servant is shortened
and the chapter ends a little early (after the "boiling samovar") without a break.
and the chapter ends a little early (after the "boiling samovar") without a break.
Bromfield: Chapter 26: Specifically "two days after clarifying things with his wife". Pierre wants to get a passport, but can't. He stays at a hotel and stays in his room, similar to before, when he was pretending to be Napoleon. A
new character Blagoveschensky spends time with Pierre. Pierre does read Madame de Souza, but also many other books such as Rousseau and Montesquieu while in his room. The screw and the inner monologue he has in
the latter version appears during these moments. A visitor comes to him to talk to him about freemasonry. No break.
Simmons: Start of 1806-1807 Book Five. A lot of the inner monologuing is cut, shortening the chapter. Line break instead of chapter break.
new character Blagoveschensky spends time with Pierre. Pierre does read Madame de Souza, but also many other books such as Rousseau and Montesquieu while in his room. The screw and the inner monologue he has in
the latter version appears during these moments. A visitor comes to him to talk to him about freemasonry. No break.
Simmons: Start of 1806-1807 Book Five. A lot of the inner monologuing is cut, shortening the chapter. Line break instead of chapter break.
Additional Notes:
Bloom/Jones: Page 165: “the reader finds that the characters’ narrative performances within Tolstoy’s main narrative are fused with emotional points of crisis in the novel. It is indeed a feature of Tolstoy’s fictional universe to
find characters at a high emotional pitch reading or writing...Pierre, on his way to Petersburg after his duel and break with his wife, is beset with nihilistic thoughts which are reinforced by his reading of an epistolary novel by
Madame Suza (a writer despised by Tolstoy)
Fahey/Armstrong/St. Francis: Page 452: Be praised, my Lord, for our sister, Bodily Death, Whom no living man can escape. Woe to those who die in sin.”
Tolstoya (Song Without Words): Page 250: “she recognized that her willpower was unmistakably weakening, some internal spiritual screw was coming loose, and the wildest thoughts were entering her head uninvited.”
Bloom/Jones: Page 165: “the reader finds that the characters’ narrative performances within Tolstoy’s main narrative are fused with emotional points of crisis in the novel. It is indeed a feature of Tolstoy’s fictional universe to
find characters at a high emotional pitch reading or writing...Pierre, on his way to Petersburg after his duel and break with his wife, is beset with nihilistic thoughts which are reinforced by his reading of an epistolary novel by
Madame Suza (a writer despised by Tolstoy)
Fahey/Armstrong/St. Francis: Page 452: Be praised, my Lord, for our sister, Bodily Death, Whom no living man can escape. Woe to those who die in sin.”
Tolstoya (Song Without Words): Page 250: “she recognized that her willpower was unmistakably weakening, some internal spiritual screw was coming loose, and the wildest thoughts were entering her head uninvited.”
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