Anatole Kuragin

Younger son of Vasili Kuragin

BOOK ONE

Book One, Part One

1 Jan: Chapter 1

Prince Vasili’s foolish son, the bane of his life, the cross he bears. The boy is costing him forty thousand rubles a year. If only he could be married to a rich heiress, like Princess Marya Bolkonskaya.

6 Jan: Chapter 6

And here is why Anatole is costing his father so much. Pierre joins Kuragin’s wild party where Dolokhov is winning a drinking bet with an Englishman. Anatole is a “tall handsome fellow” who helps get Pierre drunk before taking him off to a brothel.

7 Jan: Chapter 7

His father manages to hush up the incident with the bear and the policeman, saving Anatole from any serious punishment. We can imagine how delighted Prince Vasili was the morning after.

22 Jan: Chapter 22

He’s a handsome rascal, according to Julie Karagin. And he may yet be the husband of Marya Bolkonskaya.

Book 1 Part 3

18 Feb: Chapter 3

At Bald Hills: “He regarded his whole life as a continual round of amusement which someone for some reason had to provide for him.” He thinks he may marry Marya, for she is rich. But he asks Vasili, “joking part, is she very hideous?”

19 Feb: Chapter 4

Anatole is dumb and doesn't think much, but he has a self-possession that allows him to remain silent for a long time. He knows women will be curious and will fall in love with him, but he thinks very little about this, or indeed anything.

We learn from Lisa about Anatole's “doings in Paris.” This brings Mademoiselle Bourienne into the conversation, and Anatole regards her, concluding that his stay at Bald Hills will not be dull. “I hope she will bring her along with her when we’re married.”

Anatole is questioned by the old prince, who discovers he has no idea who he will be attached to in the war. Anatole is amused, and old Bolkonsky is contemptuous.

Of Marya, he thinks: “She's devilishly ugly!”

20 Feb: Chapter 5

Unlike everyone else at Bald Hills, Anatole sleeps soundly. The next day, without having spoken to Mademoiselle Bourienne, he went to meet her in the conservatory. Marya disturbs them.

BOOK TWO

Book 2 Part 3

27 Apr: Chapter 15

Anatole is at the New Years’ Eve ball. He is described as “a handsome officer of the Horse Guards” who will be married to “that rich girl.”

28 Apr: Chapter 16

“The handsome Anatole was smilingly talking to a partner on his arm, and looked at Natasha’s face as one looks at a wall.”

Book 2 Part 5

30 May: Chapter 9

At the opera, Anatole appears in uniform and looks splendid. From a distance, he watches Natasha.

31 May: Chapter 10

With a ‘whiff of cold air’, Anatole joins Natasha in Hélène’s box. She feels his proximity intensely and his eyes on her. He invites her to a party at the Kuragins and all she notices of the rest of the performance is a sort of devil falling through a trapdoor.

1 June: Chapter 11

Anatole had been sent to Moscow by his father, who was keen to see him wed. He stayed with Pierre, took his money and spent it freely, mostly on gipsy-girls and French actresses. When Dolokhov turned up in town, he made use of Kuragin to attract rich men to his gambling set. Natasha is ‘first-rate… but not for us’, he warns Anatole. He reminds Kuragin that he has already once made the mistake of chasing unmarried young women. Two years ago, in Poland, a landowner forced him to marry his daughter.

3 June: Chapter 13

Count Rostov chaperones his daughter at Helene's party, planning to leave as soon as Mademoiselle George's performance is over. But Natasha insists on staying. She dances with Anatole and left alone in a small sitting room, he kisses her. She leaves with her father, not staying for supper, returning home to a sleepless night filled with terrible questions.

5 June: Chapter 15

Sonya finds Anatole’s letter and asks Natasha about it. They argue and afterwards, Natasha writes to Marya to inform the Bolkonskys of her wish to be free of her engagement to Andrei. She meets Anatole again and Sonya begins to suspect that Natasha is planning to elope with Kuragin. She vows to guard the passage to protect Natasha and the family’s honour.

6 June: Chapter 16

Anatole is living with Dolokhov in his man cave, resplendent with bearskins, weapons and Persian rugs. He, Dolokhov, has arranged everything for Natasha’s abduction but still tries to talk Anatole out of this ‘dangerous’ and ‘stupid business.’ A troika driver called Balaga arrives, and Anatole instructs him to ride the horses ‘to death’ forty miles out of Moscow, where Anatole will wed Natasha.

7 June: Chapter 17

Anatole puts on a jaunty sable cap and says his farewells. Dolokhov fetches a cloak for Natasha, and they all head to the Rostovs. A maidservant lets Anatole in, but Gavrilo, the gigantic footman, bars his path. We have been betrayed, shouts Dolokhov as the two make a hurried and desperate escape.

9 June: Chapter 19

Pierre sees Anatole on his way to the Rostovs and is envious of his sage-like serenity.

10 June: Chapter 20

Pierre goes in search of Anatole. Rumours of Natasha's abduction have already reached the English Club. Pierre finds Anatole at home with his wife. He loses his temper and orders Anatole to leave Moscow. When Anatole threatens a duel, Pierre swallows his pride and takes back his words. Next day, Anatole leaves the city.

BOOK THREE

Book Three, Part One

21 June: Chapter 8

After the events in Moscow, Andrei followed Anatole first to Petersburg and then to the army in Turkey. Anatole is always one step ahead, and Andrei follows him to the western front.

Book Three, Part Two

Chapter 37

Andrei discovers himself next to Anatole in the field hospital at Borodino. Anatole has lost a leg, and Andrei is overwhelmed with love and compassion for him.