Chapter Summaries: Dole: The curse of idleness. The attraction of military service. Nikolai in 1809. His letters home. Leave of absence. The partying dinner. Nikolai "tossed." Thoughts during a journey. Arrival at Otradnoye. Sonya's beauty. Changes in Natasha and Petya. The postponed marriage.
Briggs: Nikolay returns home, and has doubts about Natasha's marriage.
Maude: Nicholas Rostov returns home on leave. His doubts about Natasha's engagement
Pevear and Volkhonsky: Reflections on idleness. Nikolai goes to Otradnoe on leave.
Part the fourth. I. The biblical handing down legend speaks that the absence of labor — idleness was a condition of bliss of the first human before his fall. Love to idleness is left that same as in fallen man, but the curse of all attracted humanity, not only because of how we with sweat on our face must ingratiate bread, but because of how by moral properties we cannot be idle and calm. A secret voice speaks that we must be guilty for how we are idle. If a person could find a state in which he, being idle, would feel himself useful and performing their duty, he would find one side of primitive bliss. And so the fortune of obligatory and flawless idleness is enjoyed by one estate — the estate of the military. In this obligatory and flawless idleness consists and will be the place of the main attractiveness of military service. Nikolay Rostov quite felt this bliss, after the year of 1807 serving in the Pavlograd regiment, in which he now commanded a squadron, adopted from Denisov. Rostov was made coarse, was little of the kind which Moscow acquaintances would have found in some evil tone.517 But he was loved and respected by companions, subordinates and superiors and was satisfied in his life. In latter times, in the year of 1809, he more often in letters from home found the lamentations of his mother at how the affairs had been upset worse and worse, and that it was time for him to come home, to please and reassure his old parents. Reading these letters, Nikolay felt fear at how she wanted to bring him out of that environment in which he, shielding himself from the throughout everyday confusion, lived so quietly and calmly. He felt how early or late it was to work again to march into that whirlpool life with disappointment and amendments of cases, with accounting and governing, quarrels, intrigues, with connections, with society, with love for Sonya and the promise to her. All this was fearfully difficult, confused, and he was responding in his letters to his mother with cold classic letters, starting: pretty mother518 and ending: your obedient son,519 silent about when he found it to come. In the year 1810 he received letters from relatives which notified him about the engagement of Natasha with Bolkonsky and about how the wedding will be in a year because of how the old prince did not agree. This letter upset and offended Nikolay. First, he pitied to lose from home Natasha, whom he loved more than all of the family; second, he from his hussar point of view pitied about how he was not in this because of how he would have showed this Bolkonsky that it was not really such a big honor to be kinship with him and that, should he love Natasha, then he may get along without the approval of his crazy father. For a moment he hesitated whether or not to ask for vacation, so to see Natasha as a bride, but here came up maneuvers, came considerations about Sonya, about confusion, and Nikolay again put it aside. But the spring of this same year he received a letter from his mother, who wrote secretly from the count, and this letter convinced him to go. She wrote that should Nikolay not come and not take the affairs, that all the estate will be gone with a hammer and all will go by the world. The count was so fragile, so trusted Mitenka, so nice, and all so deceived him, that all was going worse and worse. "For God, I beg you, come now already, should you not want to make me and all your family miserable," wrote the countess. This letter acted on Nikolay. In him was that robust meaning of mediocrity, which showed him what must be. Now he must go, if not resigning, then on vacation. Why the need was to go, he did not know; but having slept after lunch, he told to ride the gray Mars, the long time not beaten and fearfully evil stallion, and returning on the lathered stallion home, declared to Lavrushka (the lackey of Denisov stayed at Rostov’s) and the friends who came at night that he was to serve on vacation and ride home. How difficult and weird was it for him to think that he will leave and not recognize from the staff (what to him was especially interesting), whether he will be promoted to a captain, or will receive the Anna for the last maneuvers; how weird was it to think of how he will so leave, not having sold to Count Goluhovsky three horses, which the Polish count traded to him, and whom Rostov beat in a bet and that he would sell for two thousand, how unclear it seemed that without him will be that ball which the hussars were to give Panne Pshazdetskaya in the peak of the lancers giving a ball to Panne Borzhozovskaya, — he knew that he needed to go from this clear, good world to somewhere there, where all was nonsense and confusion. In a week he got out for vacation. His hussars friends not only in the regiment, but in