# Endnotes explained — Hadji Murád

> Chapter companion for Hadji Murád by Leo Tolstoy.

## What happens

The endnotes provide translations, historical clarifications, and contextual explanations for terms and references in the main text, including corrections to earlier biographical errors about Tolstoy's meeting with Hadji Murád.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cultural Clash and Imperialism

Endnotes explain Caucasian terms and customs, highlighting the cultural divide between Russians and mountaineers.

### The Nature of War and Violence

References to military campaigns, the battle of Krasnoe, and the phrase 'War is war' underscore the brutal reality of conflict.

## Character check-ins

### Hadji Murád

Referenced in the correction of a biographical error about Tolstoy meeting him in 1871.

### Nicholas I

Mentioned in the context of the Decembrists and his reign.

### Lóris-Mélikov

Identified as Count Michael Tariélovich Lóris-Mélikov, later Minister of the Interior.

### Prince Vorontsóv

Referenced in French phrases and notes about his actions.

### Avdéev

Noted in the context of the battle of Krasnoe mentioned in War and Peace.

## Key lines

> Writing my Life of Tolstoy before I knew the full story of Hadji Murád, I confused him, in the first edition, with someone else, and stated that Tolstoy met him at Karalýk in 1871.

In an earlier edition of my biography of Tolstoy, I mistakenly identified Hadji Murád and claimed Tolstoy met him in 1871.

_Author's correction of a biographical error._

> A popular expression, meaning that the sender of the message is already dead.

A common saying indicating the messenger is deceased.

_Explanation of a folk expression._

> Poland and the Caucasus are Russia’s two sores. We need about 100,000 men in each of those two countries.

Poland and the Caucasus are Russia's two trouble spots, each requiring around 100,000 troops.

_Attributed statement about Russian military strategy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadji_mur_d_se/chapters/endnotes
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadji_mur_d_se/chapters