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PODCAST

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide

A chapter by chapter guide to Tolstoy's War & Peace. These are Summaries/Cliffnotes on a podcast, hence Podnotes. It is best used as a supplement to your reading of the classic.The episodes and descriptions will provide information, context and commentary on each chapter -- and will likely take a lifetime to complete. The goal is for each episode to come in under 10 minutes. The original work fluctuates between French and Russian and there are multiple English translations of War &

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All Episodes

9:30

Bonus: Calvary Maiden II, Durova's Formative Years

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/05/28

This second episode on the Calvary Maiden takes you through some of the formative years of the author, Nadezhda Durova. Durova wrote briefly of her years growing up then focused on her time dressing as a man and serving for 10 years as a low-level officer in the Czar’s army, starting around 1806.Her journals were source material for Tolstoy as to the lives of those who served in the period War & Peace is set, 1805-1812. It is presented to give you a glimpse into those frequently nameless and

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6:52

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 8: Old Fashioned Emperor Worship

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/05/22

Tolstoy addresses the over-confidence of Napoleon’s adversaries prior to the battle of Austerlitz, when Kutuzov’s forces and the Austrians reached their limit of no further retreat, winding up near Olmütz. Here, Emperors Alexandr & Francis would review their troops that numbered around 80,000 (both seasoned and reinforcements) before a 40-mile march south to fight the French, who had around 50,000 soldiers near Brünn. Napoleon’s supply lines were extended after traveling so far into the Holy

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9:05

Sevastopol Sketch II (Pt.1): Truth As Everlasting...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/04/16

This edition examines the second Sevastopol Sketch, where Tolstoy covers an all-too-common artillery battle and truce afterward. It focuses on May of 1855, roughly six months into the 11-month Siege during the Crimean War.In the recent W&P episode, Tolstoy describes how young soldiers are typically unable to speak the truth and will conform their wartime stories to the expectations of their audience, as well as put themselves in the best light. He plays this out using the fictional Rostov, who

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8:34

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 7 (II of II): Andrei v. Rostov

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/04/10

The latter part of this chapter has Nicholas Rostov continuing his parley with Boris and Berg. I broke it into two episodes because the latter section deals with the first interaction between Andrei and Nichols, who surprisingly are not familiar with one another. After Rostov alludes to his award, Boris retrieves the money and letter from Rostov’s family. Upon reading a few lines, Rostov hid his face, ashamed he frightened his family over his trivial injury. Berg then makes the mistake of

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9:53

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 7 (I of II): The Confidence of Youth

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/03/24

This chapter begins to highlight the optimism of the Coalition approaching the Battle of Austerlitz. We also experience a rare crossing of the major characters, Nicholas and Andrei. While Nicholas was riding with the Pavlograd Hussars, Boris was serving more comfortably with the Imperial Guard, accompanying Czar Alexander as he traveled toward Olmütz, Moravia, a mostly German speaking enclave of the Holy Roman Empire that sits along a tributary of the Danube River. The allies were uniting in their

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11:45

Bonus: Calvary Maiden Intro -- W&P source material

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/03/17

This is an introduction to Calvary Maiden, a source Tolstoy used to portray the experiences of soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars. Tolstoy utilized a variety of such works to craft, more than 50 years after the events depicted in War & Peace, the spirit of that first decade and a half of the 19th century.This source material was an unconventional choice as Calvary Maiden contains the journals of a young woman, Nadezhda Andreyevna Durova, who presented as a man to pursue military ambitions. Her

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9:50

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 6: A Mother's Love

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/03/10

Though always in their hearts, it had been months since the Rostovs received news of Nicholas. When Count Ilya finally received a letter from his son, he ran his study with it. Anna Drubetskaya, Boris’ mother, was living with the family and aimed to be useful. She found Ilya sobbing and laughing. His darling boy suffered a small wound but was promoted. He found this reason to thank God. Still, he wonders how to tell his wife of the injury. Anna therefore took the rest of the day preparing the

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9:40

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 5: I Will Never Marry Your Son

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/02/27

Once separated for the evening, Anatole fell right asleep. The charmed women did not.Marya considered, “Is he really to be my husband? This stranger who is so kind.” However, she soon feels the force of evil near her as a Satanic image mixed with Anatole’s. She rang for her maid, asking her to sleep in her room. Lise grumbled how uncomfortable she was in bed. Anatole’s presence reminded her of when she was not impacted by pregnancy and loneliness. Amélie Bourienne walked about the winter garden,

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9:58

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch 4: Anatole's Undeniable Charm

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/02/23

Marya comes from her room to meet Anatole and is quickly smitten by his attractiveness. He introduced himself and stood smiling with his chest expanded. He was hardly eloquent but had the invaluable faculty of composure. He knew he inspired curiosity, awe and lust. Marie wished to convey that she did not expect to interest him. The conversation became genial thanks to Lise. Speaking French, she drew all into her stories. Shaking a finger at Anatole, she reveals, “I have heard of your doings

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8:47

"The Blessings of Love" Tolstoy's 1908 Letter

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/02/05

In August of 1908, when 80 years old, Tolstoy penned the open letter, “The Blessings of Love,” referring to the Love which embodies the Almighty. Tolstoy wrote much, later-in-life, about his religious convictions, but this episode will focus on this relatively short letter addressed to “Good People Everywhere.”Tolstoy explicitly introduces the concept of divine Love in War & Peace through Mayra reaching out in prayer when she faces the temptation for physical pleasure when Anatole pays a

