Summary
Anna Pavlovna's prediction comes true as news arrives in St. Petersburg that feels like victory. Kutuzov's initial report suggests the Russians held their ground against Napoleon, and the court celebrates—especially since the news arrives on the Emperor's birthday, making it feel like divine timing. Prince Vasily smugly takes credit for supporting Kutuzov all along. But the celebration is short-lived. When no follow-up news comes, anxiety creeps in. The courtiers, who were praising Kutuzov yesterday, now blame him for keeping the Emperor in suspense. Then devastating news hits: Countess Helene Bezukhova has died, officially from heart problems but privately from what appears to be a drug overdose—possibly suicide after Pierre ignored her letters and her father-in-law grew suspicious of her affairs. The mood in the capital grows darker. Three days later, the real blow lands: Moscow has fallen to the French. Suddenly Kutuzov transforms from hero to traitor in everyone's eyes. Prince Vasily, conveniently forgetting his earlier praise, now calls Kutuzov a 'blind and depraved old man.' The Emperor, furious at being kept in the dark, sends an angry letter demanding explanations. This chapter reveals how quickly public opinion shifts and how those far from the action create their own version of reality. When things go well, everyone takes credit. When they go badly, someone must take the blame.
Coming Up in Chapter 266
The Emperor's angry letter reaches Kutuzov, but will the old general defend his controversial decision to abandon Moscow? Meanwhile, the reality on the ground may be very different from what the courtiers in St. Petersburg imagine.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
Anna Pávlovna’s presentiment was in fact fulfilled. Next day during the service at the palace church in honor of the Emperor’s birthday, Prince Volkónski was called out of the church and received a dispatch from Prince Kutúzov. It was Kutúzov’s report, written from Tatárinova on the day of the battle. Kutúzov wrote that the Russians had not retreated a step, that the French losses were much heavier than ours, and that he was writing in haste from the field of battle before collecting full information. It followed that there must have been a victory. And at once, without leaving the church, thanks were rendered to the Creator for His help and for the victory. Anna Pávlovna’s presentiment was justified, and all that morning a joyously festive mood reigned in the city. Everyone believed the victory to have been complete, and some even spoke of Napoleon’s having been captured, of his deposition, and of the choice of a new ruler for France. It is very difficult for events to be reflected in their real strength and completeness amid the conditions of court life and far from the scene of action. General events involuntarily group themselves around some particular incident. So now the courtiers’ pleasure was based as much on the fact that the news had arrived on the Emperor’s birthday as on the fact of the victory itself. It was like a successfully arranged surprise. Mention was made in Kutúzov’s report of the Russian losses, among which figured the names of Túchkov, Bagratión, and Kutáysov. In the Petersburg world this sad side of the affair again involuntarily centered round a single incident: Kutáysov’s death. Everybody knew him, the Emperor liked him, and he was young and interesting. That day everyone met with the words: “What a wonderful coincidence! Just during the service. But what a loss Kutáysov is! How sorry I am!” “What did I tell about Kutúzov?” Prince Vasíli now said with a prophet’s pride. “I always said he was the only man capable of defeating Napoleon.” But next day no news arrived from the army and the public mood grew anxious. The courtiers suffered because of the suffering the suspense occasioned the Emperor. “Fancy the Emperor’s position!” said they, and instead of extolling Kutúzov as they had done the day before, they condemned him as the cause of the Emperor’s anxiety. That day Prince Vasíli no longer boasted of his protégé Kutúzov, but remained silent when the commander in chief was mentioned. Moreover, toward evening, as if everything conspired to make Petersburg society anxious and uneasy, a terrible piece of news was added. Countess Hélène Bezúkhova had suddenly died of that terrible malady it had been so agreeable to mention. Officially, at large gatherings, everyone said that Countess Bezúkhova had died of a terrible attack of angina pectoris, but in intimate circles details were mentioned of how the private physician of the Queen of Spain had prescribed small doses of a certain drug to produce a certain effect; but...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Convenient Memory - How Distance Creates Fiction
People unconsciously rewrite their past positions to match current circumstances and protect their self-image.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when people rewrite history to protect their status and avoid responsibility.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone takes credit for something they previously criticized, or when praise turns to blame without new information—just changed circumstances.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Court life
The insulated world of royal palaces where nobles compete for favor and status. People at court are physically and emotionally removed from real events happening in the world. They create their own version of reality based on rumors, politics, and wishful thinking.
Modern Usage:
Like corporate headquarters being out of touch with what's actually happening in the stores, or politicians in Washington not understanding what regular people face.
Scapegoating
When things go wrong, finding one person to blame for everything, even if they weren't really at fault. It's easier to point fingers at one target than admit the situation is complicated or that everyone shares responsibility.
Modern Usage:
When a company fails and fires the CEO, or when a sports team loses and blames the coach, even though the problems run deeper.
Fair-weather friends
People who praise and support you when things are going well, but turn against you the moment trouble hits. Prince Vasily represents this perfectly - he takes credit for supporting Kutuzov during the victory, then calls him names when Moscow falls.
Modern Usage:
Coworkers who are buddy-buddy when you're successful but throw you under the bus when projects go wrong.
Spin control
Taking news and presenting it in the best possible light, even when the reality might be different. Kutuzov's report emphasizes that Russians 'didn't retreat a step' while downplaying the actual losses and consequences.
Modern Usage:
Like when companies announce 'restructuring' instead of layoffs, or politicians claim victory in situations that are actually defeats.
Divine timing
The belief that good news arriving at a special moment (like the Emperor's birthday) means God approves. People look for signs and patterns to make sense of random events, especially when they want to believe something is true.
