John > Recent Status Updates

Love these characters. Final stretch, will finish by All Souls Day, and what a fitting day that will be.

The Russians retreated at Borodino, but this was their victory, for they shattered the confidence of France. Was Kutuzov more "brilliant" than Napoleon? No, for it is not the generals who win battles but the whole army and its morale. The Russian troops had no reason to die in Austerlitz, but needed block the way to Moscow to defend their capital and homes. The French troops here were the Russians in Austerlitz.

One of the best parts of the novel imo. The characters undergo tremendous but subtle changes.

Bonaparte's defeat was written in the stars. His low birth ensured his insecurity; his insecurity caused his arrogance; his arrogance was his downfall. With this failing in his character, I cannot see how he could have remained Emperor. He would have constantly been at war with his neighbors for perceived slights against him by his fellow monarchs whom he felt never accepted him as their equals.

Halfway through. This part always upset me. Kuragin is a blackguard, and Natasha Illyichna, for such a smart girl, acted quite stupidly, if I were to be generous. But, the portion with Pierre Kirillovich and the comet was as beautiful as always.

Possibly one of my favorite portions of the book. Such simple domestic joy intermixed with such listlessness and anxiety. Contemplations on the soul of Russia, and the nobility's place within it.

Meanwhile, Nikolay Illyavich has grown from a stupid boy merely pantomiming chivalry to a good man wanting to better himself for the service of his family and nation. Dolokhov, if he was good for anything, was good for forcing Nikolay Illyavich to grow up through taking him to the cleaners. I never noticed the juxtaposition between the former friends and the way they viewed Bonaparte's new authority. Well-written!

Such a shame to watch Boris Drubetskoy transform over the course of several hundred pages from a charming and ambitious boy—who conducted himself so honorably at Austerlitz—to yet another contemptible creature, another Karugin.