war and peace

attempt on war and peace, months after failing to complete reading "the idiot" and years after the same fate with "the brothers karamazov". These russian authors...the way the write...it's hard to read on not because it's boring but because the bulk is in the details.

war and peace.

bookI

lady holds a ball. Peter comes around and doesn't quite fit in. lady keeps a watch on him to avoid him making any unfitting remarks but she doesn't succeed entirely.
family does not seem to want peter to visit his father. peter is illegitimate son of a prince who is dying. prince has left all his belongings to peter and other family members are trying to find that will and destroy it. the will, or letter, wants to legitimize peter as son and give him his belongings. peter doesn't know what's going on but lady looks out for him and confrontations occur at the old man's house.
old man finally dies. but no info about wealth yet in story.
another prince and his son. prince sends son to army to find Napoleon's french forces.

bookII


soldiers at a parade. minor confrontation between inappropriately dressed soldier (D...something) and officers. D... was a officer, demoted to ranks. idle chat in office and one makes fun when news of austria's defeat arrives.
battle area. a certain colonel and his regiment are told to burn the bridge. they do so with minor losses which are not even told to higher authorities (not worth mentioning).