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Artwork for War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide
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War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide

Sean Roman

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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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 9 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • S3 · E24
    January 23 · 6 min

    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 vision. The story moves back to earth to focus on the historic disgrace for Alexandr and Francis. It is entirely the opposite for Napoleon, who came out on top of The Battle of Three Emperors. Yet the bravado with which men enter a fight for those like Bonaparte, has lost some of the luster. So many of us can be brought to both planes by the right presentation – either recognizing the responsibility of answering a call to arms; or appreciating the Sublime. Tolstoy is presenting this contrast as one of the great humanists, who wrote his masterpiece 60 years after Austerlitz. The segue of Nicholas taking on his futile mission with such fervor after Andrei takes in the infinite sky, highlights how vulnerable we are to mindsets of emperor worship and patriotic devotion – more so at younger ages without the experience of war. Just before the battle, Andrei was imagining, ”this will be the battle that makes me.” He is thinking of how the Battle of Toulon, in 1793, was a springboard for Napoleon. Tolstoy is showing how common it is for decent men to reach the point they will sacrifice their lives for military glory. The point of this episode is to appreciate how easy a man can pulled into that mindset; and it is one of the great lessons of War & Peace. This episode brings you through a few examples of such calls, in fiction and history. What often comes to mind for the American audience is the speech in Braveheart – iconic fiction based on the historic Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297), written by Randall Wallace & Mel Gibson and naturally delivered by Mel. Napoleon assuredly had the knack of attracting men to risk their lives for his vision and also referenced is one of his inspirational appeals that came shortly after the Battle of Lodi in 1796: “To you, soldiers, will belong the immortal honor of redeeming the fairest portion of Europe. The French people, free and respected by the whole world, shall give to Europe a glorious peace, which shall indemnify it for all the sacrifices which it has borne the last six years. Then, by your own firesides you shall repose and your fellow citizens, when they point out any one of you, shall say: ‘He belonged to the army of Italy that fought in the Italian campaign!’” The last reference is to a speech attributed to St. Bernard, an abbot from Clairvaux, France, in the 1100s, where he motivated the Knights of the Second Crusade in a Palm Sunday speech: “Christian warriors, He who gave His life for you, today demands yours in return. These are struggles worthy of you, combats in which it is glorious to conquer and advantageous to die. Illustrious knights, generous defenders of the Cross, remember your fathers, who conquered Jerusalem, and whose names are inscribed in Heaven. Abandon the things that perish, to gather unfading palms and conquer a Kingdom that has no end.” These are appeals to a sense of manhood and patriotism, and once again it is the spirit Andrei relinquishes. He is now is given a more ideal, godly and transcendent point of view.