the brigade, gave a dinner to Rostov, with a cost of a 15 rubles subscription by the head, — two played music, two chorus singers sang; Rostov danced the trepaka with Major Basov; the drunk officers rocked, embraced and dropped Rostov; the soldiers of the third squadron another time rocked him, and shouted hoorah! Then Rostov was placed on the sleigh and accompanied to the first station. Before the half roads, as this always is, from Kremenchuk to Kiev, everything that Rostov thought was still to the back — in the squadron; but waddling for the half, he now started to forget the three horses, his master sentinel Dozhoyveyk, and anxiously started to ask himself about what he would find at Otradnoe. The nearer he drove, the stronger, much stronger (as if his moral sense was subordinated to that same law of attraction backed by the square distances), he thought about his house; at the last before Otradnoe station, he gave the driver three rubles in vodka, and as a boy gasping for breath ran onto the porch at home. After the raptures of meetings, and after this strange feeling of dissatisfaction in comparison with what he expected — all that is the same, for why again did I so hurry! — Nikolay had become used to his old world at home. Father and mother were the same, they only had gotten a little older. New in them was that anxiety and sometimes disagreement which did not happen before and which, as soon Nikolay found out, was happening from the evil situation of their cases. Sonya was now in her twentieth year. She had already stopped becoming prettier, nothing promised more than what was in her; but this was enough. She to all breathed happiness and love since Nikolay had arrived, and the faithful, unshakable love of these girls happily acted on him. Petya and Natasha more than all amazed Nikolay. Petya was now big, thirteen years old, nice, funny and a cleverly playful boy, in which already was a broken voice. At Natasha Nikolay was for long surprised, and laughed, looking at her. — It is really not that, — he spoke. — What the same, turned up? — The opposite, but the importance of something. A princess! — he said to her in a whisper. — Yes, yes, yes, — happily said Natasha. Natasha told him the novelty with Prince Andrey, his arrival at Otradnoe and showed him the last letter. — What are you glad? — asked Natasha. — I am now so calm, happy. — Very glad, — was the response of Nikolay. — He is a great person. What are you very fallen in love? — As you say, — answered Natasha, — I was fallen in love with Boris, with the teacher, with Denisov, but this is really not that. I am quiet, firm. I know that he is better than those people, and so I am calm, okay now. It is really not so as before... Nikolay expressed to Natasha his displeasure about how the weddings was postponed for a year; but Natasha with furiosity let loose on her brother, proving to him that this could not be otherwise, how badly it would be to march into the family against the commitment of the father, and that she herself wanted this. — You really, really do not understand, — she said. Nikolay fell silent and agreed with her. The brother was often surprised, looking at her. It really did not appear that she was an in love bride in separation with her groom. She was equally calm, fun and completely still. Nikolay was amazed at this and was even forced to suspiciously look at the matchmaking of Bolkonsky. He did not believe that her fate was already decided, by that more that he had not seen her with Prince Andrey. To him all seemed that something was not that, in this alleged marriage. "What for is the postponement? What for not engaged?" he thought. He entered into conversation at times with his mother about his sister, and he, to his surprise and in part to his pleasure, found that his mother exactly so the same in the depth of her soul sometimes suspiciously watched this marriage. — Here he writes, — she said, showing her son a letter of Prince Andrey with that hidden feeling of ill will, which always is in mothers against the future conjugal happiness of their daughter, — he writes that he will not come before December. What again is this business that may hold him up? Right disease! Health is very weak. You do not tell Natasha. You do not see that she is fun: this is really the latter girlish time of surviving, but I know that from her all is done any time she gets a letter from him. But however God gives, all will be okay, — she concluded any time: — he is a great person. 517 mauvais genre, (Wrong kind,) 518 Ma chère maman (My dear mother) 519 votre obéissant fils, (your obedient son,)
Time: 1810, the spring, afternoon, a week
Mentioned: 1807, 1809, a year
Locations: Kremenchug to Kiev, the last station, Otradnoe
Mentioned: Moscow, Polish
Pevear and Volokhonsky Notes: Self-aware expository style intro to Part 4: "Biblical tradition says that absence of work--idleness--was the condition of the first man's blessedness before his fall. The love of idleness remained the same in fallen man...our moral qualities are such that we are unable to be idle and at peace. A secret voice tells us that we should feel guilty for being idle...this state of obligatory and irreproachable idleness is enjoyed by an entire class-the military." It's the "chief attraction of military service."
