Book 1, Part 1, Chapter 1: Soirée in St. Petersburg, July 1805

Podnotes by Sean Roman are intended as a study guide and to provide common sense descriptions and context to this great work.

Chapter 1 introduces the antagonist, Napoleon, who is being discussed at an evening soirée as a threat to all Europe. The hostess, Anna Pávlovna Schérer, an unmarried socialite who is an attendant to the Empress, posits that only Emperor Alexander can save Europe from the legendary general referred to as an "Antichrist."

Anna is so concerned she notes,

“Can one be well while suffering morally? Can one be calm in times like these if one has any feeling?”

One of the guests, Prince Vasili Kuragin, a man of high rank and importance, turns the conversation to something more relatable, his unmarried children. There is the beautiful Hélène, the prodigal Anatole, and the dull Hippolyte. Anna proposes to be matchmaker for Anotole, who has the reputation of a playboy. Anna believes that Princess Marya, the soulful daughter of old (fictional) General Nicholas Bolkonsky would be an ideal match. As Princess Marya is from a wealthy family, Count Vasili is encouraged by the idea.