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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

9:56

Bk. 1, Pt. 2, Ep. 2: Timohin & The Siege of Izmail...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/07/27

Along comes bouncing a light blue Austrian carriage escorted by Croatian horsemen, which is appropriate for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is time for the inspection of the newly arrived regiment. Out steps General Kutuzov along with his unnamed Austrian counterpart. As Kutuzov walks the line, he is pleased with the disposition of his troops. He notices the atrocious state of their boots, which the Austrians should have replaced. He points this out...diplomatically. Kutuzov graciously stops to

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9:36

Bk. 1, Pt. 2, Ch. 1: Arrival at Braunau, Austria

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/07/05

Part 2 of Book 1 takes place in the forests outside Braunau, in the Archduchy of Austria, and close to the conflict engulfing Europe.Thousands of soldiers from the Russian Empire marched 700 miles eastward to link up with their Austrian allies. Commanding them is General Mikhail Kutuzov. Focused on is the Third Company of the Semyonovsky Regiment of about 2,000 men. They are camping near Braunau and are quite the curiosity to the locals. The troops are naturally exhausted. However, they are

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27:41

Recitation: Book 1 Part 1 (Chapters 1-25)

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/06/27

This is a 28-minute analysis of the 25 chapters of Part 1 of Book 1. It describes the context of the events Tolstoy brings to life, which starts in July of 1805. The analysis delves into major themes including war always seemingly on the horizon as well as the psychological battle of war & peace (voyna i mir) we all face. The discussion highlights how Tolstoy portrays the dying era of Catherine the Great (r. 1762-1796) with fictional characters such as Count Kirill Bezukhov (the first character

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10:21

Bk. 1., Pt.1., Ch. 25: Death Before Dishonor

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/05/30

Prince Andrei is about to set out to become aide-de-camp to General Kutuzov. He has on his traveling coat while meticulously packing his effects. He pays special attention to his Turkish pistols and a saber -- spoils of victory his father gifted him from the Siege of Ochakov in 1778. The weapons illustrate the significance of the conflicts his (fictional) father participated in. They also highlight the legacy Andrei feels pressured to live up to. Ochokov is presently named Ochakiv and is on the

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10:29

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 24: Where Have All the Potemkins Gone?

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/04/28

An intimate meal is held at the Bolkonsky estate on the sole day Andrei will reconnect with his father, Nikolay. The following day Andrei will be heading off to fight the indomitable forces of Napoleon. Awaiting in the dining room is Andrei, Lise, Marya, Mlle Bourienne, as well as Nikolay's architect, Mikhail Ivanovich, who is an odd addition. Usually a sticker for social class divisions, the old General invites his architect (considered a servant) to dine with him. This appears to be an

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9:34

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 23: Marlborough Man (Off to War;...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/04/05

Prince Andrei and his pregnant wife (Lise) arrive Andrei’s father’s Smolensk estate known as “Bald Hills.” Andrei only plans to spend the night, as he is rushing toward the career path of his father, Nikolai, who performed a lifetime of (fictional) military service. Nikolai Bolkonsky (nicknamed “The King of Prussia”) is symbolic of the era of expansion and colonization under Catherine the Great.West of Moscow, this involved partitions of Poland, which was split between Russia, Prussia and

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9:55

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 22 [2 of 2]: Letters of Marya & Julie

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/03/14

This episode involves Marya Bolkonskaya reading Julie Karagina’s letter and covers Marya’s response. Each missive is written in French and the content serves as a way to bring the reader up-to-speed on the time transpiring since Count Bezukhov's death. Each letter also serves as an exposition of the nature of the characters: Julie is revealed as a somewhat vapid heiress and Marya, the ideal daughter of her father and God.Julie begins through speaking about her affinity for Marya and commenting

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7:40

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 22 [1 of 2]: The King of Prussia...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/02/27

For the first 20 chapters the action centered around the major cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, circa 1805. This chapter heads to the countryside to one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, Smolensk, founded in 863 A.D. It is west of Moscow and a bit south, not that far east of the Belarusian border. Smolensk was part of the Kyivan Rus’, the first state to rise among Eastern Slavs. While the early history of Ukraine is the history of Russia, the converse is not true. Generally, many think

en-US

7:02

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 21: A Death in the Family

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/01/27

Prince Vassily and Katerina are ready to make their move to deprive Pierre of his inheritance. First, Vassily wishes to get Anna and Pierre out of the way so the Count's will can be promptly destroyed. Therefore, Vassily invites them to take some tea or a slight snack via the spread set out for well-wishers. Pierre is escorted to the tea area by one of the Count’s nieces and Anna goes as well but remains close enough to keep track of the saboteurs. At some point, Katerina gets up and walks

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14:27

Bonus - Recitation II: Chapters 11-20

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2023/01/01

Chapters 11-20 continue to establish background information on the main characters and central conflict (Napoleon's future invasion). It is slow going without piercing hooks. It is an exposition of the peace before the war. After being banished from St. Petersburg, Pierre has been staying at his ill father’s estate in Moscow. He is left alone by those caring for the Count and kept away from his father. In solitude, Pierre play-acts crossing the English channel as a conquering Napoleon, ready to