Briggs: Nikolay returns home, and has doubts about Natasha's marriage.
Maude: Nicholas Rostov returns home on leave. His doubts about Natasha's engagement
Pevear and Volkhonsky: Reflections on idleness. Nikolai goes to Otradnoe on leave.
Part the fourth. I. The biblical handing down legend speaks that the absence of labor — idleness was a condition of bliss of the first human before his fall. Love to idleness is left that same as in fallen man, but the curse of all attracted humanity, not only because of how we with sweat on our face must ingratiate bread, but because of how by moral properties we cannot be idle and calm. A secret voice speaks that we must be guilty for how we are idle. If a person could find a state in which he, being idle, would feel himself useful and performing their duty, he would find one side of primitive bliss. And so the fortune of obligatory and flawless idleness is enjoyed by one estate — the estate of the military. In this obligatory and flawless idleness consists and will be the place of the main attractiveness of military service. Nikolay Rostov quite felt this bliss, after the year of 1807 serving in the Pavlograd regiment, in which he now commanded a squadron, adopted from Denisov. Rostov was made coarse, was little of the kind which Moscow acquaintances would have found in some evil tone.517 But he was loved and respected by companions, subordinates and superiors and was satisfied in his life. In latter times, in the year of 1809, he more often in letters from home found the lamentations of his mother at how the affairs had been upset worse and worse, and that it was time for him to come home, to please and reassure his old parents. Reading these letters, Nikolay felt fear at how she wanted to bring him out of that environment in which he, shielding himself from the throughout everyday confusion, lived so quietly and calmly. He felt how early or late it was to work again to march into that whirlpool life with disappointment and amendments of cases, with accounting and governing, quarrels, intrigues, with connections, with society, with love for Sonya and the promise to her. All this was fearfully difficult, confused, and he was responding in his letters to his mother with cold classic letters, starting: pretty mother518 and ending: your obedient son,519 silent about when he found it to come. In the year 1810 he received letters from relatives which notified him about the engagement of Natasha with Bolkonsky and about how the wedding will be in a year because of how the old prince did not agree. This letter upset and offended Nikolay. First, he pitied to lose from home Natasha, whom he loved more than all of the family; second, he from his hussar point of view pitied about how he was not in this because of how he would have showed this Bolkonsky that it was not really such a big honor to be kinship with him and that, should he love Natasha, then he may get along without the approval of his crazy father. For a moment he hesitated whether or not to ask for vacation, so to see Natasha as a bride, but here came up maneuvers, came considerations about Sonya, about confusion, and Nikolay again put it aside. But the spring of this same year he received a letter from his mother, who wrote secretly from the count, and this letter convinced him to go. She wrote that should Nikolay not come and not take the affairs, that all the estate will be gone with a hammer and all will go by the world. The count was so fragile, so trusted Mitenka, so nice, and all so deceived him, that all was going worse and worse. "For God, I beg you, come now already, should you not want to make me and all your family miserable," wrote the countess. This letter acted on Nikolay. In him was that robust meaning of mediocrity, which showed him what must be. Now he must go, if not resigning, then on vacation. Why the need was to go, he did not know; but having slept after lunch, he told to ride the gray Mars, the long time not beaten and fearfully evil stallion, and returning on the lathered stallion home, declared to Lavrushka (the lackey of Denisov stayed at Rostov’s) and the friends who came at night that he was to serve on vacation and ride home. How difficult and weird was it for him to think that he will leave and not recognize from the staff (what to him was especially interesting), whether he will be promoted to a captain, or will