An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1413 words)
he Emperor of Russia had, meanwhile, been in Vílna for more than a
month, reviewing troops and holding maneuvers. Nothing was ready for the
war that everyone expected and to prepare for which the Emperor had come
from Petersburg. There was no general plan of action. The vacillation
between the various plans that were proposed had even increased after
the Emperor had been at headquarters for a month. Each of the three
armies had its own commander in chief, but there was no supreme
commander of all the forces, and the Emperor did not assume that
responsibility himself.
The longer the Emperor remained in Vílna the less did everybody—tired of
waiting—prepare for the war. All the efforts of those who surrounded the
sovereign seemed directed merely to making him spend his time pleasantly
and forget that war was impending.
In June, after many balls and fetes given by the Polish magnates, by the
courtiers, and by the Emperor himself, it occurred to one of the Polish
aides-de-camp in attendance that a dinner and ball should be given for
the Emperor by his aides-de-camp. This idea was eagerly received.
The Emperor gave his consent. The aides-de-camp collected money by
subscription. The lady who was thought to be most pleasing to the
Emperor was invited to act as hostess. Count Bennigsen, being a
landowner in the Vílna province, offered his country house for the fete,
and the thirteenth of June was fixed for a ball, dinner, regatta, and
fireworks at Zakret, Count Bennigsen’s country seat.
The very day that Napoleon issued the order to cross the Niemen, and
his vanguard, driving off the Cossacks, crossed the Russian frontier,
Alexander spent the evening at the entertainment given by his
aides-de-camp at Bennigsen’s country house.
It was a gay and brilliant fete. Connoisseurs of such matters declared
that rarely had so many beautiful women been assembled in one place.
Countess Bezúkhova was present among other Russian ladies who had
followed the sovereign from Petersburg to Vílna and eclipsed the refined
Polish ladies by her massive, so-called Russian type of beauty. The
Emperor noticed her and honored her with a dance.
Borís Drubetskóy, having left his wife in Moscow and being for the
present en garçon (as he phrased it), was also there and, though not an
aide-de-camp, had subscribed a large sum toward the expenses. Borís
was now a rich man who had risen to high honors and no longer sought
patronage but stood on an equal footing with the highest of those of his
own age. He was meeting Hélène in Vílna after not having seen her for
a long time and did not recall the past, but as Hélène was enjoying
the favors of a very important personage and Borís had only recently
married, they met as good friends of long standing.
At midnight dancing was still going on. Hélène, not having a suitable
partner, herself offered to dance the mazurka with Borís. They were the
third couple. Borís, coolly looking at Hélène’s dazzling bare shoulders
which emerged from a dark, gold-embroidered, gauze gown, talked to her
of old acquaintances and at the same time, unaware of it himself and
unnoticed by others, never for an instant ceased to observe the Emperor
who was in the same room. The Emperor was not dancing, he stood in the
doorway, stopping now one pair and now another with gracious words which
he alone knew how to utter.
As the mazurka began, Borís saw that Adjutant General Balashëv, one of
those in closest attendance on the Emperor, went up to him and contrary
to court etiquette stood near him while he was talking to a Polish
lady. Having finished speaking to her, the Emperor looked inquiringly
at Balashëv and, evidently understanding that he only acted thus because
there were important reasons for so doing, nodded slightly to the lady
and turned to him. Hardly had Balashëv begun to speak before a look of
amazement appeared on the Emperor’s face. He took Balashëv by the arm
and crossed the room with him, unconsciously clearing a path seven
yards wide as the people on both sides made way for him. Borís noticed
Arakchéev’s excited face when the sovereign went out with Balashëv.
Arakchéev looked at the Emperor from under his brow and, sniffing with
his red nose, stepped forward from the crowd as if expecting the Emperor
to address him. (Borís understood that Arakchéev envied Balashëv and
was displeased that evidently important news had reached the Emperor
otherwise than through himself.)
But the Emperor and Balashëv passed out into the illuminated garden
without noticing Arakchéev who, holding his sword and glancing
wrathfully around, followed some twenty paces behind them.
All the time Borís was going through the figures of the mazurka, he was
worried by the question of what news Balashëv had brought and how he
could find it out before others. In the figure in which he had to choose
two ladies, he whispered to Hélène that he meant to choose Countess
Potocka who, he thought, had gone out onto the veranda, and glided over
the parquet to the door opening into the garden, where, seeing Balashëv
and the Emperor returning to the veranda, he stood still. They were
moving toward the door. Borís, fluttering as if he had not had time to
withdraw, respectfully pressed close to the doorpost with bowed head.
The Emperor, with the agitation of one who has been personally
affronted, was finishing with these words:
“To enter Russia without declaring war! I will not make peace as long as
a single armed enemy remains in my country!” It seemed to Borís that it
gave the Emperor pleasure to utter these words. He was satisfied with
the form in which he had expressed his thoughts, but displeased that
Borís had overheard it.
“Let no one know of it!” the Emperor added with a frown.
Borís understood that this was meant for him and, closing his eyes,
slightly bowed his head. The Emperor re-entered the ballroom and
remained there about another half-hour.
Borís was thus the first to learn the news that the French army had
crossed the Niemen and, thanks to this, was able to show certain
important personages that much that was concealed from others was
usually known to him, and by this means he rose higher in their
estimation.