Modern Usage:
When people say 'everything happens for a reason' or think finding a parking spot means they're meant to be somewhere.
Information lag
The dangerous gap between when something happens and when decision-makers learn about it. In Tolstoy's time, news traveled slowly by messenger. This delay lets people create false narratives based on incomplete information.
Modern Usage:
Like getting partial updates during a crisis and making decisions based on outdated information, or social media spreading rumors faster than facts.
Characters in This Chapter
Anna Pavlovna
Court insider and social orchestrator
Her prediction about victory comes true, giving her temporary social credit. She represents how court figures try to appear wise by making vague predictions that they can later claim were accurate.
Modern Equivalent:
The office gossip who always claims she 'saw it coming' after something happens
Prince Vasily
Opportunistic courtier
He takes full credit for supporting Kutuzov when the news seems good, then completely reverses course and calls Kutuzov a 'blind and depraved old man' when Moscow falls. He perfectly embodies fair-weather loyalty.
Modern Equivalent:
The politician who claims credit for popular policies but distances himself when they become unpopular
Kutuzov
Military commander caught in political crossfire
He goes from hero to villain in the court's eyes within days, even though he's fighting the same war with the same challenges. His fate shows how public opinion can swing wildly based on incomplete information.
Modern Equivalent:
The CEO who gets praised when stock prices rise but blamed when they fall, regardless of market forces beyond their control
Countess Helene Bezukhova
Tragic victim of social pressures
Her death from apparent suicide reveals the dark underbelly of aristocratic life. While the court celebrates military news, real people are dying from the pressures of maintaining appearances and navigating impossible social situations.
Modern Equivalent:
The Instagram influencer whose perfect life hides depression and desperation behind the scenes
The Emperor
Distant authority figure
He's angry about being kept in the dark and demands explanations, but he's as removed from reality as everyone else at court. His birthday celebration shows how personal vanity mixes with national crisis.
Modern Equivalent:
The company owner who's furious about bad quarterly results but has no idea what's actually happening on the ground
Key Quotes & Analysis
"It is very difficult for events to be reflected in their real strength and completeness amid the conditions of court life and far from the scene of action."
Context: Explaining why the courtiers' celebration is premature and disconnected from reality
Tolstoy directly tells us that people in power often have no clue what's really happening. Distance from real events creates a bubble where wishful thinking replaces facts. This sets up the dramatic irony of their celebration before the devastating news hits.
In Today's Words:
When you're sitting in an office or mansion, it's hard to know what's really going down in the real world.
"General events involuntarily group themselves around some particular incident."
Context: Describing how the court focuses on the timing of the news rather than its actual content
People need simple stories to make sense of complex events. The courtiers care more about the coincidence of good news on the Emperor's birthday than about understanding the military situation. It shows how we create meaning from random timing.
In Today's Words:
People always look for patterns and signs, even when it's just coincidence.
"Yesterday they were praising him to the skies, but today they curse him as a traitor."
Context: Describing how quickly opinion about Kutuzov changes when Moscow falls
This captures the fickleness of public opinion and how people need someone to blame when things go wrong. The same person can be a hero one day and a villain the next, based on circumstances often beyond their control.
In Today's Words:
One day you're the hero, the next day you're the villain - that's just how people are.
Thematic Threads
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Courtiers must appear to have always supported the winning side, regardless of their actual past positions
Development
Evolved from earlier chapters showing how society demands performance over authenticity
In Your Life:
You might feel pressure to pretend you always agreed with decisions that turned out well, even when you had doubts
Class
In This Chapter
Elite distance from consequences lets them judge and blame without understanding reality on the ground
Development
Continues the theme of how privilege creates blindness to actual conditions
In Your Life:
You might notice how people in comfortable positions judge those facing real hardship without understanding their constraints
Identity
In This Chapter
Prince Vasily's identity requires him to appear wise and prescient, so he edits his past to match
Development
Shows how maintaining social identity often requires dishonesty about past positions
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself adjusting stories about your past to look better in current situations
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Helene's death is overshadowed by political concerns, showing how power structures devalue individual human cost
Development
Continues pattern of personal tragedy being secondary to social and political considerations
In Your Life:
You might see how workplace or family crises get ignored when bigger drama dominates attention
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Characters show no growth or self-reflection, just reactive position-shifting based on external events
Development
Contrasts with other characters who show genuine development through accepting responsibility
In Your Life:
You might recognize the difference between people who learn from mistakes and those who just blame circumstances
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
How does Prince Vasily's attitude toward Kutuzov change between the first news and the fall of Moscow?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do the courtiers in St. Petersburg react so differently to the same military leader within just a few days?
analysis • medium - 3
Where have you seen people take credit for success but distance themselves from failure in your workplace, family, or community?
application • medium - 4
How would you protect yourself from being blamed when things go wrong, while still taking responsibility for your actual mistakes?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about how distance from consequences affects our judgment and memory?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Track the Credit-Shifting Pattern
Think of a recent situation where outcomes changed from positive to negative (a project at work, a family decision, a community initiative). Write down who took credit when things looked good, then track how those same people responded when problems emerged. Map out the exact words or actions that shifted.
Consider:
- •Notice how people's memories of their original positions might genuinely change, not just their public statements
- •Look for patterns in who consistently owns both successes and failures versus who shifts with the wind
- •Consider how physical or emotional distance from consequences affects people's willingness to take responsibility
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you caught yourself rewriting your own history to avoid blame or claim credit. What were you protecting, and how did it affect your relationships with others?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 266: The Emperor's Defiant Stand
As the story unfolds, you'll explore leaders manage their emotions during crisis moments, while uncovering the art of diplomatic messaging in difficult situations. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.