receive the Anna for the last maneuvers; how weird was it to think of how he will so leave, not having sold to Count Goluhovsky three horses, which the Polish count traded to him, and whom Rostov beat in a bet and that he would sell for two thousand, how unclear it seemed that without him will be that ball which the hussars were to give Panne Pshazdetskaya in the peak of the lancers giving a ball to Panne Borzhozovskaya, — he knew that he needed to go from this clear, good world to somewhere there, where all was nonsense and confusion. In a week he got out for vacation. His hussars friends not only in the regiment, but in the brigade, gave a dinner to Rostov, with a cost of a 15 rubles subscription by the head, — two played music, two chorus singers sang; Rostov danced the trepaka with Major Basov; the drunk officers rocked, embraced and dropped Rostov; the soldiers of the third squadron another time rocked him, and shouted hoorah! Then Rostov was placed on the sleigh and accompanied to the first station. Before the half roads, as this always is, from Kremenchuk to Kiev, everything that Rostov thought was still to the back — in the squadron; but waddling for the half, he now started to forget the three horses, his master sentinel Dozhoyveyk, and anxiously started to ask himself about what he would find at Otradnoe. The nearer he drove, the stronger, much stronger (as if his moral sense was subordinated to that same law of attraction backed by the square distances), he thought about his house; at the last before Otradnoe station, he gave the driver three rubles in vodka, and as a boy gasping for breath ran onto the porch at home. After the raptures of meetings, and after this strange feeling of dissatisfaction in comparison with what he expected — all that is the same, for why again did I so hurry! — Nikolay had become used to his old world at home. Father and mother were the same, they only had gotten a little older. New in them was that anxiety and sometimes disagreement which did not happen before and which, as soon Nikolay found out, was happening from the evil situation of their cases. Sonya was now in her twentieth year. She had already stopped becoming prettier, nothing promised more than what was in her; but this was enough. She to all breathed happiness and love since Nikolay had arrived, and the faithful, unshakable love of these girls happily acted on him. Petya and Natasha more than all amazed Nikolay. Petya was now big, thirteen years old, nice, funny and a cleverly playful boy, in which already was a broken voice. At Natasha Nikolay was for long surprised, and laughed, looking at her. — It is really not that, — he spoke. — What the same, turned up? — The opposite, but the importance of something. A princess! — he said to her in a whisper. — Yes, yes, yes, — happily said Natasha. Natasha told him the novelty with Prince Andrey, his arrival at Otradnoe and showed him the last letter. — What are you glad? — asked Natasha. — I am now so calm, happy. — Very glad, — was the response of Nikolay. — He is a great person. What are you very fallen in love? — As you say, — answered Natasha, — I was fallen in love with Boris, with the teacher, with Denisov, but this is really not that. I am quiet, firm. I know that he is better than those people, and so I am calm, okay now. It is really not so as before... Nikolay expressed to Natasha his displeasure about how the weddings was postponed for a year; but Natasha with furiosity let loose on her brother, proving to him that this could not be otherwise, how badly it would be to march into the family against the commitment of the father, and that she herself wanted this. — You really, really do not understand, — she said. Nikolay fell silent and agreed with her. The brother was often surprised, looking at her. It really did not appear that she was an in love bride in separation with her groom. She was equally calm, fun and completely still. Nikolay was amazed at this and was even forced to suspiciously look at the matchmaking of Bolkonsky. He did not believe that her fate was already decided, by that more that he had not seen her with Prince Andrey. To him all seemed that something was not that, in this alleged marriage. "What for is the postponement? What for not engaged?" he thought. He entered into conversation at times with his mother about his sister, and he, to his surprise and