War and Peace · Chapter
XXVII explained
Prince Andrei visits his father, the old Prince Bolkonski, at Bald Hills.
What happens
Prince Andrei visits his father, the old Prince Bolkonski, at Bald Hills. The family, including Princess Marya, the little princess (Lise), and Mademoiselle Bourienne, gathers for a formal dinner. The old prince dominates the conversation with his scathing, dismissive opinions on contemporary military and political figures, especially Napoleon Bonaparte, whom he considers insignificant. Andrei listens and engages, defending Napoleon as a great general, while the others react with silence, fear, or deference.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Legacy
The strained, formal dynamics of the Bolkonski family are on full display during the dinner, governed by the old prince's rigid authority and the children's varied reactions.
War and History
The entire conversation revolves around evaluating historical and contemporary military leaders (Suvorov, Moreau, Napoleon), debating strategy, and the nature of the ongoing war.
Personal vs. Public Life
The old prince's sharp, private critiques of public figures and events contrast with the official narratives, highlighting how personal judgment clashes with public reputation.
Characters to notice
- Prince Andréy Nikoláevich Bolkónski
Visits his father, listens to and debates his views on war and Napoleon, showing a mix of amusement and respect.
- Princess Márya Nikoláevna Bolkónskaya
Present at dinner, reveres her father unconditionally and is puzzled by Andrei's criticism of him.
- Prince Vasíli Sergéevich Kurágin
Not present in the excerpts. Do not include.
Key passages
“Bonaparte was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has got splendid soldiers. Besides he began by attacking Germans. And only idlers have failed to beat the Germans.”
The old prince dismisses Napoleon's success, attributing it to luck, good soldiers, and the ease of defeating Germans, whom he considers historically weak.
Shows the old prince's contemptuous and reductive analysis of military history.
“Prince Andréy gaily bore with his father’s ridicule of the new men, and drew him on and listened to him with evident pleasure.”
Andrei tolerates and even encourages his father's mocking tirades against modern leaders, seemingly enjoying the debate.
Illustrates their intellectual rapport despite differing opinions.
“The little princess during the whole discussion and the rest of the dinner sat silent, glancing with a frightened look now at her father-in-law and now at Princess Márya.”
Lise remains terrified and silent throughout the tense political argument, seeking reassurance from Marya afterward.
Highlights the intimidating atmosphere the old prince creates and the vulnerability of those around him.