Book One, Chapter III — Summary

At Anna Pavlovna’s soirée, Pierre Bezukhov and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky withdraw from the main group to talk privately. Pierre, full of enthusiasm and idealism, speaks passionately about political reforms and the ideas of the French Revolution, praising Napoleon as a great man.

Prince Andrei listens patiently but remains skeptical. He admires Pierre’s sincerity but sees his ideas as impractical. Andrei confides that he finds society boring and unfulfilling, and that his pregnant wife feels like a burden to him.

He reveals to Pierre that he is planning to leave soon to join the army in the war against Napoleon. Andrei seeks meaning and glory in military service, hoping to escape the emptiness of aristocratic life.

This chapter deepens the contrast between Pierre’s idealistic dreams and Andrei’s pragmatic disillusionment, while hinting at major life changes ahead for both men.

The soirée at Anna Pavlovna's salon continues to fill with guests. Social protocol dictates that everyone must pay respects to her elderly aunt, a task that none of the guests particularly enjoy but understand as part of the evening's etiquette. As the evening progresses, the conversation shifts to more personal matters. Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of Count Cyril Bezukhov, arrives at the gathering. Despite his education abroad, Pierre displays a lack of social grace, inadvertently offending the guests by neglecting to acknowledge Anna Pavlovna's aunt and engaging in lengthy political discussions with Anna, thereby monopolizing her attention.

Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who is also present, observes the interactions with a sense of detachment. He is disillusioned with the superficiality of high society and feels constrained by his domestic life. His wife, Lise, is pregnant and somewhat neglected, which adds to his sense of dissatisfaction. During the evening, Prince Andrei shares his frustrations with Pierre, expressing a desire to escape the confines of his current life. He hints at his intention to join the military campaign against Napoleon, seeking a purpose beyond the social circles they inhabit.

The chapter highlights the contrasts between the characters: Pierre's awkwardness and earnestness, Anna Pavlovna's social maneuvering, and Prince Andrei's yearning for meaning beyond the superficialities of aristocratic life. Their interactions set the stage for the unfolding narrative, where personal aspirations and societal expectations will collide.

Book One, Chapter I — Summary

In July 1805, Anna Pavlovna Schérer, maid of honor to the Dowager Empress, hosts a small reception in her St. Petersburg salon. She greets Prince Vassíli Kurágin and immediately launches into a passionate critique of Napoleon, calling him “the Antichrist” and insisting that only Russia and Emperor Alexander can save Europe from his threat.

Anna expresses her distrust of Austria, England, and Prussia, emphasizing Russia’s divine duty. Prince Vassíli responds calmly and diplomatically, polite but slightly ironic.

Anna also mentions that two important guests, the Vicomte de Mortemart (a French émigré) and Abbé Morio (a thinker who has met the Emperor), will join the gathering later.

This chapter introduces the political tensions of the time, the aristocratic world of St. Petersburg, and the contrasting personalities of Anna Pavlovna (emotional, passionate) and Prince Vassíli (calm, strategic).