in part to his pleasure, found that his mother exactly so the same in the depth of her soul sometimes suspiciously watched this marriage. — Here he writes, — she said, showing her son a letter of Prince Andrey with that hidden feeling of ill will, which always is in mothers against the future conjugal happiness of their daughter, — he writes that he will not come before December. What again is this business that may hold him up? Right disease! Health is very weak. You do not tell Natasha. You do not see that she is fun: this is really the latter girlish time of surviving, but I know that from her all is done any time she gets a letter from him. But however God gives, all will be okay, — she concluded any time: — he is a great person. 517 mauvais genre, (Wrong kind,) 518 Ma chère maman (My dear mother) 519 votre obéissant fils, (your obedient son,)
Time: 1810, the spring, afternoon, a week
Mentioned: 1807, 1809, a year
Locations: Kremenchug to Kiev, the last station, Otradnoe
Mentioned: Moscow, Polish
Pevear and Volokhonsky Notes: Self-aware expository style intro to Part 4: "Biblical tradition says that absence of work--idleness--was the condition of the first man's blessedness before his fall. The love of idleness remained the same in fallen man...our moral qualities are such that we are unable to be idle and at peace. A secret voice tells us that we should feel guilty for being idle...this state of obligatory and irreproachable idleness is enjoyed by an entire class-the military." It's the "chief attraction of military service."
And now we are back to Nikolai Rostov and we update from 1807. He's taken over being squadron commander from Denisov.
Further separation from Moscow, further immersion into his military life, "protected from life's confusion...the deep water of life" Now that we are in 1809, a re-reminder of the Rostov money problems. When we get to 1810,
Nikolai has now heard about Natasha's engagement and this news upsets him.
Nikolai has now heard about Natasha's engagement and this news upsets him.
"The count was so weak, so trusting in Mitenka, and so kind, and everyone deceived him so, that it was all getting worse and worse."
"He (Nikolai) had that common sense of mediocrity which told him that he ought to do...he knew that he had to go from this clear, good world to somewhere where everything was nonsense and confusion."
The first half of his journey home, he can only think about what he is leaving behind, but when he reaches the halfway point, he begins to think about what he is heading toward. "as if moral feeling was also subject to the
law of attraction, which increases in inverse proportion to the square of the distance" in one of Tolstoy's famous parentheticals. Mirroring early in the novel, he becomes excited and runs up to the house and "Nikolai began
to live his way into his old world of home."
law of attraction, which increases in inverse proportion to the square of the distance" in one of Tolstoy's famous parentheticals. Mirroring early in the novel, he becomes excited and runs up to the house and "Nikolai began
to live his way into his old world of home."
"Sonya was already going on twenty. She had already stopped growing prettier"
"Petya was now a big, handsome thirteen-year-old boy"
Notably, Nikolai, who previously in the chapter wanted to disparage Andrei, calls him "an excellent man" when speaking to Natasha.
Natasha: "I was in love with Boris, with my teacher, with Denisov, but that is not the same at all. I feel peaceful, firm....I feel so calm, so good now. Not at all like before..."
Nikolai even comes around to agreeing with her on the year wait. However, Natasha's happiness, despite being separated from Andrei, makes him think that "there was something wrong with this projected marriage."
Countess Rostova also expresses concern over Andrei's health, but concludes "He's an excellent man."
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 *):
Nikolai Rostov
Denisov
Countess Rostova (just "mother" and "maman". Nikolai's parents are also referenced in general.)
Sonya
Natasha (also "sister")
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky
Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky (just "scatterbrained father". "crazy old father" in Garnett. "crackbrained old father" in Dunnigan. "dotard father" in Mandelker. Later, "father".)
Count Rostof (just "the count" and "father".)
