Pictured left, Oskar Homolka as Field Marshal Kutuzov. A whiplash of a change: now we're with Prince Andrei in Austria with the Russian troops and we meet yet (sigh) more characters. Once again, I am struck that on the one hand, I am happily, eagerly reading and yet, I seriously doubt such a book could be easily snapped up by a commercial publisher today. We see Dolokhov-- Pierre's drinking buddy from earlier in the novel-- and it seems he will become a recurring character in the novel.
Tolstoy is such a sociologist-- or perhaps I should say, psychologist:
pp 120-121
The hussar cornet Zherkov had belonged for some time to the rowdy comany headed by Dolokhov in Petersburg. Abroad, Zherkov had encountered Dolokhov as a soldier, but had found it unnecessary to recognize him. Now, after Kutuzov had talked with the demoted man, he addressed him with the joy of an old friend.
"Friend of my heart, how are you?" he said to the sounds of the song, adjusting the pace of his horse to the pace of the company.
"How am I?" Dolokhov replied coldly. "As you see."
Tolstoy is such a master of dialogue! More about that anon.
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