  • S3 · E23
    January 11 · 9 min

    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 off the reserve line and selected him for a fool’s errand – as Bagratión is presented as understanding the futility of the attack. This is in contrast to Prince Dolgorúkov, part of Alexandr’s inner circle, who felt victory was ordained. Dolgorúkov holds much of the blame for this debacle as reports indicate that he told Alexandr it would be cowardice to avoid confrontation. Rostov is to be sent to either Kutuzov or the Emperor, who are thought to be near the Pratzen Heights, under the rubric of seeking guidance on how to advance. However, Bragratión knows that the distance the messenger would cover would likely have him killed or never be able to deliver the message. Rostov perceived no such danger and was overjoyed to be selected. He serves the literary vehicle that brings you through a historic military folly. Nicholas moved along Bagratión’s troops and then came upon General Feodor Uvárov’s revered cavalry, where he noticed fine horseman preparing for battle. Uvárov commanded a reserve force of the Imperial Guard. As Rostov moved passed them, the sound of cannon and musketry was growing louder. Around Pratzen, volleys of musketry and cannon from the slopes merged into a general roar. Rostov took it in, including the sight of masses of infantry moving in all directions and getting into action. Soon came first sign of trouble, which didn’t really register -- there were Uhlans, a light calvary unit, in disordered ranks retreating from an attack. At that point Tolstoy has Rostov sense the rolling thunder of Uvárov’s famous charge. He perceived the thud of hooves and jingle of weaponry. As Rostov turned toward the horsemen in the open expanse of field he shared, he realized there was a stampede headed straight toward him. He barely gets out of their way amidst the order to charge. The look of these men was of complete earnestness. Yet the reality was most were headed to their demise. Rostov had to turn his horse and briefly join them, to avoid getting crushed. One of the last to pass scowled at what he considered an idiot impeding the way. As the calvary passed, he could here the common chant of “Ura!” He got his bearings and soon noticed much of the calvary likely reached their destination as their ranks were mixed with some foreign cavalry. He could see nothing more, as smoke from cannon fire enveloped everything and he continued on. Tolstly points out, in a nod to military history that this brilliant charge amazed the French themselves – and for a few moments broke the French infantry and captured a regimental eagle. Rostov was afforded the luxury of envying doomed men he thought glorious. He considered that while these men had positions of honor, he may get to see the Emperor again. Through a mix of men running about and cannon fire, he heard a voice he recognized as Boris. Boris shared the elated smile of a vane young man who survives fire for the first time and relayed his own success story, that his Imperial Guard unit unexpectedly got into action after they took fire and drove the French back. Rostov soon reveals how he is delivering a letter to “His Majesty.” He clarifies he means Alexandr, not the nearby Grand Duke, who commands the Guard. Their common friend Berg gets in this mix and the three are united. Berg cannot stop bragging about a minor wound to his hand, referencing his own lineage from a warrior class of German knights When Rostov extricated himself from this reunion reality soon hit. It was all coming together – the retreating Uhlans, Boris’s unit involved in action, and the French getting behind parts of his army around Pratzen. He later learned that large sections of Russian and Austrian soldiers had been firing at one another. When he again observed Russian and Austrian forces running in confused crowds, he was seized by a panic and started to sense the battle was lost. He realized how many were dying and that perhaps he would meet the same end. Rostov heard, in different languages, blame being cast. He considered, “My God! What does it all mean?” He could not believe these soldiers could act so dishonorably when the Emperor might see them. Finally, he noticed French cannons and troops on the Pratzen Heights themselves, in the spot where he had been ordered to look for Kutuzov.

  • S3 · E22
    Dec 11, 2025 · 10 min

    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 conveys the vulgarity of this earth compared with His infinite nature. Further, Tolstoy lays bare the senselessness of war for most of the men shooting and hacking each other. There will be a depiction of opposing soldiers in a tug-of-war over the most insignificant object – a broomstick, highlighting the meaninglessness many sacrifice themselves for. The chapter begins with the battle intensifying while Kutuzov was riding near the rear of a column down a hill. He stops at a deserted house on a majestic hell, symbolic of war interrupting civility. Fog was clearing as some of the French became more visible, at first over a mile away. However, additional forces were quickly found to be ascending toward them. Upon noticing, the expressions on most of the Russian officers changed to Holy terror. Andrei embraces the moment, thinking “Here it is! The decisive moment! My turn has come!” Soon a cloud of smoke from a blast of artillery spread all round. A voice of naïve terror shouted, “Brothers! All is lost!” There was an instantaneous break of morale and the men ran in different directions. Andrei took in bewildering sights as Kutuzov was encouraged to leave and avoid being taken prisoner. With stoicism, Kutuzov wiped away blood flowing from his cheek and noted the true damage was to his army by reason of their humiliating performance. He vainly called for the soldiers to maintain discipline. Kutuzov rode toward the sound of artillery – where one of the batteries was under attack. The French noticed Kutuzov and fired at him. There were many casualties, including an officer carrying the Battle Flag. Kutuzov called out to Andrei with a trembling voice. Andrei, feeling shame and rage leapt from his horse and picked up the fallen Standard. He called to his men, in a piercing scream: “Forward, lads!” He was not physically powerful and was challenged in carrying the flag. Yet he proceeded with full confidence his army would follow him, which they did and soon overtook him. A burly sergeant assisted with the swaying flag, but was killed. Undaunted, Andrei stumbled along. He embraced being the primary target and essentially dared the enemy to hit him. He reached within 20 paces of French soldiers seizing horses and canons as prizes. Through the whistle of bullets and men dropping, he focused on reaching the seized Battery. However, he became distracted by the most unusual but symbolic confrontation -- a red-haired gunner from his army in a tall cylindrical hat comically askew pulling one end of a cleaning mop while a French soldier tugged at the other. He took in their contorted faces filled with venom. Andrei realized the absurdity and that the gunner should have retreated, as there were other Frenchmen nearby. His comrade won the broom but Tolstoy notes the man’s fate was about to be decided when Andrei lost the moment though taking a heavy blow. He felt as if hit on the head with the full swing of a bludgeon. The pain was disorienting but he felt worse about not seeing how the fracas over the broom ended. The Comment is that all such efforts, for the men doing the hacking and dying, are as useless as fighting over a broom. Andrei’s perception slows down and as he falls on his back. “What’s this? Am I falling? My legs are giving way…” He opens his eyes, hoping to see the struggle for the mop. However, he absorbed what couldn’t be more opposite -- something vast and Godly, Above him there was only the sky—the lofty sky, not clear yet immeasurably lofty, with gray clouds gliding. “How quiet, peaceful, and solemn; not as it was as I ran. No, not as we ran, shouting and fighting, not at all as the gunner and the Frenchman with terrified faces struggling for the mop. How differently do those clouds glide across that lofty infinite sky! How was it I did not see that sky before? And how happy I am to have found it at last!" This is where Tolstoy briefly quotes and paraphrases Ecclesiastes: "Yes! All is vanity, all falsehood except that infinite sky. There is nothing, nothing but that. But even it does not exist, there is nothing but quiet and peace." And Andrei thanks God for this realization!

