Summary of "War and Peace", a novel by Leo Tolstoy. Analysis and characterization of heroes

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Summary of "War and Peace" makes it possible to superficially get acquainted with the work of Leo Tolstoy, examine the characters and learn the plot only with the most basic details. This article contains a retelling of all four volumes with an epilogue for people who want to understand the essence of the work. The description is as brief as possible, so only the main details are considered.

The beginning of the first volume

A summary of the 1st chapter of "War and Peace" from the first volume tells how the maid of honor Scherer gathered guests of various stripes, among whom was Pierre Bezukhov. There was talk of Napoleon's attack. Officer Dolokhov was thinking about his dismissal, and the aforementioned illegitimate son of a nobleman was looking for a job.

Events are further transferred to the house of the landowner Rostov, where the whole family has gathered. At the same moment, in the house of Bezukhov, the old count dies and a struggle for property begins. The court prince Kuragin, with the support of distant relatives, wants to steal the will, according to which everything goes into the hands of Pierre. They are unable to do so becauseintervention of the poor aristocrat Anna Drubetskaya.

As a result of this, the illegitimate son becomes the owner of the property, and Prince Kuragin attracts him to marry his beautiful daughter Helen. After chapter 1, a summary of "War and Peace" in the first volume will tell about the departure of the young Prince Andrei to the front. Before that, he left his wife with his father in the Bald Mountains.

Continuation of the first book

The summary of the first volume of "War and Peace" takes the reader to 1805, when General Kutuzov joined the Allies with the army. He avoids the battle in every possible way, and in the meantime the French are approaching. Thanks to the detachment of Bagration and the truce with the French Marshal Murat, the general gains time.

Further, events are transferred to the Pavlograd Hussar Regiment, where Nikolai Rostov accuses Lieutenant Telyanin of stealing a purse from their captain. The officers force him to drop the charges because of the reputation of the troops. He yields, and the culprit is sent away allegedly due to illness. Next, Junker Rostov was baptized by fire in the battle on the Enns River.

The next battle was the Shengraben battle, where Nikolai was wounded. He threw a pistol at a French soldier and fled. After the battle, he is awarded, and the guy goes to the place of deployment of the Izmailovsky regiment. There he is met by a childhood friend, Boris Drubetskoy, with letters for him from Moscow.

Nikolai tells an altered story about his injury and the course of the battle. After this, the summary of the first volume of "War and Peace" continues with the story of the cadet, who considers the kingAlexandra is the embodiment of valor and sees him crying on the field after the Battle of Austerlitz.

Completion of the first volume

Events return to Andrei Bolkonsky, who is eager to accomplish the feat. In the summary of the first volume of "War and Peace", he is annoyed by jokes between the Allied troops and the need to stand up for the doctor's wife because of the claims of a convoy officer.

For the young prince, Captain Tushin became a hero after the victory of his battery, but the meeting with him brought disappointment. He was shy in front of Bagration, and the commander himself did not live up to expectations. At the military council before the battle of Austerlitz, he was not allowed to speak. General Kutuzov was sleeping because he knew about the imminent defeat. And then the commander abruptly ended the meeting. At night, Andrei was tormented by thoughts of fame, for which he is ready to give everything.

Summary of the 3rd part of "War and Peace" in the first volume continues with the battle. Napoleon gave the signal to attack, but Kutuzov was in no hurry to deploy his army. As a result, the ranks quickly caved in, and the flight began.

On orders to stop the soldiers, Andrei, with a banner in his hand, rushed into battle, and the battalion followed him. The guy was instantly injured and, in a state of semi-death, continued to regret unfulfilled dreams. Napoleon, when going around the field, noticed that he was still alive, and ordered him to leave. The French left it for the locals to care for.

Beginning of the second volume

A detailed summary of the chapters of "War and Peace" in the second volume will tell about the meeting of Rostov at home ashero. Meanwhile, Dolokhov proposes his hand and heart to Sonya, but is refused because of her love for Nikolai. That evening, he beats the junker by a large amount.

Nikolay returns to his house, where fun reigns and Natasha sings beautifully. Nikolai forgets about his bad mood and confesses to his father that he lost money. Meanwhile, Captain Denisov, who came with Rostov, makes an offer to Natasha, but she refuses him.

The summary of "War and Peace" tells in parts about the arrival of Prince Vasily Kuragin with his son Anatoly in Lysy Gory. He wanted to marry the guy to Mary, but she refused because of the hugs of a possible groom with a French woman. A letter from Kutuzov came to the Bolkonsky house with the news of Andrei's death, although his body was not found. His wife Lisa dies during childbirth due to mental anguish, and it is on this night that her cured husband returns. Now Prince Andrei will always feel guilty.

