War and Peace, Chapter 33 summary
Chapter 33 of 365 · Book 10: 1812 · 5 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 33, Napoleon tries to direct the fighting at Borodinó, but smoke obscures the battlefield and reports become false before he can act on them. The narrator challenges the commanders’ control by showing how soldiers and nearby officers respond to immediate danger rather than distant orders.
What happens
- A cannonade opens the main battle between Borodinó and Bagratión’s flèches, followed by French advances.
- Napoleon watches from the Shevárdino Redoubt, but smoke and distance prevent him from understanding the action.
- Adjutants bring misleading or outdated reports, so Napoleon issues orders that are already fulfilled or impossible to execute.
- Generals make independent arrangements, but troops frequently move against their instructions.
- Officers near the fighting direct local movements, while soldiers respond to fear and the impulses of the crowd.
- Superiors restore discipline outside the firing zone, then send soldiers back into danger, where discipline breaks again.
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