Natalya Rostova
Countess Rostova
Also known as Natasha, Natalia, Nathalie. Not to be confused with her daughter, also Natalya “Natasha” Rostova. Born: Nathalya Shinshina.
BOOK ONE
Book 1, Part 1
7 Jan: Chapter 7
It is St Natalia’s Day, and she and her daughter are celebrating their name day. She is forty-five and “worn out with child-bearing”. Twelve children in all. She is entertaining but thoroughly put out by it all.
8 Jan: Chapter 8
Our tired countess “would not be distressed” if everyone just left. She can’t wait to put her feet up. And the children arrive to give the guests the cue they need to go.
9 Jan: Chapter 9
We learn of her parenting styles: how she was strict with Vera and tried to make something of her. And how she indulges Natasha, spoiling her and trusting that she would never keep anything from her mother. Wouldn’t she? And, of course, the countess is delighted when the guests finally leave.
11 Jan: Chapter 11
We learn some intriguing things about the countess in this chapter. Anna Mikhailovna is a childhood friend, but it is clear she doesn’t tell Countess Rostova the whole truth about things. And it is strongly suggested that the countess and Prince Vasili once had some sort of romance. She also bemoans the “easygoing nature” of her profligate husband.
12 Jan: Chapter 12
Further confirmation that she once was wooed by the charming Prince Vasili, before she married that “stupid fellow” and “unlicked bear”, Ilya Rostov. Prince Vasili’s words, not mine.
14 Jan: Chapter 14
Money and friendship. She resolves to ask her husband for five hundred rubles for Boris’s outfit. Ilya Rostov typically raises this to seven hundred and calls her “a notorious spendthrift”. Her love for her husband and her friend shines through the embarrassing matter of money and the “sorrow it causes in the world.”
15 Jan: Chapter 15
We now begin the banquet for her and her daughter’s name day.
Book 1, Part 3
21 Feb: Chapter 6
Anna Mikhailovna breaks the news about Nikolai's wound and his promotion. She kissed the letter and his portrait, and her husband's bald head.
"How strange, how extraordinary, how joyful it seemed, that her son, the scarcely perceptible motion of whose tiny limbs she had felt twenty years ago within her, that son about whom she used to have quarrels with the too-indulgent count, that son who had first learnt to say 'pear' and then 'granny', that this son should now be away in a foreign lang amid strange surroundings, a virile warrior doing some kind of man's work of his own without help or guidance."
BOOK TWO
Book 2, Part 1
7 Mar: Chapter 1
She does not appear with the others to greet Nikolai but waits until they have all hugged and kissed him. Then she comes quickly and falls on him, sobbing.
21 Mar: Chapter 15
She is playing patience when Nikolai returns home from gambling with Dolokhov. She calls him Koko and my little friend, and Nikolai notices her hands arranging the cards in front of her.
22 Mar: Chapter 16
Natasha tells her mother that Denisov has proposed to her. “Nonsense,” says the countess. Natasha said it happened accidentally, but she wants to be the one who speaks to Denisov. The countess is irritated and sarcastic towards her daughter and stern with Denisov. The young man tells her he was wrong, but would give his life twice over for Natasha and the Rostovs.
Book 2, Part 3
24 Apr: Chapter 12
in 1809, she received Boris at their house in Saint Petersburg, introducing him to a much-changed Natasha: “Well, do you recognize your old mischievous playmate?”
25 Apr: Chapter 13
The two Natashas (mother and daughter) talk in bed. The mother worries about her daughter’s honour and future marriage prospects if she continues to flirt with Boris. Natasha says it does not have to be for love and marriage, ‘but just so’. She describes the colours and shapes of Boris and Pierre's souls. The next day, her mother tells Boris to stop visiting the Rostovs.
26 Apr: Chapter 14
The Rostovs are getting ready for the New Years’ Eve ball, and she comes in shyly, “in her cap and velvet gown.” The count exclaimed, “my beauty” and she blushes.
27 Apr: Chapter 15
They go to the ball, where their friend Peronskaya points out all the important people.
28 Apr: Chapter 16
Natasha feels humiliated to be with her family on such an occasion.
4 May: Chapter 22
Andrei dines with the Rostovs. Natasha confides in her mother, both frightened about what is happening.
5 May: Chapter 23
The Rostovs bless the betrothal of Andrei and Natasha.
Book 2, Part 4
9 May: Chapter 1
Nikolai has taken over Denisov’s squadron and lives a blessed life of idleness in the army. His mother’s ominous letter recalls him home. At Otradnoe, life goes on as before, but with an uneasiness caused by the bad state of their affairs. Nikolai thinks Natasha does not seem like a girl in love, and their mother also has doubts about the marriage.
16 May: Chapter 8
The Rostovs have very unsuccessfully tried to downsize. There appears to be only one solution to their financial woes: Nikolai must marry the rich heiress Julie Karagina. He and his mother argue about it, and Nikolai grows closer again to Sonya.
21 May: Chapter 13
Nikolai tells his parents of his intentions to marry Sonya. The countess summons Sonya and speaks many cruel words leading to a furious row with Nikolai. Natasha prevents anything worse and calms tempers.
BOOK THREE
Book 3, Part 1
29 June: Chapter 16
The countess cares for his daughter Natasha, paying for expensive doctors and diverse treatments.
30 June: Chapter 17
The countess is pleased with Natasha’s newfound zeal for religion and spits for luck when the doctors say her health is improving.
1 July: Chapter 18
She attends mass with the family where a special prayer is given for Russia and the emperor.
3 July: Chapter 20
She is dismayed when her youngest son, Petya, declares his desire to join the army. She blames her husband for his vocal support of the emperor and says, ‘We’ll sacrifice everything and begrudge nothing.
Book 3, Part 3
Chapter 12
The Rostovs wait until the very last day to leave Moscow. The countess was waiting for her dearest Petya, but now he has arrived, they are delaying until everything is packed. The countess can not hide her delight at the news that her son could marry Marya Bolkonskaya.
Chapter 13
The countess has a headache. At dinner, she learns that tomorrow, Petya intends to fight to defend the city. She resolves to leave as soon as possible, ‘now afraid of everything.’
Chapter 15
She is furious with her husband for allowing the carts to be unloaded and space made for the wounded.
Chapter 17
Sonya tells the countess that Andrei is with them, but she does not tell Natasha.
Chapter 31
The countess cries when she hears of the burning of Moscow. She is annoyed with Sonya for telling Natasha about Andrei and understands that the news of Moscow has no importance to her daughter. She convinces Natasha to lie down to sleep.
Chapter 32
The countess knew it would be dreadful for Andrei to die in her daughter’s arms, but could do nothing to prevent it. She thinks of the possibility of the engagement being renewed, if Andrei recovers.
BOOK FOUR
Book 4, Part 1
Chapter 7
The countess writes to her son, telling him about their departure from Moscow, the fire, and that Andrei is wounded and with them.
Chapter 8
We learn that the countess asked Sonya to release Nikolai from his promise. Sonya resented the countess but eventually agreed to write.
Chapter 14
The countess tells Marya that Andrei ‘is not in danger’, but her eyes contradict her words.
Book 4, Part 4
Chapter 2
Countess Rostova refuses to believe the news of her son’s death. For three nights, Natasha stays with her mother and on the third night, Countess Rostova finally begins to cry.
Chapter 3
For three weeks Natasha remains at her mother’s side. Petya’s death inflicted a spiritual wound on his mother that never healed; Natasha’s role as her mother’s companion re-awakens her love and life