Mitenka
Mars (Nikolai's "roan stallion...terribly fiery steed." "extremely vicious grey stallion" in Maude and Edmonds. "a brute of a stallion" in Briggs.)
Lavrushka (with reminder that he is "Denisof's man".)
Polish Count Holuchowsky ("...Golukhovski" in Dunnigan and Maude. "....Goluchowski" in Mandelker, Weiner, Edmonds, and Briggs. "Goloukhovsky" in Bell.)
Pani Pscazdecska ("their favorite Polish belle, Madame Pshazdetsky" in Garnett. "Panna Przazdzieska" in Dunnigan. "Polish Mademoiselle Przazdziecka" in Mandelker and Maude. Briggs also spells it "Przazdziecka"
but prefaces with "Polish belle, Madame...". "Polish Mademoiselle Przazdecki" in Edmonds. "Pani Pchasdetzka" in Bell. "Miss Przazdziecki" in Weiner.)
but prefaces with "Polish belle, Madame...". "Polish Mademoiselle Przazdecki" in Edmonds. "Pani Pchasdetzka" in Bell. "Miss Przazdziecki" in Weiner.)
Pani Borzjozowska ("Mademoiselle Borzowski" in Edmonds. "Madame Borzhozovsky" in Garnett. "Panna Borzozowska" in Dunnigan and Briggs (who uses Madame in first mention. Dole, Maude, and Mandelker cut
the second reference to her). "Polish Mademoiselle Borzozowska" in Mandelker and Maude. "Pani Borjozovska" in Bell. "Miss Borzozowski" in Weiner.)
the second reference to her). "Polish Mademoiselle Borzozowska" in Mandelker and Maude. "Pani Borjozovska" in Bell. "Miss Borzozowski" in Weiner.)
Major Basof ("...Basov" in Edmonds, Maude, and Mandelker. "...Bazov" in Garnett and Dunnigan. "...Bassow" in Bell.)
Dozheiveik ("his quartermaster". "Dozhoyveyky" in Garnett. "Dozhoyveyko" in Mandelker and Maude. Briggs, Dunnigan, and Edmonds cut the name. It seems that the translations that reference Pani Borzjozowska a
second time do not name Dozheiveik, probably demonstrating a textual variance. Weiner calls him "Sergeant-Major Dozhoyveyko". Bell doesn't mention the Pani again or give the quartermaster's name, just saying
"his quartermaster".)
second time do not name Dozheiveik, probably demonstrating a textual variance. Weiner calls him "Sergeant-Major Dozhoyveyko". Bell doesn't mention the Pani again or give the quartermaster's name, just saying
"his quartermaster".)
Petya
Boris
Natasha's Teacher (that she was in love with.)
(the "Anna" or "St. Anne" in Garnett, as a medal, should not be considered a character, many soldiers are mentioned as a whole, particularly the soldiers of the third squadron and the tipsy officers who toss him.
There is also a driver that Nikolai gives three rubles for vodka. Possibly the driver from his first visit back home, but no evidence one way or another.)
There is also a driver that Nikolai gives three rubles for vodka. Possibly the driver from his first visit back home, but no evidence one way or another.)
Abridged Versions: Start of Chapter 10 in Bell. No chapter break.
Start of Part the Seventh in Wiener. Part Fourth in Dole.
Start of Part 4 in Briggs, Dunnigan, Mandelker, and Edmonds.
Start of Book Seven in Maude. Start of Part Seven in Garnett.
Gibian: Start of Book Seven. Chapter 1.
Gibian: Start of Book Seven. Chapter 1.
Fuller: Entire Chapter is cut.
Komroff: Start of Book Seven 1810-1811: The opening paragraph about the biblical tradition, work, and idleness is removed, starting with Rostov being with the Pavlograd regmiment. The year 1807 isn't referenced,
the first year referenced being 1809. Natasha and Nikolai's conversation at the end of the chapter is shortened and followed by a line break.
the first year referenced being 1809. Natasha and Nikolai's conversation at the end of the chapter is shortened and followed by a line break.