  • S5 · E7
    Nov 25, 2025 · 8 min

    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 determines the Way. This majestic being is something we can never come close to understanding. Even the most renowned, like Napoleon, cannot veer humanity in the direction they intend. This is because man acts in his limited time and sphere. Thus, historians who attribute grand events to so-called “Great Men,” are engaged in a vain pursuit. This outlook is not surprising given Tolstoy’s affinity of Scripture, particularly the Wisdom literature of Job and Ecclesiastes. In analyzing the futility of attributing an effect to a purported cause, Tolstoy proffers that no command can be executed without an endless chain of proceeding orders. There is no such thing as a command that appears spontaneously. At best, we can say every command and event refers to a sliver in time that can only have influence over the fraction that comes after. Tolstoy suggests there is a general consensus that paramount decisions are made akin to the setting in motion of a clock -- such that a single command is often thought to govern a whole series of occurrences. For example, “Napoleon wished to invade Russia and did so in 1812.” However, Napoleon could never have commanded such a movement in one fell swoop. Instead, there were countless preceding missives and orders to his generals as well as the leaders of Vienna, Berlin and St. Petersburg. It is more accurate to say that events took on a direction that humanity, for some impossible to define reason, were ready to move in. The true reasons behind such movements are something only The Deity can comprehend. Tolstoy reflects that Napoleon was more of a natural adversary of England. Therefore, there was a greater chance of him coming up with a plan to invade England as opposed to crossing the Vistula River. Tolstoy posits that for any order to be executed -- in a philosophical sense – it is necessary that said order be possible. This is not only in the case in military endeavors, but in everyday transactions, for there are always a myriad of contingencies that could arise to prevent a command’s execution. With respect to invading Russia, there would have been many directives that if analyzed soberly and in hindsight, would never have been possible. We have this false conception that an event is caused by a command because what occurred is looked at as a plan coming together. Yet for every directive executed there are an immense number unexecuted and forgotten. Thus, Tolstoy goes back to his theme -- that it is virtually impossible to attribute causes to grand historical events. Tolstoy then turns to wrestling regarding the nature of power in looking at how commands and directives play out between related events, that is between very close in time events. Tolstoy finds it important to understand the roles of those giving and taking orders. In most endeavors, there are small numbers giving orders and large numbers subject to them. In military life, army leadership resembles a cone where the thickest part, the base, consists of the rank and file. Here exists the domain of the soldiers, who are told where to march and who to kill. On the next level are the noncommissioned officers, who give commands to soldiers below and get into action less frequently. An officer like Andrei customarily participates even less in the battles, but commands more. At the top, there is the commander like Kutuzov or Napoleon, who rarely takes direct part in the action. Tolstoy feels there is similar relation of people (between the few who give orders and the majority who take them) in most common activities—including in agriculture and trade. It is this relationship which constitutes the essence of power. For example, while Napoleon may be given credit or blame for the way a particular battle turned out, All the people in the cone have a voice! When the overwhelming majority figuratively decide to swim in the same direction, that is where the greatest power lies. Thus, Napoleon guided people toward where they were already headed. Yet behind it all is a Deity, whose guiding influence we will never fully grasp.

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes