For the next two years, Andrew lives quietly in the country.
Summary:
Prince Andrew was dividing his time between Bald Hills and his own nearby estate. A much more skilled manager than Pierre, Andrew easily effected many progressive changes on his estates, such as liberating and educating his serfs. He read a lot and kept up on home and foreign affairs. He kept busy with writing a critical survey of the recent campaigns, and with drawing up a army reform proposals. But he barely noticed the pleasant Spring of 1809. As to his personal life, Andrew’s conclusion remained that it was not for him to begin anything anew-but that he must live a quiet life and not desiring anything more.
quote from the chapter:
Spring, love, happiness! this oak seemed to say. Are you not weary of that stupid, meaningless, constantly repeated fraud? Always the same and always a fraud? There is no spring, no sun, no happiness! Look at those cramped dead firs, ever the same, and at me too, sticking out my broken and barked fingers just where they have grown, whether from my back or my sides: as they have grown so I stand, and I do not believe in your hopes and your lies.
As he passed through the forest Prince Andrew turned several times to look at that oak, as if expecting something from it. Under the oak, too, were flowers and grass, but it stood among them scowling, rigid, misshapen, and grim as ever.
Book 6, Chapter 1
For the next two years, Andrew lives quietly in the country.
Summary:
Prince Andrew was dividing his time between Bald Hills and his own nearby estate. A much more skilled manager than Pierre, Andrew easily effected many progressive changes on his estates, such as liberating and educating his serfs. He read a lot and kept up on home and foreign affairs. He kept busy with writing a critical survey of the recent campaigns, and with drawing up a army reform proposals. But he barely noticed the pleasant Spring of 1809. As to his personal life, Andrew’s conclusion remained that it was not for him to begin anything anew-but that he must live a quiet life and not desiring anything more.
quote from the chapter:
Spring, love, happiness! this oak seemed to say. Are you not weary of that stupid, meaningless, constantly repeated fraud? Always the same and always a fraud? There is no spring, no sun, no happiness! Look at those cramped dead firs, ever the same, and at me too, sticking out my broken and barked fingers just where they have grown, whether from my back or my sides: as they have grown so I stand, and I do not believe in your hopes and your lies.
As he passed through the forest Prince Andrew turned several times to look at that oak, as if expecting something from it. Under the oak, too, were flowers and grass, but it stood among them scowling, rigid, misshapen, and grim as ever.
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