Page Turners

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 15 Andrei persuaded Kutuzov to permit him to accompany Bagration's ill-fated regiment. Upon his arrival, he assesses the encampment, where nobody seems to be aware of the imminent French assault. There,...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 14 Bagration has been tasked with a perilous mission aimed at slowing down the French progression, allowing the remainder of the army to withdraw safely. Murat, Napoleon’s trusted aide, finds himself ou...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 13 Andrei embarks on a journey to reunite with the army, Kutuzov, and his belongings. His thoughts are consumed by wounded pride and aspirations for glory. However, as he travels, he witnesses the deplo...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 12 Bilibin cautioned Andrei about the emperor's poor conversational skills and penchant for posing meaningless inquiries. As Bolkonsky socializes with the elite, the French deceive the Austrians and mak...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 11 Bilibin extends a welcoming gesture to Andrei, inviting him to join "our set," composed of "youthful, affluent, jovial, societal gentlemen" – precisely the type of individuals Andrei sought to distan...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 10 Andrei lodges with his companion, the diplomat Bilibin, a man distinguished by eloquence and numerous wrinkles. Bilibin elucidates to Andrei why his purported triumph spells the direst tidings for th...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 9 Following the Austrian defeat, the Russian military retreats across the Danube, engaging in rear-guard skirmishes against a more powerful French army. Despite the odds, they achieve a minor triumph, r...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 8 Nikolai Rostov experiences his inaugural taste of combat, which promptly dispels his idealized notions of battle. Denisov remarks, "It's brutal business," as two soldiers succumb. In the meantime, Zhe...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 7 We accompany Nesvitsky as he descends to the bridge, observing the stream of soldiers crossing over the river below. Once more, we're reminded of the daunting reality for women in such circumstances....

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 6 Prince Nesvitsky and several other officers stand atop a hill, overseeing the procession of troops crossing the bridge over the River Enns below. With the French forces advancing, the entire army retr...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 5 Things have taken a turn for the worse for Nikolai Rostov. He voiced his grievances about Telyamin to their commander, only to have the colonel brush off the complaint in order to safeguard the reputa...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 4 Our narrative shifts to the Pavlograd hussars, a light cavalry regiment stationed close to the primary army at Braunau. Introducing a fresh focal point: Nikolai's commanding officer, the flushed-faced...

Fresh snow had fallen overnight and blanketed everything with a thick, muted layer of white, so much so that the cars looked like little mounds. It was the first snow of the year, the town had come to a standstill, and there was no way I would miss out on flying downhill all day. I quickly put on my berry red wool coat, jumped into my boots, pulled my hat over the curly mess of hair, grabbed my mi...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 3 Kutuzov and the Austrian general engage in a subtle game of saying one thing while meaning another, escalating their verbal maneuvers. However, their exchange takes a somber turn when General Mack arr...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 2 Kutuzov examines the regiment, showcasing the condition of their boots to an Austrian general clad entirely in white. The soldiers, fatigued, hungry, and disoriented, are uncertain about their locatio...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part Two, Chapter 1 We find ourselves in Austria, close to Braunau am Inn. An infantry regiment has received orders to get ready for an inspection led by the commander-in-chief, Kutuzov. Present in the vicinity is Dolokh...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part One, Chapter 25 Anxiety and partings cast a shadow over Bald Hills. Andrei and Marya share a conversation about Lise, and Marya entrusts her brother with an icon for protection. In his study, the old prince reveals...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part One, Chapter 24 A disconcerting experience for Lise unfolds as the old prince expounds on politics, reminiscing about the past with disdain for the contemporary figures, especially directing his scorn towards Napole...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part One, Chapter 23 Andrei and Lise reach Bald Hills, sparking a flurry of embraces and kisses among the women, accompanied by noticeable discomfort on the faces of the men. Andrei engages in a conversation with his fat...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . ATTENTION: Massive French Letter Exchange included! The Maude Edition has an English translation of these pages, which is not part of the audio. Book One, Part One, Chapter 22 This is Bald Hills, a meticulously run country estate...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part One, Chapter 21 A commotion ensues in the reception room over the inlaid portfolio, accompanied by heated exchanges of words. Anna Mikhailovna emerges triumphant, fully aware of her victory. Following the death of t...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part One, Chapter 20 Count Bezukhov undergoes the sacrament of Extreme Unction in a solemn ceremony, all the while Prince Vasili and Katiche engage in secretive activities around the count's bedside. Pierre, witnessing h...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part One, Chapter 19 Anna Mikhailovna clandestinely ushers Pierre into his father's residence through the rear entrance. Pierre chooses to comply with her instructions, and we witness Prince Vasili putting on a public fa...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part One, Chapter 18 As Count Bezukhov endures a sixth stroke, deemed likely to be fatal, Prince Vasili, with his bald head and twitching cheeks, visits his cousin Katishe. Katishe confesses to the existence of a detesta...

Welcome to my first read of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace . If you missed any of the previous chapters, please find them all linked here on the Page Turners podcast page . Book One, Part One, Chapter 17 Natasha consoles her jealous and infatuated cousin, and later, they join Nikolai and Boris in a song. Seeking a dance partner, Natasha invites Pierre, revelling in the joy of pretending to be a grown...