War and Peace, Book 3: 1805, Chapter 12 summary
Book 3: 1805, Chapter 12 of 365 · 10 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 12, Weyrother presents complicated battle orders to a divided council, while Kutúzov sleeps and then closes discussion without allowing Prince Andrew to voice his doubts. Afterward, Andrew fears death and remembers his family, but his imagined military triumph reveals that fame matters more to him than even those closest to him.
What happens
- Weyrother brings his battle plans to Kutúzov’s quarters, and the council begins without Prince Bagratión.
- Kutúzov sleeps while Weyrother reads detailed orders, and the generals show varying degrees of attention.
- Langeron challenges the plan’s assumptions, but Weyrother dismisses the possibility that Bonaparte can attack.
- Kutúzov ends the council after midnight, saying the orders cannot change and the generals need sleep.
- Prince Andrew leaves uneasy, thinks about death and his family, and imagines winning a battle through his own command.
- Hearing servants joke nearby, Andrew admits to himself that he values glory above everything else.
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In this chapter
What to notice
Prince Andrew’s private thought makes his ambition explicit. Family memories and fear of death do not displace his desire for superiority and recognition.
Quick check
What main possibility does Langeron raise against Weyrother’s plan?
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