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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

7:16

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 18(A): Alexandr Among the Ash Heap

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2026/02/01

Nicholas continues on his mission looking for Kutuzov or the Emperor. He notices broken carriages along the roads and hordes of troops in worsening levels of disorganization. Many are wounded. He reaches an area safe from cannon fire coming from the Pratzen Heights and slows to realize that there is no point to what he is doing. He has nothing of import to convey to the Tsar or to Kutuzov, should they remain alive. He learns the direction surviving commanders headed and hears conflicting reports

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6:17

Bonus: For Whom Would You Sacrifice?

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2026/01/23

Tolstoy hardly ends the novel with the revelation imparted to Andrei. Instead, it continues for another 1000 pages, in substantial part, exploring the triviality so paramount to those without such vision. The story moves back to earth to focus on the historic disgrace for Alexandr and Francis. It is entirely the opposite for Napoleon, who came out on top of The Battle of Three Emperors. Yet the bravado with which men enter a fight for those like Bonaparte, has lost some of the luster.So many of us

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9:52

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 17: Decimation of Uvaróv's Calvary

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2026/01/11

Tolstoy brings you back from Andrei’s spiritual revelation to focus on Nicholas Rostov, who is imbued with the Confidence of Youth. General Bagratión had assented to Rostov’s request to be brought off the reserve line and selected him for a fool’s errand – as Bagratión is presented as understanding the futility of the attack.This is in contrast to Prince Dolgorúkov, part of Alexandr’s inner circle, who felt victory was ordained. Dolgorúkov holds much of the blame for this debacle as reports

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10:27

Bk. 1, Pt. 3., Ch. 16: Oh, Chapter of Chapters!

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/12/11

This paramount chapter involves Tolstoy using Andrei to grasp the transcendence of the Almighty God which the author revered. More particularly, when Andrei takes in the vastness of the sky, Tolstoy conveys the vulgarity of this earth compared with His infinite nature. Further, Tolstoy lays bare the senselessness of war for most of the men shooting and hacking each other. There will be a depiction of opposing soldiers in a tug-of-war over the most insignificant object – a broomstick, highlighting

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8:48

Second Epilogue: Ch. 7: Only The Almighty Stands Alone

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/11/25

Tolstoy affirms that only the will of the Deity, who is not dependent on time, can make sense of any monumental event or series of events. Tolstoy acknowledges his belief in an omnipotent God, who determines the Way. This majestic being is something we can never come close to understanding. Even the most renowned, like Napoleon, cannot veer humanity in the direction they intend. This is because man acts in his limited time and sphere. Thus, historians who attribute grand events to so-called “Great

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7:33

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 15: Advance! Advance to Ignominy!

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/11/15

At 8 a.m. Kutuzov rode towards Pratzen Village. He took command of a regiment he came across and led it into the Village. The other columns were advancing towards a massive valley, where the battle was picking up. Andrei, who was among Kutuzov’s suite, was in a state of constrained excitement. He was convinced this day would be his Toulon, the battle that made Napoleon. Andrei’s motivation to be hero of this world was at an apex. He would give his life, his family, even his soul, to be admired

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7:02

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 14: Target Pratzen

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/10/27

The doomed advance commenced around 5 a.m., when still quite dark. The idea was for General Bagration’s left flank to initiate the attack on the French right flank and drive the enemy into the mountains. Officers were hurriedly drinking tea and eating a decent breakfast while buttoning their coats and buckling their swords. Battalion and regimental commanders, along with their adjuncts, mounted their horses and gave final instructions. Austrian guides were now moving among the troops

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8:14

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 13: Vive l’Empereur!

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/09/21

In the early morning hours of December 2nd, 1805, Rostov was patrolling the skirmishing line near Bagration’s detachment. Behind him he could see his army’s campfires glowing. In front the French were covered by misty darkness. Rostov was exhausted. His eyes would close and his fancy appeared—now the Emperor, then Denísov or whirling Moscow memories. His hussar companion occasionally alerted him to steer his horse out of bushes. He was disappointed his unit was not advancing and wanted to ask for

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5:24

Bonus: Look Up Beyond the Vanity

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/09/01

In a few chapters, you will read one of the triumphs in literature, borrowed from the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament.Tolstoy will have the fictional Andrei recognize the Vanity of our world. On the battlefield, Andrei is placed in a posture that makes him attuned to absorbing the nature of war & peace; and much more.In preparation for this moment, I ask you to take a tiny step toward developing the ability to see behind the vanity & vexation of our existence. If inclined, read the

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9:49

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 12: Vainglorious Aspirations

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/08/28

The night before the Battle, General Weyrother, who coordinated the advance, traveled to Kutuzov’s quarters in a castle near Austerlitz for a council of war. Kutuzov was a reluctant and relegated host. Weyrother is presented as full of vigor while Kutuzov was morose, with his uniform unbuttoned and nearly asleep in a chair. Weyrother was familiar with the terrain but was unable to competently explain the nature of this Moravian land. He spoke in front of an enormous map and went through the

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9:54

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 11: Gen. Savary Perceives...

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/08/05

This chapter continues to examine the precipice of Austerlitz, where misguided confidence continues to build. Yet we can observe cracks in that veneer, namely relating to how Tolstoy portrays the Czar. As the Emperor occupied Wischau, his French physician was summoned. While Alexander was initially excited by the movement of the troops, calvary charges, and clashes, he became ill upon observing casualties and the reality of war. Ten days prior, while in Olmütz, French General

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14:37

Bonus: Tolstoy Fused His Own Vice Into W&P

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/07/17

On the precipice of the Battle of Austerlitz, Tolstoy illustrates the bravado and immaturity of youth.Here, I explore how Tolstoy incorporates elements of his own vice from his younger days, including pride and ambition. Both his early and late material speak to this, most notably personal journals from his time at university as well as the spiritual work, My Confession, written in 1879, when in his early 50s. The latter was an attempt to grapple with eternal questions such as: What am I doing?, and

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9:46

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 10: A Toast to the Czar

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/07/06

Three days after the review and a near 40 mile march south, Denisov’s squadron was assigned to be a reserve unit in the early stages of the monumental Battle of Austerlitz. Rostov was in something of a depression, as he wasted the inner struggle it took to conquer his apprehension. While idle, he observed squadrons of Cossacks, hussars, infantry and artillery pass. Around 9 a.m., he heard firing and shouts. Later, a handful of French prisoners were brought back. A successful small affair

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8:55

Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 9: The Most Remarkable of Men

War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide ·

2025/06/10

The day after the review, Boris rides to Olmütz to build on his burgeoning relationship with Andrei, with the goal of obtaining a position of adjutant. He reflected, “It is all well for Rostov, whose father sends him 20,000 rubles at a time, to NOT wish to be anyone’s lackey, but I who have little but my brains, must not miss any opportunity!” Olmütz was transformed into the headquarters where the Emperors resided. When Boris inquired of Andrei, he was shunned by officials who grew tired of the

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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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