Platon Karataev
A peasant soldier
BOOK 4
Book 4, Part 1
Chapter 12
Pierre is pardoned and joins the prisoners of war. After the executions, he feels the universe is meaningless. But he meets the peasant Platon Karataev, who offers him potatoes with salt. ‘Pierre thought he had never eaten anything that tasted better.’ Platon is sad to learn that Pierre has no one, and he tells Pierre how he became a soldier. He prays to the saints of horses and falls asleep. Pierre remains awake, with something stirring in his soul.