War and Peace, Book 2: 1805, Chapter 3 summary
Book 2: 1805, Chapter 3 of 365 · 10 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 3, Kutúzov resists Austrian pressure to advance until Mack arrives and confirms the surrender at Ulm, prompting urgent orders for the Russian army. Prince Andrew feels excitement about approaching combat but condemns Zherkóv’s joking about the defeat, insisting that officers must take their allies’ suffering seriously.
What happens
- Kutúzov answers Austrian demands for action with polite irony and a reassuring letter from Archduke Ferdinand.
- He orders Prince Andrew to prepare a French memorandum about reports of Austrian movements.
- The narrator describes Prince Andrew’s satisfaction with military work and the sharply divided opinions of his fellow officers.
- Mack arrives with a bandaged head, and news of the Austrian surrender brings immediate Russian orders.
- Prince Andrew considers the campaign’s dangers with a mixture of excitement, fear, and admiration for Bonaparte.
- When Zherkóv mockingly congratulates an Austrian general, Prince Andrew rebukes him and defends serious commitment to their common cause.
Free for 3 months
Get the full summary of Krieg und Frieden, free
- 200,000+ classics as eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and print and large print at cost
- Up to 5 readers in your home on one plan
Starten Sie 90 Tage kostenlosNothing to pay today. 0,14 USD a day in the first year, then 0,27 USD a day.
In this chapter
What to notice
Andrew treats the defeat as a shared military tragedy. His anger exposes the distance between his sense of duty and Zherkóv’s amusement.
Quick check
What does Kutúzov ask Prince Andrew to prepare?
Free for 3 months
Get the full summary of Krieg und Frieden, free
- 200,000+ classics as eBooks, audiobooks and 15-minute summaries, and print and large print at cost
- Up to 5 readers in your home on one plan
Starten Sie 90 Tage kostenlosNothing to pay today. 0,14 USD a day in the first year, then 0,27 USD a day.
200,000+ classics to read, hear and hold
15-minute summaries today, eBooks and audiobooks as each book opens, and printed books, large print included, at cost.
Try 3 months free
