Bk. 1, Pt. 1, Ch. 4: Pierre Exhibits the Confidence of Youth

Anna Pavlovna's soirée reaches its climax. The elderly Princess Anna Drubetskoya grabs Prince Vasili Kuragin's hand as he attempts to leave. She will not let go and the Aristocrat knows he is going to be asked for a big favor. Princess Anna lost her societal connections but has one card to play. She knows Prince Vasili was helped early in her life by her father. Tolstoy points out, "Influence is a capital to be used with economy if it is to last."

Anna reminds Vasili of the old days in effort to get her son Boris a position with the Imperial Guard and also as an adjunct to the historic General Mikhail Kutuzov. Gen. Kutuzov has a central role in this work and holds the reputation of a great military leader whose chief virtue was patience. The impassioned appeal works and Vasili will take up her son's cause.

For those who have not left, the talk centers around Napoleon. The hostess feels the powers of Europe are bound to stop him. A French exile, the Vicomte de Mortemart is leading the choir against Bonaparte, the "Usurper."

Napoleon has his admirers among the aristocracy, including from the two main characters of the book, Pierre and Prince Andrei. The Prince handles the discussion with more polish, such as by quoting Napoleon at his coronation "Dieu me la donne; gâre à qui la touche." {God gave me this; beware who touches it!}

Pierre feels the need to be heard and forces his way in the discussion. He describes that the controversial execution of the Duke d'Enghien (of French nobility) was a political necessity. He argues Napoleon is a man for the ages towering above others; he restored order; preserved the ideals of the Revolution and stopped the abuses. Pierre is reduced to an awkward smile after general rebuke.

Prince Andrei suggests there are both noble and ignoble qualities of Napoleon, referencing his loyalty to his soldiers but also notes how some prisoners thought to be under his control (particularly in Egypt) were treated cruelly.