These historical chapters make me wonder what it was like for Russians to read this at the time of publication. I’m sure many of them had the events of 1812 burned in their memory, and I can imagine the dread they might feel as certain events draw closer in the narrative.
Thank you for a beautiful recap! I administrated a summer camp the second half of the week, and while I kept up with the readings, I wasn’t able to take time to follow the chats. It was great to start today with your insights.
It really does feel like a tiping point, all the high emotion of Natasha and then the fall back into the zoomed out view, where individual lives are at the mercy of much bigger issues (and the mass of Venn diagram overlaps between the personal and the political).
I’m not sure what Tolstoy has in store for Pierre, but he has certainly become my favourite, challenging who he is and trying to grow as a person. I do feel for Natasha - what a rude awakening into adulthood!
The comet Pierre views in September is not this comet, but a comet briefly visible to the naked eye at that time which was probably the second periodic comet ever discovered after Halley's Comet. Documentation is available in the A Year of War and Peace subreddit, which you're welcome to join.
A particularly good recap this week, Simon! This week we engaged with most of the principal characters and saw portends of the war to come.
Thanks Rich!
These historical chapters make me wonder what it was like for Russians to read this at the time of publication. I’m sure many of them had the events of 1812 burned in their memory, and I can imagine the dread they might feel as certain events draw closer in the narrative.
Thank you for a beautiful recap! I administrated a summer camp the second half of the week, and while I kept up with the readings, I wasn’t able to take time to follow the chats. It was great to start today with your insights.
It really does feel like a tiping point, all the high emotion of Natasha and then the fall back into the zoomed out view, where individual lives are at the mercy of much bigger issues (and the mass of Venn diagram overlaps between the personal and the political).
I’m not sure what Tolstoy has in store for Pierre, but he has certainly become my favourite, challenging who he is and trying to grow as a person. I do feel for Natasha - what a rude awakening into adulthood!
The comet Pierre views in September is not this comet, but a comet briefly visible to the naked eye at that time which was probably the second periodic comet ever discovered after Halley's Comet. Documentation is available in the A Year of War and Peace subreddit, which you're welcome to join.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ayearofwarandpeace/comments/1fear4b/sep11_war_peace_book_11_chapter_29/
Thank you! Interesting.
Forgot this part: It is comet 12P/Pons-Brooks.
It doesn't matter too much anyway. It is all about Pierre's imagination. 👍
Thanks again, especially for the little summary on Napolean and his women!