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6:13

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 20: Last Moments Between Father &...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/12/23

Pierre is taken to the inner sanctum of his father's magnificent estate. The room was filled with family, physicians, and servants. The once powerful Kirill Bezukhov is on the precipice of death. The name Kirill derives from the Greek name Kyrillos (Κύριλλος), which comes from Kyrios (κύριος), meaning “lord,” or “lordly.” He is represented as one of Catherine the Great’s grandees, meaning a person of very high rank. In giving the character this particular name, Tolstoy captures the nature of

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7:56

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 19: Step Up and Be a Man

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/12/09

Pierre is sleeping in the back of an open coach while being pulled by horses to his father’s magnificent estate. Count Bezukhov is incapacitated and his wishes were that Pierre takes his estate. However, Pierre has little idea of this intention. The Count drew up papers to “legitimize” Pierre, however, they were never delivered to the proper authorities nor signed off by Emperor Alexander. Prince Vassily Kuragin has been plotting to subvert the will of the Count and in the previous chapter he

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6:48

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 18: Succession & Scandal

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/11/07

The chapter opens with a foreboding update about Count Kirill Bezukhov. As the Rostov affair was in full swing, the Count suffered his sixth stroke, which places him near death. His team of doctors thought it would be a matter of hours. Local undertakers were outside his estate, waiting to be paged while some of the elite of Moscow society marched in and out. Dr. Lorrain, the lead physician, was conspicuously seated under a portrait of Catherine the Great. Catherine died in 1796 so the Count's

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8:26

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 17: Ilya Rostov Flies Like an Eagle

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/10/17

The guests leave the dining area and head to the fancy entertainment rooms of the Rostov estate. These are the drawing rooms, sitting rooms, parlors, terraces, and libraries – the Rostov mansion has it all. Ilya Rostov sits down in one of the rooms to enjoy a French card game named after an American City, Boston. As per custom, young people gathered around a few instruments, including the clavier and harp. Julie Karagina takes a turn on one of these. There was some anticipation for Natasha and

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5:28

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 16: Bonaparte Stopped Austria's...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/09/12

The extravagant Rostov feast is winding down and the political talk is reaching a zenith.Shinshin asks why Russia should be thrown into a war with Napoleon. He notes Bonaparte already stopped Austria’s cackle and Russia's turn is likely next. The ethnically German colonel (in the Russian Army) who is within earshot gets irritated and announces his fealty to the Emperor. The colonel quotes Alexander's Declaration of War, which has the refrain -- to establish a lasting peace; the country must

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11:58

Bonus - Second Epilogue, Ch. 3: The Locomotive of...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/09/02

Envision a locomotive the way many would circa 1860. What technology! It wasn’t brand new (as they were invented in 1804) but it was a Monster of the age in terms of making the world move. Tolstoy envisions the locomotive as a symbol of great historical movements and uses this symbolism to describe the limitations historians face in finding causes for such movements. He posits three people viewing the mighty locomotive and trying to explain the cause of the movement. The first, Tolstoy deals with a

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10:18

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 15: Cigars & Politics

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/08/24

Before the Rostov dinner, the men get together to talk politics and smoke cigars. We get a look at Count Rostov’s personality among the boys. He earns a cheap thrill in getting his intimates to debate the issues of the day. Seated next to him are Shinshin (Pyotr Nikolaitch) and Lt. Alphonse Berg. Both think they are quite charming. Shinshin is described as on old bachelor with a sallow complexion who tries to look much younger and dresses in the height of fashion. He is a relative of Countess

en-US

10:26

Bonus - Second Epilogue, Ch. 2: Not the Cause for the...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/08/01

Tolstoy presents his view on how academics view history. He essentially argues that historians have limited reliability. Tolstoy embarks on the path of grappling with the nature of power. He urges avoiding the trap of thinking Great Men move people. Instead, it is actually people (like You) who combine when they are willing to move. It is people (like You) who do all the heavy lifting and rarely get any of the credit.Tolstoy initially describes biographers of famous personages as well as authors of

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5:16

Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 14: Rubles for Boris

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/07/23

A quick chapter centering on the emotions of Countess Natasha Rostova. Once Anna Mikhaylovna Drubetskaya left for the Bezukhov estate, Natasha becomes sentimental. Anna’s message, whether intended or not, affects her deeply. The Countess decides to help her childhood friend and not make Anna pursue a bequeathment from the sickly Count Bezukov who may be in no position to distribute anything. The Countess summons her husband through a servant and the good-natured Illya quickly answers. He is dripping

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10:34

Bonus - Second Epilogue, Ch.1: History of Gods & Men

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2022/07/15

Tolstoy starts his infamous epilogue by giving his definition of the term "history" as the life of nations and humanity. He describes that a limitation of this definition is the inability of man to sufficiently pin down the history of any nation or human movement. He posits there is more to it than the scientific approach of piecing together what happened and then attributing motivations based on objective analysis. For the most part, piecing together history is inadequate guesswork, some

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