More description of Anna’s soirée and the guests. Pierre’s conversation is a bit too serious.
Summary:
Anna’s reception continues. The guests haved formed into three conversation groups. Anna moves between the three groups trying to make sure that the party is running smoothly, and that no group becomes too loud or too dull. Anna shows off her two distinguished guest, the Vicomte and the Abbe. Vasíli’s daughter Helena stands out as being quite beautiful. Helena’s brother Prince Hippolyte is there also. He looks a little like her, but is not good-looking or impressive. At one point, to keep the party flowing smoothly, Anna asks the Vicomte to tell a story about the Duc d’Enghien who recently had a run-in with Napoleon and was killed. Elsewhere, Pierre has gotten into a serious disagreement with the Abbe. Both were talking too eagerly. Anna joins them and asks the Abbe how he likes the Russian weather. Anna does not want her party to become too serious. The Abbe takes the hint and drops the serious conversation, instead engaging in light banter with Anna about how charming and attractive the Russian women are.
quote from the chapter:
Pierre had managed to start a conversation with the abbé about the balance of power, and the latter, evidently interested by the young man’s simple-minded eagerness, was explaining his pet theory. Both were talking and listening too eagerly and too naturally, which was why Anna Pávlovna disapproved.
The means are … the balance of power in Europe and the rights of the people, the abbé was saying. It is only necessary for one powerful nation like Russia—barbaric as she is said to be—to place herself disinterestedly at the head of an alliance having for its object the maintenance of the balance of power of Europe, and it would save the world!
But how are you to get that balance? Pierre was beginning.
At that moment Anna Pávlovna came up and, looking severely at Pierre, asked the Italian how he stood Russian climate.
Book 1, Chapter 3
More description of Anna’s soirée and the guests. Pierre’s conversation is a bit too serious.
Summary:
Anna’s reception continues. The guests haved formed into three conversation groups. Anna moves between the three groups trying to make sure that the party is running smoothly, and that no group becomes too loud or too dull. Anna shows off her two distinguished guest, the Vicomte and the Abbe. Vasíli’s daughter Helena stands out as being quite beautiful. Helena’s brother Prince Hippolyte is there also. He looks a little like her, but is not good-looking or impressive. At one point, to keep the party flowing smoothly, Anna asks the Vicomte to tell a story about the Duc d’Enghien who recently had a run-in with Napoleon and was killed. Elsewhere, Pierre has gotten into a serious disagreement with the Abbe. Both were talking too eagerly. Anna joins them and asks the Abbe how he likes the Russian weather. Anna does not want her party to become too serious. The Abbe takes the hint and drops the serious conversation, instead engaging in light banter with Anna about how charming and attractive the Russian women are.
quote from the chapter:
Pierre had managed to start a conversation with the abbé about the balance of power, and the latter, evidently interested by the young man’s simple-minded eagerness, was explaining his pet theory. Both were talking and listening too eagerly and too naturally, which was why Anna Pávlovna disapproved.
The means are … the balance of power in Europe and the rights of the people, the abbé was saying. It is only necessary for one powerful nation like Russia—barbaric as she is said to be—to place herself disinterestedly at the head of an alliance having for its object the maintenance of the balance of power of Europe, and it would save the world!
But how are you to get that balance? Pierre was beginning.
At that moment Anna Pávlovna came up and, looking severely at Pierre, asked the Italian how he stood Russian climate.
Click here to read full text of this chapter.
Please help improve this shared document by posting your suggested corrections, clarifications, and changes below. Thank you!