War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide
Sean Roman
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About This Podcast
A chapter by chapter guide to Tolstoy's War & Peace. These are Summaries/Cliffnotes on a podcast, hence Podnotes. It is best used as a supplement to your reading of the classic.
The episodes and descriptions will provide information, context and commentary on each chapter -- and will likely take a lifetime to complete. The goal is for each episode to come in under 10 minutes.
The original work fluctuates between French and Russian and there are multiple English translations of War & Peace. [French was the language aristocrats in the Russian Empire used from the late 18th to early 20th century]. There are also variations on how War & Peace is chaptered. This podcast follows the commonly used chaptering contained in Penguin Classics and the Everyman's Library.
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Recent Episodes
S4E4 Bk 2, Pt. 1, Ch. 4: Mad As Hell And Not Going To Take It!
Pierre was stewing over his wife’s perceived infidelity with Dolokhov, who was sitting right across from him at the celebration for Bagration. As too often of late, Pierre was a glutton - eating and…
S5E8 Second Epilogue: Ch. 8: Hauling the Log
Tolstoy addresses how divided opinions persist through the ages. There will be a prominent crisis grabbing Your attention where every opinion under the sun is stated. He posits there is a perception…
S4E3 Bk. 2, Pt. 1. Ch. 3: The Cuckold
The magnificent banquet honoring General Bagration was held in Moscow on March 3, 1806 at the English Club, a great marble hall with a series of smaller saloons. This celebration is remembered for…
S4E2 Bk. 2, Pt. 1, Ch. 2: In Need of a Hero
On his return as a lieutenant in a fancy military jacket laced with silver as well as possessing a St. George’s Cross for bravery, Nicholas is treated magnificently. Nicholas gets used to it and…
S4E1 Bk. 2, Pt. 1, Ch. 1: Welcome Home
We are brought to early 1806, where Tolstoy uses Nicholas and Denisov to transition the story to Peace. Rostov has went from witnessing Czar Alexander crying under a tree near Austerlitz to…
S6E6 Sevastopol Sketch II (Part 2 of 3): Mikhailov & Co.
This is part 2 of 3 on Tolstoy’s 2nd Sevastopol Sketch, which focuses on May of 1855 and declares the ineffable value of Truth as hero.I’m presenting this episode after covering Austerlitz, a…
S3E29 Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 19: little napoleon
Andrei lies moaning from a head wound on the Pratzen Heights, symbolic of the numerous souls dead or wounded. The depiction of Andrei chasing military glory but falling short, was influenced by how…
S3E28 Aleksei Nikitin: In the Spirit of Tolstoy
This project is approaching the final chapter of Book I, a critical juncture with Napoleon victorious and holding the greatest reputation man can bestow. Even after Napoleon suffered a string of…
S3E27 Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 18(B): Breaking the Ice
This pivotal short section depicts one of the iconic episodes of Austerlitz, namely retreating Russian forces falling through ice amidst an artillery barrage.French General Adolphe Marbot provided a…
S3E26 Czar Alexandr: A Background
This episode explores the background of the Czar reduced to tears after the Battle of Austerlitz. Many readers know little of the ruler Nicholas Rostov and countless officers were so devoted to.Over…
S3E25 Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 18(A): Alexandr Among the Ash Heap
Nicholas continues on his mission looking for Kutuzov or the Emperor. He notices broken carriages along the roads and hordes of troops in worsening levels of disorganization. Many are wounded. He…
S3E24 For Whom Do You Sacrifice?
Tolstoy hardly ends the novel with the revelation imparted to Andrei. Instead, it continues for another 1000 pages, in substantial part, exploring the triviality so paramount to those without such…
S3E23 Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 17: Decimation of Uvaróv's Calvary
Tolstoy brings you back from Andrei’s spiritual revelation to focus on Nicholas Rostov, who is imbued with the Confidence of Youth. General Bagratión had assented to Rostov’s request to be brought…
S3E22 Bk. 1, Pt. 3., Ch. 16: Oh, Chapter of Chapters!
This paramount chapter involves Tolstoy using Andrei to grasp the transcendence of the Almighty God which the author revered. More particularly, when Andrei takes in the vastness of the sky, Tolstoy…
S5E7 Second Epilogue: Ch. 6: Only The Almighty Stands Alone
Tolstoy affirms that only the will of the Deity, who is not dependent on time, can make sense of any monumental event or series of events.Tolstoy acknowledges his belief in an omnipotent God, who…
S3E21 Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 15: Advance! Advance to Ignominy!
At 8 a.m. Kutuzov rode towards Pratzen Village. He took command of a regiment he came across and led it into the Village. The other columns were advancing towards a massive valley, where the battle…
S3E20 Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 14: Target Pratzen
The doomed advance commenced around 5 a.m., when still quite dark. The idea was for General Bagration’s left flank to initiate the attack on the French right flank and drive the enemy into the…
S3E19 Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 13: Vive l’Empereur!
In the early morning hours of December 2nd, 1805, Rostov was patrolling the skirmishing line near Bagration’s detachment. Behind him he could see his army’s campfires glowing. In front the French…
S3E18 Bonus: Look Up Beyond the Vanity
In a few chapters, you will read one of the triumphs in literature, borrowed from the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament.Tolstoy will have the fictional Andrei recognize the Vanity of our world.…
S3E17 Bk. 1, Pt. 3, Ch. 12: Vainglorious Aspiration
The night before the Battle, General Weyrother, who coordinated the advance, traveled to Kutuzov’s quarters in a castle near Austerlitz for a council of war. Kutuzov was a reluctant and relegated…
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War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide has published 102 episodes since March 2019, covering topics in Arts, Drama.
War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 9m.
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