War and Peace · Chapter
XXVI explained
Prince Andrei and his pregnant wife, Liza, arrive at Bald Hills, the Bolkonsky estate.
What happens
Prince Andrei and his pregnant wife, Liza, arrive at Bald Hills, the Bolkonsky estate. They are greeted by the old valet Tíkhon and find Princess Marya practicing the clavichord. An emotional reunion occurs between Marya and Liza. Andrei then has a tense, disjointed conversation with his father, the old Prince Bolkonsky, who quizzes him on military strategy while dismissing God's role in health and singing a cynical old French song about war.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Legacy
The strained yet loving dynamic between Andrei and his father, and the emotional reunion between Marya and Liza, highlight the complexities of family bonds under the shadow of the old prince's rigid routines and Andrei's military duty.
War and History
The central conversation is a critique of grand military 'strategy.' The old prince's cynical song ('Malbrouk s'en va-t-en guerre') underscores the absurdity and timeless, destructive cycle of war, contrasting with Andrei's detailed explanation of the Allied plan.
Personal vs. Public Life
Andrei's return home forces him to switch between his role as a soldier explaining grand strategy and his roles as son, brother, and husband, where he confronts his wife's pregnancy and his sister's sadness.
Characters to notice
- Prince Andréy Nikoláevich Bolkónski
Returns home to Bald Hills with his wife. He shows patient respect for his father's eccentricities and explains the Allied war plan, but privately feels sadness and unease about the domestic scene.
- Princess Márya Nikoláevna Bolkónskaya
Overjoyed at her brother's arrival, she has an emotional, tearful reunion with her sister-in-law. Her loving, gentle gaze is fixed on Andrei, and she is concerned about his departure for war.
- Prince Vasíli Sergéevich Kurágin
NOT PRESENT. Do not include.
- Countess Natálya Ilyínichna Rostóva
NOT PRESENT. Do not include.
- Count Pyotr Kirílych Bezúkhov
NOT PRESENT. Do not include.
- Count Nikoláy Ilyítch Rostóv
NOT PRESENT. Do not include.
- Old Prince Nikoláy Andréevich Bolkónski
Andrei's father. Irascible, intellectually sharp, and dismissive of modern military strategy and religion. He dominates the conversation with his son, interrupting with non sequiturs and singing a cynical song about war.
- Princess Liza Bolkónskaya
Andrei's wife. She is pregnant, talkative, and merrily navigates the social greetings. Her mood shifts quickly to tears when discussing her condition and Andrei's departure.
Key passages
“"God has nothing to do with it! Well, go on," he continued, returning to his hobby; "tell me how the Germans have taught you to fight Bonaparte by this new science you call 'strategy.'"”
The old prince dismissively attributes his health to his habits, not God, and immediately demands Andrei explain the modern military plans against Napoleon.
Shows the old prince's irreligious and skeptical nature, and his focus on war.
“The old man began to sing, in the cracked voice of old age: "Malbrook s'en va-t-en guerre. Dieu sait quand reviendra."”
As Andrei finishes his strategic explanation, his father interrupts by singing an old French folk song about a lord going off to war, with the line 'God knows when he'll return.'
A cynical, artistic commentary that reduces the grand war plans to a timeless, tragic folly.
“"So you are really going to the war, André?" she said sighing.”
Princess Marya, amidst the social chatter, asks her brother with a sigh if he is truly departing for war.
Highlights the personal, emotional cost of the public military conflict.
