Anna Pavlovna Scherer

A society hostess

Also known as: Annette

BOOK ONE

Part One

Chapter 1

Our gracious hostess is one Anna Pavlovna, a favourite of the Tsar’s mother, the Dowager Empress Marya Fyodorovna. She has made being “an enthusiast” her vocation, but for her friend Prince Vasili, she has now begun an apprenticeship as an “old maid”, that is to say, a matchmaker.

Chapter 2

Anna is like the “foreman of a spinning-mill” as she maintains the smooth running of the “conversational machine” at her soirée. Lise Bolkonskaya is a delightful addition to her drawing room. Pierre is an unwanted spanner in the works.

Chapter 3

Not satisfied with being merely the foreman of her spinning-mill, she is also the maître d'hôtel of Petersburg’s finest establishment. She serves up her special guests as “peculiarly choice morsels”, and the Vicomte Mortemart as a “well-garnished joint of roast beef”.

Chapter 4

Anna promises to take Pierre in hand and keeps him “under observation” as her party progresses. As an indecorous exchange between him and the Vicomte draws attention and raises eyebrows, she attempts and fails to get Pierre to join another table.

Chapter 5

Anna must be relieved to see the back of Pierre, “a capital, good-natured fellow” though he is. We learn here that she has done Vasili’s bidding and arranged with Lise Bolkonskaya to suggest the match between Anatole and Marya.