War and Peace: Volume 1, Part 1: Chapters 23–25 Summary & Analysis

In the afternoon Prince Andrei and his wife arrive at Bald Hills. Since Prince Nikolai is still napping, they surprise Princess Marya while she’s practicing the clavichord. When Marya greets Andrei, her warm eyes light up. Sadly, she asks Andrei if he’s really going to war, and he acknowledges that he is—tomorrow.

In a special exception, Prince Nikolai allows Prince Andrei to visit his quarters before dinner. Cheerful after his nap, he greets his son with, “So you want to defeat Bonaparte?” Always critical of the modern military, he criticizes “this new science” called “strategy” that the Russians have learned from the Germans. Resistant at first, Andrei gives in and begins answering his father’s questions about the war with growing eagerness. He explains how an army of 500,000 will attack France from different sides, including an army of 90,000 which will threaten Prussia in order to draw it out of neutrality. His father doesn’t appear to listen, however, interjecting unrelated questions. Then Prince Nikolai sends Andrei to the dining room while singing a French war song off-key.

At dinner, Prince Nikolai joins Prince Andrei, the little princess, Princess Marya, Mlle Bourienne, and the Prince’s architect Mikhail Ivanovich, whom he’s invited mainly to agree with his views on Bonaparte. Prince Nikolai is convinced that Bonaparte has gained power only because there’s no strong Russian opposition, and that there’s no real war happening, just a puppet show. Prince Andrei delightedly eggs his father on by continuing to argue that Bonaparte is in fact a great general. After dinner, the little princess takes Princess Marya aside and admits that Prince Nikolai frightens her. Princess Marya replies that her father is “so kind.”

After dinner, Prince Andrei prepares for his departure the following day. He ponders his future. Princess Marya rushes in to speak with him before he goes. She tells “Andryusha” he has changed, smiling as she uses his childhood nickname. When she speaks warmly of Andrei’s wife, she notices the mocking expression that comes over his face. She encourages Andrei to sympathize with Lise, who’s not used to being isolated in the country. Andrei doesn’t reply to this, but he suggests instead that Prince Nikolai is too hard on Marya. Shocked, she protests that she’s perfectly content with him.

Princess Marya begs Prince Andrei to fulfill a request for her. She takes out an icon of Christ, says a prayer of blessing, and, after Andrei crosses himself a bit mockingly, gives it to him. He promises to wear it for her. After that, she hesitantly admits that the little princess wept after dinner, unhappy with her life. Prince Andrei says that he’s never reproached Lise for anything, but that neither of them is really happy. Princess Marya tells him that if he prayed, God would grant him the love he’s unable to feel for his wife.

Prince Andrei’s coach stands outside in the autumn evening; the household gathers in the hall to bid him goodbye. Prince Nikolai continues scribbling a letter in his office when Prince Andrei comes to say farewell. Embarrassed, Andrei asks a favor—that Nikolai send to Moscow for a midwife, since Lise is fearful about giving birth. His father agrees and also gives Prince Andrei a letter to his friend, Kutuzov, urging his son’s quick promotion.

In a shrill voice, Prince Nikolai tells Prince Andrei that though he’ll grieve if his son dies, he’ll be most ashamed if he hears that Andrei did not behave like Nikolai Bolkonsky’s son. Prince Andrei asks that, if he dies and his wife bears a son, his father make sure to raise the boy himself. Then Prince Nikolai shoos his son away in an angry tone. When Prince Andrei says goodbye to his wife, Lise faints. After her brother goes, Princess Marya, supporting her sister-in-law, makes signs of the cross in the direction of the door. Prince Nikolai pokes his head out of his study, says, “Gone? Well, that’s good!” and slams the door.