The Tolstoy Library

In which Pierre, returning from his travels, seeks out his old friend Prince Andrew at his modest country estate, only to find him aged and burdened with sombre reflections on life and duty. Their con...

17 Juli 19min

In which the war with Bonaparte stirs the Russian provinces into action and old Prince Bolkónski, though aged and frail, takes up a rigorous role overseeing recruitment, while Prince Andrew seeks sola...

16 Juli 10min

In which the quiet aftermath of Pierre and Dólokhov's concealed duel unsettles society, casting shadows upon Pierre's standing as his estranged wife is received with a curious mixture of sympathy and ...

16 Juli 10min

In which the assembled company at a Petersburg salon engage in lively discourse on the war and its finer points, with Prince Hippolyte attempting a jest that ripples through the evening's politicking....

16 Juli 4min

In which Pierre, newly admitted to the Masonic Lodge, contemplates a transformative new path in life while grappling with the uneasy visit of Prince Vasíli, whose meddling and insinuations provoke in ...

15 Juli 4min

In which Pierre undergoes a solemn and symbolic initiation into a secret society, encountering a series of rites and allegories that both puzzle and move him deeply. He emerges from this experience wi...

15 Juli 9min

In which Pierre arrives in Petersburg and, inspired by a newfound faith and desire for virtue, seeks initiation into the Brotherhood of Freemasons, undergoing a solemn and mysterious ritual that deman...

15 Juli 17min

In which Pierre Bezúkhov encounters an austere yet earnest Freemason, who gently challenges his scepticism and disquiet by inviting him to contemplate a higher wisdom achieved through self-purificatio...

14 Juli 15min