Meanwhile, Pierre suspected Dolokhov of having an affair with his wife because of hints and anonymous letters. He challenges him to a duel after a quarrel, where he wounds the opponent. After an explanation with his wife Helen, he leaves for St. Petersburg, and leaves her a power of attorney to manage the property. On the way, Pierre meets the freemason Osip Bazdeev, who showed him new goals in life. After arriving in St. Petersburg, he becomes a member of the secret lodge.

Further events

Summary of "War and Peace" in parts in the second volume continues the story of Pierre. He visited a friend of Bolkonsky, who began to devote time entirely to his son. Bezukhov conveyed the views of the Masons to the young prince on the way to the Bald Mountains. Internally, Andrey seemed to be reborn and set on fire with new desires.

At this time, Rostov arrived at the regiment, and the captain Denisov went to beat out provisions for the army. At the headquarters, he meets Telyanin and beats him, but instead of going to court, he goes to the hospital. Nikolai comes to a friend and is amazed at the conditions of detention. After the requests of a friend, Vasily Denisov submits a letter to the tsar for pardon. With a letter, Nicholas went to Tilsit, where negotiations were underway between Alexander and Napoleon. He stayed with a friend - Boris Drubetskoy, and was unpleasantly surprised that the heads of state communicate with each other in this way.

They reward enemy soldiers with their medals, and faith in the king has been shaken. It only got worse after the refusal to pardon Denisov. Rostov decided to wash down his grief with wine with thoughts that the sovereign knew better. Further, a summary of "War and Peace" chapter by chapter in the third part of the second volume tells about Andrei's activities for the benefit of the people.

He managed to transfer 300 peasants to free cultivators, get the children of commoners educated and so on. After that, he went on guardianship to the Rostovs, where the marshal of the nobility Ilya could help him. In the estate, he accidentally overheard Natasha's conversation about the charms of the night, and a desire arose in him.

The end of the second volume

Detailed summary of "War and Peace" continues with the story of Andrei's friendship with the Secretary of State. He was taken to the commission for drafting the military charter.

Meanwhile, Pierre became disillusioned with the Freemasons. He was told that he must develop inwardly, in spite of all his kindness. In the Rostovs' house, meanwhile, love vicissitudes begin. Vera marries Berg, and Boris Drubetskoy wants to propose to Natasha. She reciprocates, but after the intervention of the mother, the guy stops visiting his beloved.

After arriving in his native Otradnoye, Nikolai decides to check the accounts, but nothing comes of it. He goes hunting with his family. They are joined by a distant relative and neighbors of Ilagina. The entertainment succeeded, and Natasha said that she would never feel so good again. She begins to yearn for Andrei, and Nikolai especially keenly feels love for Sonya. Wanting to marry her upsets his parents.

Nikolay and Natasha go to visit the Bolkonskys, but the old count does not welcome them. Young Princess Marya takes a ticket to the opera to Natasha in order to console her. There she meets Helen, Drubetskoy, Dolokhin and Anatole Kuragin. The latter fell in love with her and wished to steal her. In the future, a summary of "War and Peace" in the second volume tells about the failed abduction of Natasha by Anatole because of Sonya.

Andrey finds out about his beloved's affair and returns all her letters through Pierre. Bezukhov tries to console Natasha with tender words.

The beginning of the third volume

A detailed summary of "War and Peace" begins with the War of 1812. Alexander sends adjutant Balashev to Napoleon, but he does not even listen to him at the reception. Andrei, meanwhile, wants to challenge Anatole to a duel, but learns about the war. He asks for a transfer from the Turkish army to the Western one, and General Kutuzov releases him with an assignment to Barclay de Tolly. On the way, the man drives home, where he has a difficult conversation with his father. After his arrival, Bolkonsky understands that no one is going to use military craft in the army and ask to serve directly at the front.

Nikolai Rostov was appointed captain, and he and his regiment retreated from Poland to the Russian borders. They soon encountered the French in battle, who were pushing the Allied forces. Nikolai won the battle and captured the officer, for which he received the St. George Cross, but he himself was not happy with his feat.

In the Rostov family, everyone is busy with Natasha's illness. In the service of the Razumovskys, prayer helped her, and she again took up singing. Petya, meanwhile, was going to ask the sovereign for the opportunity to fight for the fatherland. He was at the Kremlin and even caught one biscuit that Alexander was handing out from the balcony. The guy is sure of his desire to go to war, and his father went to find out where to send him away from danger.

Continuation of the third volume

Summary of the 2nd part of "War and Peace" in the third volume tells about Andrei's warnings to his family. Despite this, the father only decorates the estate in the Bald Mountains more. Meanwhile, Prince Bolkonsky was loved in the army, and the bombing of Smolensk only made him more angry.

Meanwhile, only my father and Marya remained in their native estate - the rest were sent to Moscow. Soon he has a stroke, and his daughter orders to move to Bogucharovo. Therethe old prince Bolkonsky suffered for three weeks, after which he died. Nikolai helped to pacify the peasants who did not want to let Mary go to Moscow.

