Fedor Ivanovich Dolokhov

A notorious gambler and duellist

BOOK ONE

Book One, Part One

Chapter 6

“Come here; part the bets!” So enters Dolokhov into our story, that “notorious gambler and duellist” with “clear blue eyes.” He bets an Englishman fifty imperials he can drink a whole bottle of rum while sitting on the outer windowsill. And, of course, he wins and is happy to let Pierre try his luck after him. Dolokhov is a 25-year-old infantry officer of “small means and no connections” who lives at great expense to Anatole, who looks up to him.

Chapter 7

A wild night of rum, “actresses”, and an unfortunate incident with a bear and a policeman results in Dolokhov being reduced in the ranks. Marya Karagina mentions his mother, Marya Ivanovna Dolokhova, “a worthy woman.”