Show Notes
This episode examines some likely influences in Tolstoy’s writing of the Duel between Pierre & Dolokhov.
Dueling is a romanticized part of aristocratic life that stemmed from Western Europe, where the precursor were the jousts and mêlées of medieval knights. With the later development of militaries, there were where occasions were tribunals & commanders could order disputing officers to fight it out in organized affairs.
In Moscow of the early 19th century, engaging in a duel was a mark of sovereignty among the nobility. Just like in Western Europe and America, the practice was carried out with secrecy, explaining why Pierre’s duel was held around 8 a.m in the outskirts of a forest.
Some of the Decembrists, who rebelled against the Czar in 1825 and were veterans of the Napoleonic Wars, built a reputation for dueling. The affairs themselves could be quite full of pageantry and tension. Only on the rare occasion would duels result in permanent injury or death. Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s national poet, was in 20+ duels yet never killed anyone. He ultimately lost his life in his final duel, in 1837, with George D’Anthès, over the French officer’s pursuit of Pushkin’s wife. Pushkin was shot in the stomach and died two days later. Like America’s Alexander Hamilton, great sympathy lied with the loser.
It also appears that one of Tolstoy’s uncles , Fyodor Tolstoy, contributed to the characterization of Pierre’s adversary, Fyodor Dolokhov. The uncle was this wild man and adventurer of the 19th century, who died in 1848. He was born to a so-called poorer branch of the family and made the most of the opportunities his military service presented. A Polish friend, Faddey Bulgarin, once said: “Count Tolstoy was reckless to the point of frenzy.”
Fyodor holds a reputation as a successful duelist. Though there is little proof of victims, there are reports Fyodor defeated over 10 adversaries, either wounding or killing them – or at least claiming credit for same. Leo Tolstoy relayed that when a close friend of his uncle was challenged, his uncle eagerly stepped up to take his friend's place. There are accounts that Fyodor came close to dueling the aforementioned Alexander Pushkin, after the writer accused Fyodor of cheating at cards. This matter was resolved amicably and the two became close friends.
Fyodor really lived against the grain for a nobleman. Notably, he was bailed out of a massive gambling debt by a gypsy singer. He felt indebted and married her. From his travels, he even acquired a number of tattoos, which were exotic for one of his status. He would display these designs (reportedly of a gaudy bird, snakes and various patterns) to ladies and men in awe. He held the nickname, The American or Amerikanets, which appears to be based on his tales of traveling to Alaska, ventures which have been questioned by scholars.
Part of early fun of W&P was Dolokhov leading his friends, including Pierre, in a night out in Petersburg, which led to tying a hapless police officer to a small bear and throwing them both into a River. The real Fyodor is reported to have done something similar. Fyodor let either a small bear or monkey loose in the Captain’s quarters of a military vessel. For that he was exiled at the next stop.
Tolstoy's uncle was also a notorious gambler, which further influenced the character of Dolokhov. The uncle would take any occasion to gain an angle or cheat and Leo Tolstoy knows his relative to have said something like: “only fools rely on luck.”
Leo Tolstoy likely crafted his famous duel involving Pierre, in part, through his own experience in with a fellow nobleman and writer. The only notable instance of any such Demand of Satisfaction is his well-known affair with Ivan Turganev, who was ten years Tolstoy's senior. The challenge came around May of 1861 when Tolstoy was working on W&P. His rage over what was a fairly silly dispute likely helped frame Pierre’s mindset.
The quarrel was over a comment about childrear
More from War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide
As War & Peace delves into to fiction to a much greater degree than the previous section, exploring the Rostov family dynamic throughout 1806, there is a great deal that historically transpired which Tolstoy does not bring you through. In this stretch, Bonaparte was a continental Behemoth, who sets his sights on Prussia, then an industrial power with a highly organized military. The centers that made up the Prussian Kingdom were: Berlin, Potsdam, Königsberg and Danzig. You should recall that based on the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon replaced the Habsburg Family as the principal authority in Central Europe. Austria never again reached such heights of power. Over the next 70 years Austria would lose influence over the dozens of German states while Prussia gained in this regard. It was Prussia, under Otto Von Bismarck, who in 1871 established the nation we know as Germany. In the start of 1806, France remained in a state of war against Russia, England and even Sweden. It was a busy and productive year for "the man of destiny." In February, Napoleon sent General André Messéna to Naples to overthrow the Bourbon King, Ferdinand IV, and install his brother, Joseph. Messéna was successful though fighting continued for months. In the Summer, Napoleon consolidated control of Holland and placed a crown on another brother, Louis. By mid-July, Napoleon created the Confederation of the Rhine of mostly southern German states, where he compelled alliances. The expanded territory gave the French 60,000 more troops. Napoleon was reshaping Central Europe to assure French influence and limit that of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Great Britain. Napoleon’s desire was to marginalize Britain economically after the Brtis won control of the seas at the Battle of Trafalgar, which preceded Austerlitz by a month. Just off the Southwest coast of France, the French Navy was decimated. The English controlled the water, but Napoleon was dominant on land and wanted to implement the Continental Commerce System. He had success in spreading French administrative, legal and social reforms—including the Napoleonic Code. When possible and practical, he moved to end the remnants of feudalism. The Code abolished a plethora feudal privileges, dismantled manorial courts and freed some peasants, granting basic civil rights and a semblance of equality before the law. To continue to foster his ambitions, Napoleon set his sights on Prussia, which included former Polish territory. Poland was a former Kingdom cut up (partitioned) by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, where many Polish nobles committed allegiance to the Czar or King of Prussia. While the Czar worked with much of the nobility of Poland, the peasants filled the ranks and endured. Czar Alexander was 27 in 1806. Despite the historic loss at Austerlitz, Alexander, would rule for nearly two more decades. He was fortunate that his population was forgiving. Alexander did not enter into serious peace negotiations nor publicly concede the loss. Many among the Russian nobility blamed the result on the Austrians. There are memoirs from Phillip Vigel, then a 20 year-old Russian diplomat, who detailed his observations of the mood in Moscow and Petersburg. The Muscovites were more vocal in castigating the Czar. Some would even laud Napoleon. There, Bonaparte earned nickname befitting a Russian Conqueror, Napoleoskha. In Petersburg, the population shared the humiliation. They would explain the result as a turn of luck. Vigel expressed that Petersburg society felt the desire to get themselves off the floor and prove themselves. He sensed a general optimism of youth. He also notes how the English desired Russia as allies against the French and Czar was their lifeline from French domination. Consequently, Russia spent the summer of 1806 preparing for a new war -- reorganizing and refilling their ranks. General Kutuzov fades into obscurity for a time. Just prior to Austerlitz, in the Fall of 1805, Alexander made a notable a
We now get taken from March of 1806, through the warmer months and then to the end of the year. Quite the fast-forward!
We have reached the pivotal chapter involving the death of the Little Princess and birth of the Andrei’s son.
We move further into March of 1806 and return to Bald Hills, the estate of Andrei’s father. Despite letters and official inquiries, Andrei’s body had not been found nor was he on the list of prisoners.
Pierre wins the Duel and thereafter cannot stand to be in the presence of his wife. The night after the conflict he avoids the marital bedroom in preference of his late father’s room. Pierre desires to fall asleep and forget all. Yet a storm of emotions prevents any rest.