War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide

Prince Andrei wakes up for a big day – for he has an invitation to a royal reception before Francis II, the Holy Roman Emperor. Francis will be the final person holding this title, after a near-1000 year run governing Central Europe. Vienna was often the seat of government but so were areas in the modern-day Check Republic, such as Brünn. German was the common tongue and the center of power was basically wherever the Emperor decided to be.Andrei is dressed in ceremonial uniform and enters Bilibin’s study, where Bilibin is holding court with fellow Russian diplomats, including Hippolyte Kuragin. This clique calls themselves Les Nôtres (“Our People”) and are more interested in vain pursuits than public service. This is Tolstoy’s subtle comment on the merits of said profession. Tolstoy had notable diplomats as well as military figures in his aristocratic family.Hippolyte quickly became the object of ridicule for his inability to convey a competent thought as well as his lack of acumen with women. It is clear he