CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES

Book I :Part I

Summary

The novel opens with a scene in the house of Anna Pavlovna, confidante to Marya Fyodorovna, empress. All the influential people of the town assemble at the place to exchange notes and relate their problems. Prince Vasily is concerned about his vagrant son. Anna Pavlovna agrees to help by fixing a match for Anatol with Princess Marya. Prince Andrei, his pretty but pregnant wife, Pierre, Ippolit and Ellen are some of the guests. Marya Mikhailovna asks Vasily to help her son get a commission in the army. Soon after, Vasily accompanied by his daughter takes his leave.

Prince Andrei prepares to leave for Bald hills, before going to the battlefield. Lisa requests him to stay back, but Andrei ignores her plea. Andrei asks Pierre to avoid the company of his drunken friends but the latter gets tempted to visit his friends. In the house of Rostovs, the Countess celebrates her name day. Her friend, Anna Mikhailovna comes to wish her. Her children, Natasha and Nikolai are good looking, intelligent and exuberant. They are in love with Boris and Sonya respectively. The RostovÂ’s eldest daughter is Vera. She is unlike her siblings and behaves arrogantly.

Prince Andrei arrives at Bald Hills. Both the old Prince and Princess Marya are happy to meet Andrei. Marya is fond of Lisa and is happy to have her for company. She asks Andrei to be considerate towards Lisa and gives him a lucky charm to be worn during the battle. Prince Bolkonsky is pleased to converse with Andrei and shows his concern over NapoleonÂ’s conquests. When Andrei takes his leave, the Prince wishes him the best.

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