War and Peace, Book 4: 1806, Chapter 7 summary

What happens

1. Two months after news of Austerlitz reaches Bald Hills, searches still establish neither Prince Andrew’s death nor his capture.
2. Kutúzov’s letter describes Andrew falling with a standard, and the old prince tells Princess Mary that her brother is killed.
3. Mary tries to comfort her father, who blames those responsible for the army’s destruction and sends her to tell Lise.
4. Lise happily draws Mary’s attention to her pregnancy, while Mary weeps and cannot explain her grief.
5. Mary persuades her father to conceal the news until Lise gives birth.
6. The old prince orders a memorial and grows weaker, while Mary prays for Andrew as living and awaits news.

In this chapter

What to notice

Mary reaches toward her father rather than retreating from his anger. Her grief briefly overcomes her habitual fear of him.

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