War and Peace, Book 8: 1811–12, Chapter 4 summary
Book 8: 1811–12, Chapter 4 of 365 · 4 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 4, Princess Mary breaks into tears while talking with Pierre, briefly revealing her distress over her father before withdrawing her confession. Their conversation turns to Prince Andrew’s marriage, and although Pierre praises the bride’s charm, Mary shows unease while planning to welcome her and soften the old prince’s resistance.
What happens
- Princess Mary worries that the dinner guests notice her father’s hostility and overlooks Borís Drubetskóy’s attention.
- Pierre stays after dinner and suggests that Borís seeks a wealthy wife, choosing between Mary and Julie Karágina.
- Mary suddenly admits that her family sorrow makes her consider marrying anyone, then cries and refuses to explain further.
- She redirects the conversation toward Prince Andrew’s marriage and asks Pierre to assess his intended bride honestly.
- Pierre calls the girl enchanting, while Mary expresses doubts and describes her plan to befriend her and influence her father.
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In this chapter
What to notice
Princess Mary’s sudden admission turns light talk about courtship into a disclosure of distress. Marriage appears momentarily as an escape from her painful home life.
Quick check
How does Mary plan to ease the conflict over Andrew’s marriage?
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