War and Peace: Volume 2, Part 4: Chapters 1–6 Summary & Analysis

The main attraction of military service is its “obligatory and irreproachable idleness.” Nikolai Rostov discovers this for himself after 1807, when he takes over from Denisov as squadron commander of the Pavlogradsky regiment. His fellow hussars love him for his good nature, and he loves the predictability of military life. However, in 1810, his mother persuades him to come home because their affairs are a mess, and his father’s steward Mitenka takes advantage of him. Nikolai feels obligated to do so. He gets approval for a leave and, after the brigade throws a big party for him, he journeys to Otradnoe.

By the time he reaches Otradnoe, Nikolai is eager to see his family. He finds his parents much the same, but fretful about their affairs; Sonya, now 20, still exudes love for Nikolai. He chats with Natasha about her engagement and, seeing her unflappable calm, feels skeptical that the marriage will take place. Countess Rostov secretly agrees with Nikolai, believing that there’s nothing legitimately keeping Prince Andrei abroad and away from Natasha.

A few days after his arrival, Nikolai loses his temper while dealing with Mitenka. Disgusted with worldly business, he takes up hunting instead. One misty September day, Nikolai and his kennelman Danilo decide to hunt for a family of wolves in the Otradnoe woods. Just before they set out, Natasha and Petya, who’s now 13, burst into Nikolai’s study, hoping to come along. Despite Nikolai’s protests, Natasha orders Danilo to saddle horses for them. The hunting party, with 130 dogs, sets out across the muddy fields.

Before they reach the woods, Nikolai’s party comes across a distant relative and neighbor who’s hunting, too. They decide to combine their packs. Count Rostov also joins the hunt, though he’s most interested in chatting with his valet. Meanwhile, Nikolai stands in his appointed position, praying that the wolf will cross his path. Just as he’s resigned himself to his usual bad luck, he sees an old wolf trotting across the field towards him. The dogs corner the wolf in a ditch, and when Nikolai sees his favorite old dog, Karai, gripping the wolf by the throat, he feels it’s the happiest moment of his life.

After Nikolai helps Danilo truss up the animal, the hunt continues. Nikolai sees an unfamiliar group chasing foxes in a nearby field. A fight breaks out between Ivan, one of Nikolai’s hunters, and Ilagin, a neighboring hunter with whom the Rostovs have a pending lawsuit. Ivan, sporting a black eye, breathlessly explains to Nikolai that one of the Rostovs’ dogs took down the fox, but that Ilagin, who had allowed his men to hunt on land traditionally hunted by the Rostovs, has claimed the fox as his quarry. Nikolai has never met Ilagin, but, “as usual, knowing no middle way” in his feelings, he regards the man as an enemy and rides toward him expecting to settle the matter with violence. But, struck by Ilagin’s profuse apology, Nikolai accepts an invitation to hunt the other man’s property.

Suddenly, a swift hare takes off, pursued by baying hounds and borzois. Ilagin, Nikolai, Natasha, and Nikolai’s uncle follow. Ilagin’s prized dog Yerza nearly catches the hare, then loses its footing and somersaults. Nikolai’s beloved dog Milka overtakes Yerza, to Nikolai’s delight, but she, too, comes up short. Then the uncle’s dog, Rugai, overtakes both dogs and chases down the hare. The uncle claims the rabbit, chattering with awkward excitement. As they all ride onward, Nikolai and Ilagin gradually regain their “sham indifference.”