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9:54

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 3: Sacred Readies for Profane

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/01/28

Nicholas Bolkónski receives a letter from Vasíli Kuragin, who would be visiting with his prodigal son, Anatole. This is a suitor for Marya. Bolkónski always held a poor opinion of Vasíli, but this view converted into an utter contempt. On the morning Vasíli was to arrive, the head serf, Alpátych, deferentially explained that he had the path swept of snow after being informed a “minister” was arriving. Bolkónski exploded, “A minister? Who gave orders to sweep? For me, there are no ministers!” He

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8:14

Sevastopol Sketch 1 (II of II): The Fourth Bastion,...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/01/22

This second and final part of the first Sevastopol Sketch takes you from the Assembly Hall to the artillery fortifications/bastions.After taking in the majestic sky, you are brought back to earth, to the vulgarity of war. A funeral procession marches by. The music and banners cover up the beastliness you observed in the Hall. You reach the lively city center and pass inns, shops and street merchants. You notice the variety of officers, many finding relief in alcohol. You overhear the musings of

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9:40

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 2: Pierre se marie

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2024/12/29

Prince Vasíli is on the precipice of enticing Pierre to ask for his daughter’s hand. He hardly let a day go by without hosting an event at which Pierre was present. For six weeks, the new Count was lured into making a home of Vasíli’s mansion. Vasíli was planning to get two of his children married, Anatole as well as Hélène. Vasíli felt compelled to finalize matters with Pierre before touring his neglected provincial estates. He then desired to pick-up Anatole from his regiment and take him to

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8:01

Sevastopol Sketch 1 (I of II): December of 1854,...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2024/12/18

The first Sevastopol Sketch focuses on December of 1854. Sevastopol is a name of Greek origin and is a well-known port city in Crimea. Before it was Ukrainian -- and before it was Russian or under Russian occupation -- it was part of the Crimean Khanate, heavily influenced by the Ottomans. Greek names were stamped on conquered cities just north of the Black Sea (think also Melitopol, Mariupol, and Kherson) by Czars & Czarinas as a show of respect for Greek culture. Notably, Greeks had a presence

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9:04

Second Epilogue, Chapter 5: Livestock and the Duality...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2024/12/07

Note: There are NO spoilers in the the 2nd Epilogue to War & Peace, which is analyzed in bonus chapters. This final part of the novel involves a metaphysical exploration of the philosophy underlying W&P. This is a complex chapter easy to get lost in. Tolstoy wrestles with one of his common themes -- Are people led or are they ready to move and inevitably pops up someone to guide them in the direction they were going? Tolstoy emphasizes that the life of the nations is not symbolically

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8:56

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 1: Pierre, Gentlemen of the Bedchamber

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2024/11/24

Part III of Book I focuses on Pierre. We are taken off the battlefield. The attitude has changed toward the new Count Bezúkhov, with this section serving as a critique on the vane pursuits of men within Tolstoy’s own class. Instead of retreating after being foiled in his attempt to usurp Pierre’s estate, Vassily uses his proximity to become Pierre’s mentor. He even uses his daughter, Hélène, to attract Pierre’s focus. The description of Vassily is as a true man of this world. His heart is so

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14:59

Recitation & Gearing Up For Part III of Book 1

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2024/10/14

This episode examines Tolstoy’s influences in the sense that Tolstoy takes attitudes from major events of his day, including the humiliating defeat of the Crimean War of 1856, and imposes them on his characters. Tolstoy was conceptualizing and writing War & Peace in the 1850s and 60s, when liberal reforms were being pursued. Tolstoy therefore brings an idealism to his rendition of the victory over Napoleon in 1812. The episode also has a brief review of Part 1 of Book 1 to ready the reader to

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10:00

Bk. 1, Pt. 2, Ch. 21: And Why Did I Come Here?

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2024/10/06

Bagration’s men held off the French for as long as practical and retreated in the darkness. The goal was to fight until the sun went down.Tushin accompanied the working guns and encountered officers as well as some wounded. He was overwhelmed with grief, having come down from his heroic effort. Orders were to leave the wounded but those affected felt it best to keep up with the retreat. Among the injured was Nicholas Rostov, pleading for a seat on the gun carriage. Tushin gave him a spot.They

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9:56

Introduction to The Sevastopol Sketches

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2024/09/18

In his Sevastopol Sketches, Tolstoy develops his ability to depict the reality of death within military conflict. His proficiency stemmed from experience. Most notably, Tolstoy’s military service included three years in the Caucuses and action during the Crimean War (1853-56), both as a junior artillery officer.During his time near Chechnya (north of Georgia and west of Dagestan), Tolstoy observed such brutal Russian tactics as punitive raids and the indiscriminate the shelling of small villages

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9:36

Bonus: The Siege of Izmail - December 1790

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2024/08/24

The 1790 Siege of Izmail is profiled as Tolstoy builds this experience into War &Peace characters who advanced to leadership roles, most notably General Kutuzov.The Siege was led by General Alexander Suvorov against an Ottoman stronghold near the mouth of the Danube and along the northwest coast of the Black Sea. The Russian and Ottoman empires spent centuries fighting for influence in this area. The loss of Izmail was a factor in the Ottomans leaving the North Black Sea region. While the

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