The unexpected news of the French having crossed the Niemen was
particularly startling after a month of unfulfilled expectations, and at
a ball. On first receiving the news, under the influence of indignation
and resentment the Emperor had found a phrase that pleased him, fully
expressed his feelings, and has since become famous. On returning home
at two o’clock that night he sent for his secretary, Shishkóv, and told
him to write an order to the troops and a rescript to Field Marshal
Prince Saltykóv, in which he insisted on the words being inserted that
he would not make peace so long as a single armed Frenchman remained on
Russian soil.
Next day the following letter was sent to Napoleon:
Monsieur mon frère,
Yesterday I learned that, despite the loyalty with which I have kept
my engagements with Your Majesty, your troops have crossed the Russian
frontier, and I have this moment received from Petersburg a note, in
which Count Lauriston informs me, as a reason for this aggression, that
Your Majesty has considered yourself to be in a state of war with me
from the time Prince Kurákin asked for his passports. The reasons on
which the Duc de Bassano based his refusal to deliver them to him would
never have led me to suppose that that could serve as a pretext for
aggression. In fact, the ambassador, as he himself has declared, was
never authorized to make that demand, and as soon as I was informed of
it I let him know how much I disapproved of it and ordered him to remain
at his post. If Your Majesty does not intend to shed the blood of our
peoples for such a misunderstanding, and consents to withdraw your
troops from Russian territory, I will regard what has passed as not
having occurred and an understanding between us will be possible. In
the contrary case, Your Majesty, I shall see myself forced to repel an
attack that nothing on my part has provoked. It still depends on Your
Majesty to preserve humanity from the calamity of another war.
I am, etc.,
(signed) Alexander
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
The Information Bubble - When Power Insulates You from Reality
Power creates protective layers that insulate decision-makers from the reality their decisions create for others.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when authority figures are dangerously disconnected from the consequences of their decisions.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when managers make policies without understanding how they affect daily work, or when family members make plans without checking if everyone can actually participate.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"All the efforts of those who surrounded the sovereign seemed directed merely to making him spend his time pleasantly and forget that war was impending."
Context: Describing how the court focuses on entertainment instead of war preparation
This reveals how people in power can become dangerously isolated from reality when their advisors prioritize comfort over truth. It shows the fundamental problem with surrounding yourself only with people who tell you what you want to hear.
In Today's Words:
Everyone around the boss just wanted to keep him happy and distracted from the real problems coming.
"The longer the Emperor remained in Vilna the less did everybody—tired of waiting—prepare for the war."
Context: Explaining how extended delays led to decreased readiness
This shows how procrastination and avoidance can become contagious in organizations. When leaders delay difficult decisions, it creates a culture where everyone stops taking the problem seriously.
In Today's Words:
The longer the boss put off dealing with the crisis, the more everyone else stopped caring about fixing it.
"I will never make peace as long as a single armed enemy remains in my country."
Context: His formal response after learning of Napoleon's invasion
This dramatic declaration shows Alexander trying to project strength and resolve after being caught completely unprepared. It's the kind of bold statement leaders make when they need to save face after a major oversight.
In Today's Words:
I'll fight this to the end, no matter what it takes.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
The aristocratic court lives in luxury while common soldiers face invasion, showing how class creates different realities
Development
Developed from earlier scenes of noble disconnect, now showing deadly consequences
In Your Life:
You might see this when management makes policies without understanding floor-level challenges
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Court protocol demands maintaining appearances even when receiving catastrophic news
Development
Builds on themes of performance over authenticity throughout the novel
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when family gatherings require pretending everything is fine despite serious problems
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Boris exploits relationships strategically, treating human connections as opportunities for advancement
Development
Continues Boris's established pattern of calculated relationship-building
In Your Life:
You might encounter this with colleagues who are friendly only when they need something from you
Identity
In This Chapter
Alexander's identity as Emperor requires projecting strength even when caught completely unprepared
Development
Explores how public roles can trap people in performative responses
In Your Life:
You might feel this pressure when your job title requires confidence you don't actually feel
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
The chapter shows how insulation from reality prevents the growth that comes from facing hard truths
Development
Contrasts with characters who grow through direct confrontation with difficulties
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when avoiding difficult conversations prevents you from learning important lessons
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why was Alexander throwing a ball while Napoleon was invading Russia? What does this tell us about how information travels up the power chain?
analysis • surface - 2
How does Boris immediately recognize that war news gives him social power? What does this reveal about how some people view crisis situations?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this 'bubble effect' in your own workplace or community? Who makes decisions without seeing the real impact?
application • medium - 4
If you were in Alexander's position, how would you create systems to get honest information about what's really happening?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about the relationship between power and awareness? Is ignorance sometimes a luxury that only the powerful can afford?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Information Bubble
Think about your own position in your workplace, family, or community. Draw a simple diagram showing who filters information before it reaches you, and who you might be filtering information for. Identify one important reality that might not be reaching decision-makers above you, and one reality you might be shielding from people who depend on you.
Consider:
- •Consider both formal channels (boss to employee) and informal ones (family dynamics, friend groups)
- •Think about what incentives people have to tell you good news vs. bad news
- •Notice where you might be the 'Boris' - someone who gains advantage from information gaps
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you discovered that someone in authority was making decisions based on incomplete or filtered information. How did it affect you? What would you do differently if you were in their position?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 171: The Diplomatic Mission Begins
With war now official, the Russian court must rapidly shift from party planning to military strategy. The comfortable illusions of peace are shattered, and real decisions with life-and-death consequences can no longer be avoided.
