Book Four, Chapters 1–9
Later, in 1806, Nicholas and his
friend Denisov visit the Rostov home in Moscow while they are on
leave. Nicholas’s family greets him with enthusiasm. He is reminded
of his promise to marry Sonya, who is now sixteen and beautiful.
Meanwhile, Natasha, now fifteen, declares she does not wish to marry
Boris. Denisov creates a fine impression in the Rostov house, to
Nicholas’s surprise.
Nicholas enjoys the high life as an eligible Moscow bachelor, drifting
a bit away from Sonya. Count Rostov arranges a dinner for Bagration
at the English Club. The Rostovs plan to invite Pierre, and are
informed that Pierre’s wife, Helene, has been compromising her virtue
with Dolokhov, to Pierre’s great sadness. Muscovite society finds
it difficult to accept that the Russians might be defeated. It is presumed
that Andrew has died, leaving behind a pregnant wife.
Pierre looks unhappy during the party at the English Club,
concerned about rumors of his wife’s adulterous liaisons. A poet
reads verses in honor of Bagration, who arrives looking much less
grand than he appears on the battlefield. Drinks are poured, toasts
are made, and Count Rostov weeps with emotion. When Dolokhov toasts
beautiful women, Pierre takes it as an insult and challenges Dolokhov
to a duel, taking Nicholas as his second. The next day in the woods,
Pierre reconsiders, believing he has acted hastily. Nonetheless,
the duel must continue. Pierre pulls the trigger and wounds Dolokhov
severely, but is himself unhurt.
Pierre wrongly assumes that he has killed Dolokhov, and
reflects that the death is ultimately due to his own original decision
to marry Helene when he did not actually love her—a decision that
led to a life of lies with a cold wife. Helene, hearing about the
duel, accuses Pierre of being an idiot and exposing them both to
ridicule. Pierre announces that they must separate, and Helene agrees
on condition that she receive a part of his fortune. He erupts in
violence, but later cedes his lands to her and departs alone for
St. Petersburg.
At Bald Hills, Prince Bolkonski receives news from Kutuzov about
the apparent death of his son Andrew. The news is given to Mary,
but withheld from Andrew’s widow, Lise, for fear of harming her
unborn baby. Not long after, Lise reports feeling unwell, and the midwife
is called. Lise lies waiting. Suddenly, a carriage is heard in the
drive—it is Andrew, who appears to Mary on the landing of the staircase.
He arrives as Lise is in labor. Soon after, Andrew’s son is born,
and his wife dies in childbirth.
Book Four, Chapters 10–15
In Moscow, Dolokhov convalesces and befriends Nicholas.
At the Rostov home, everyone likes Dolokhov except Natasha, who
sees him as a bad man. Dolokhov develops an interest in Sonya.
