Petya Rostov
A spirited young boy
BOOK ONE
Book 1, Part 1
8 Jan: Chapter 8
Count Rostov’s youngest son was clearly having far too much fun in the backroom away from the “talk of society scandals.” He is a “plump rosy-faced boy in a short jacket”, and he runs off “angrily” eager to return to their games.
15 Jan: Chapter 15
While men thump the table and talk of war, the youngest Rostov wants to know what is for pudding. Luckily, he’s got a bold older sis to ask the grown-ups about the ices.
Book 1, Part 3
22 Feb: Chapter 6
Petya is nine years old. When he finds out the secret about his brother's promotion. "There now! It's true that all you women are cry-babies." He paces the room and talks about how "I would have killed even more of those Frenchmen." When Natasha says she is ashamed to write to Boris, he says it is because she was in love with "that fat one in spectacles", and now she is in love with her Italian singing master.
BOOK TWO
Book 2, Part 1
7 Mar: Chapter 1
Oh, hello, Petya! Clinging to his brother’s legs, shouting “me too” to hugs and kisses. The next day, he excitedly seizes one of the sabres “with the delight boys feel at the sight of a military elder brother.”
Book 2, Part 4
9 May: Chapter 1
Petya was a big, handsome boy of thirteen, merry, witty, and mischievous, with a voice that was already breaking.
11 May: Chapter 3
Petya joins Natasha on the hunt: “No barrier bars a Russian’s path.”
12 May: Chapter 4
Uncle disapproves of Petya and Natasha joining the hunt. “He did not like to combine frivolity with the serious business of hunting.”
14 May: Chapter 6
Uncle invites them back to his cabin, where his housekeeper lays on a feast, and his coachman Mitka strikes up a tune on the balalaika. Exhausted, Petya sleeps through the entire party.
17 May: Chapter 9
On a dull day in Christmas week, Natasha seeks entertainment and distraction. Petya carries her on his back and prances along with her.
BOOK THREE
Book 3, Part 1
Chapter 17
Natasha only finds comfort in the companionship of her brother Petya, and with Pierre.
Chapter 20
Petya plans to join the Hussars secretly and wants Pierre’s opinion. Sonya reads the emperor’s appeal to the people, and Count Rostov shows off his patriotism. ‘We’ll sacrifice everything,’ he says before his youngest son announces his plan to join the army. His mother is dismayed.
Chapter 21
The next day, Petya sets out to see the emperor to ask to serve his country despite his youth. Crushed by the crowds, he loses consciousness and is rescued by a church clerk. When the emperor appears outside the church, Petya doesn’t recognise him. Later, the emperor shows himself on the palace balcony and throws biscuits to the crowd. Petya joins a scrum for the biscuits, pushing aside an old woman. The next day, Ilya Rostov arranges for Petya to serve where there would be the least danger.
Chapter 23
After pledging his support to the emperor at the assembly of the nobility, Count Rostov signs up his son to fight.
Book 3, Part 3
Chapter 12
His mother works to keep him out of harm’s way, bringing him to Moscow. But here he is now in more danger. At home, he follows Natasha around and adores her.
Chapter 13
Petya returns for dinner and tells them that there will be a battle tomorrow. His mother understands that he intends to fight.
Chapter 16
Petya is arming the servants. Natasha enlists him in her campaign to convince their parents to help the wounded men.
BOOK FOUR
Book Four, Part Three
Chapter 4
Denisov is waiting for news from Dolokhov when a young officer arrives with a message from a partisan commander. The young man is Petya Rostov. After Denisov reads the message, Petya asks him whether he can stay with his party.
Chapter 5
Denisov and the esaul consider their plans while Petya pretends to understand.
Chapter 6
Tikhon tells the party about how he captured a Frenchman. He decided he wasn’t good enough so went in search of more and was almost captured. Petya realises Tikhon killed the Frenchman and threw away his boots. News arrives that Dolokhov is coming and all is well.
Chapter 7
Since Petya had left home, he had been impatient to do something truly heroic. Despite instructions to the contrary, he stayed with Denisov’s party and asked to be given some opportunity to prove himself. He hands out knives, flints and raisins, and goes to comfort the French drummer-boy. He holds the boy’s hand, not daring to say to him the thoughts in his mind.
Chapter 8
Petya volunteers to go with Dolokhov to the French camp in disguise. Denisov objects and the two officers argue about the rights and wrongs of killing prisoners. Petya resolves to go with Dolokhov regardless of the risks.
Chapter 9
Dolokhov and Petya don their disguises and ride into the French camp. Petya is impressed by Dolokhov’s calm as he asks about the size of the French detachment. Dolokhov says it would be better to shoot the Russian prisoners. They leave and Dolokhov gives Petya instructions for Denisov. Overcome by the dare-devil antics, Petya kisses Dolokhov and calls him a hero.
Chapter 10
Petya returns to Denisov’s camp. He is too excited to sleep, and he asks a Cossack to sharpen his sabre, which has never been used. He nods off, feeling that he is in a fairy kingdom where everything is possible. He conducts the sounds of the forest like an orchestra. The Cossack wakes him, his sabre sharpened and ready to cut a Frenchman in two. Denisov gives the order to get ready.
Chapter 11
Denisov tells Petya to obey him and stay out of trouble. But once the signal is given, Petya rushes forward in search of action. The French are killed, flee or surrender, but not before Petya is shot in the skull and falls from his horse. Dolokhov says it is finished; Denisov howls like a dog. Petya is killed and his namesake, Pierre Bezukhov is rescued from among the Russian prisoners.