Kropotkin: 1810-1811: "Napoleon is at the height of his power. By his marriage to Marie Louise of Austria in 1810 he has allied himself to the Hapsburg dynasty. The greatest king maker of all time, he has set his
brothers and brothers-in-law on half-a-dozen European thrones. But the peace is not complete, for Britain continues to fight on the Iberian peninsula and the British fleet still rules the seas, preventing a return to
normal trade conditions throughout Europe. In 1811 Russia, at peace with France, goes to war against Turkey to expand the empire of the Tsar; but it is a limited war, compared to the vital struggles with Napoleon:
it engages few of Russia's forces and has little effect on the lives of the Russian nobility."
brothers and brothers-in-law on half-a-dozen European thrones. But the peace is not complete, for Britain continues to fight on the Iberian peninsula and the British fleet still rules the seas, preventing a return to
normal trade conditions throughout Europe. In 1811 Russia, at peace with France, goes to war against Turkey to expand the empire of the Tsar; but it is a limited war, compared to the vital struggles with Napoleon:
it engages few of Russia's forces and has little effect on the lives of the Russian nobility."
Start of Part Seventh. Chapter 1: The opening paragraph about the biblical tradition, work, and idleness is gone. Rest of chapter is preserved.
Bromfield: Start of Part Five. We get some extra information about Nikolai's time in the regiment, such as his drinking tea, smoking pipes, once fighting a duel, always having money, abstaining from cards, breaking
in horses, and drinking a lot. Strangely, though there is a reference to Vera's wedding not in the latter version, the text specifically states no one informed him about the Bolkonsky engagement. Natasha tells him
when he arrives in the conversation they have. No break.
Simmons: Start of 1810-11 Book Seven. Chapter 1: everything until Nicholas arrives and begins to speak with Natasha is cut and replaced with "After three years away in the army, Nicholas Rostov, who is not pleased
with the news of his sister's engagement to Prince Andrew, reluctantly returns home at his mother's request in order to straighten out the family's critical financial situation." The chapter also cuts off early, ending with
"quite right about this intended marriage", removing his conversation with his mother.
in horses, and drinking a lot. Strangely, though there is a reference to Vera's wedding not in the latter version, the text specifically states no one informed him about the Bolkonsky engagement. Natasha tells him
when he arrives in the conversation they have. No break.
Simmons: Start of 1810-11 Book Seven. Chapter 1: everything until Nicholas arrives and begins to speak with Natasha is cut and replaced with "After three years away in the army, Nicholas Rostov, who is not pleased
with the news of his sister's engagement to Prince Andrew, reluctantly returns home at his mother's request in order to straighten out the family's critical financial situation." The chapter also cuts off early, ending with
"quite right about this intended marriage", removing his conversation with his mother.
Additional Notes:
Tolstoy and His Problems: You may still meet people who talk about wealth being the reward of industry, and poverty being the merited reward of idleness ; but year by year it requires an increasing degree of
obtuseness to enable a man to talk in that way without conscious hypocrisy. Mill's indictment of society remains unanswered and unanswerable : it is evidently wrong that " the produce of labour should be
apportioned as we now see it, almost in an inverse ratio to the labour — the largest portions to those who have never worked at all, the next largest to those whose work is almost nominal, and so on in a
descending scale, the remuneration dwindling as the work grows harder and more disagreeable, until the most fatiguing and exhausting bodily labour cannot count with certainty on being able to earn even the
necessaries of life."
Letters (Christian) Page 374: “the explanation of Peter’s character and of all his evil deeds by the fact that he was constantly terribly busy--ships, working at a lathe, travelling, issuing decrees, etc. It’s a truism that
idleness is the mother of vice, but not everyone knows that feverish, hasty activity is the habitual handmaid of discontent with oneself and especially with other people.”
Kaufman: Page 118: “the Rostov country house in Otradnoe, which takes its name from the Russian word for “joyous.”
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