In the continuation of the summary of the 3rd volume of "War and Peace", Kutuzov calls Andrei to him and expresses sympathy for the death of his father. Denisov also arrives here with a plan of partisan actions. The calmness of the commander-in-chief of the army gave Andrey confidence. He understands the meaning of Kutuzov's appointment to such a great post and explains this to Pierre. During the Battle of Borodino, Bolkonsky is wounded and ends up in the hospital. On the next bed, he sees Anatole Kuragin, and Andrey develops a feeling of compassion for all the people in the war.

End of volume three

In the shortest content of "War and Peace" Volume 3 tells how Pierre participated in the Battle of Borodino. He was mistaken for one of his own on Raevsky's batteries. As he was leaving for supplies, the French broke through their ranks. Soon the Russian soldiers again took up position, and the sight of their dead comrades struck him to the core. At night he had a dream with instructions from Bazdeev.

Next, the author shows the essence of the battle near Borodino. Napoleon gave the right orders, but the French army was defeated because of morality. What follows is a description of Kutuzov's reflections on the course of the battle and a story about his fighting spirit. After the Battle of Borodino, he decides to leave Moscow to the enemy.

Rostovs during the departure, at the persuasion of Natasha, give carts for wounded officers and leave their property. Among the soldiers was Andrey Bolkonsky, for whom his former lover, after being discovered, constantlylooked after.

In the continuation of the brief content of "War and Peace", Pierre remains in Moscow, although he was advised to flee the capital. Due to Masonic research, he decides that his destiny is to kill Napoleon. It so happened that Pierre in Bazdeev's house rescues the French officer Rambal, who became his friend. In the morning, he no longer believes in the desire to kill Napoleon. Instead, he tries to help people in Moscow, for which he is arrested.

The beginning of the fourth volume

A summary of "War and Peace" in part 1 of the fourth volume begins with an evening at the maid of honor Scherer. After Metropolitan Platon's letter, discussions of extraneous things began. Kutuzov arrived and spoke about the surrender of Moscow and the big fire in the city. The king said that he did not intend to sign peace.

The offer of Napoleon's envoy Lauriton was rejected by the general. Soon the Battle of Tarutino happened, although Kutuzov did not want it. The commander-in-chief tries to restrain his army in autumn, so as not to lose people in vain. The French retreat and their army dies without bloody fighting.

Alexander reprimands his general for his indecisiveness, but rewards him with the Order of George of the first degree. When the battles began outside of Russia, Kutuzov was no longer needed, and civilian life brought him only death.

Summary of "War and Peace", 2 parts of the fourth volume, talks about Nikolai's desire to marry again. Sonya gives him back his word of engagement because of his mother. Princess Mary finds Andrei in a deplorable state. Soonthe remnants of life leave him, and she, along with Natasha, mourns for a loved one.

End of last book

Summary of the 4th volume of "War and Peace" continues with the interrogation of Pierre by Marshal Davout. The Frenchman was famous for his cruelty, but in suppressing the views, the soldiers found a kinship. Bezukhov was not sent to execution, but he saw the execution, and everything turned upside down in his soul because of this. He is reassured by his neighbor Karataev, who can amaze anyone with his good nature. He sews shirts for the French and says that among them there are also different people.

Prisoners are taken during the retreat from Moscow, and soon detachments of partisans rescue them. Denisov and Dolokhov commanded the operation, and Petya Rostov was among the soldiers. In a shootout to save the prisoners, the guy dies.

The shortest content of "War and Peace" tells further about how Pierre was in Orel. He is physically ill, but spiritually he feels an unprecedented freedom. He is told about the death of Andrei Bolkonsky and his wife Helen. Having recovered, the man goes to the Rostovs' house, where Natasha has become isolated due to the loss of a loved one. Here he is overtaken by the news of the death of Peter, which unites the Countess and Natalya.

Together they try to get through a difficult time. Later, Marya, Pierre and Natasha travel to Moscow, and Bezukhov contemplates an attempt to make Nikolai's sister happy along the way. She loves him back.

Epilogue

Summary of "War and Peace" in the epilogue tells about the wedding of Natasha and Pierre. Old Count Rostov is dying, andNikolai, by agreement, marries Marya. He does not have any feelings for Princess Bolkonskaya, but marriage gives him the opportunity to pay off debts, which have accumulated too much. They begin to live together in the Bald Mountains, where Nikolai tries to run the house well.

Sonya, meanwhile, remained to live in her native estate. In December 1820, Natasha came with her children to her brother, and soon Pierre himself arrived. He brings gifts and soon Denisov and Rostov go to the office to talk. Bezukhov is trying to convey the ideas of the Freemasons that the country has a bad government, many problems and there is a need to change everything.

Rostov does not agree with this and says that he cannot accept ideas. The whole conversation was heard by the son of Andrei Bolkonsky Nikolenka. Already that night, he had a dream about his future exploits with Uncle Pierre.