The action moves from St. Petersburg to Moscow, to the mansion of the Rostovs, who will be followed throughout the novel.

Count Rostov, a pleasant sort, is welcoming guests and inviting them to partake in a grand dinner. He delights in calling everyone, regardless of social rank, "my dear."

So far, it is party after party in the first few chapters - the "Peace" in War & Peace - but the talk at the high society event turns to the threat of war.

Leading the discussion is Princess Anna Drubetskaya, a relation of the Rostovs. Her son Boris, who she got into the Imperial Guard through working her old connections, grew up, for long periods, within the Rostov household. Boris is a teenager - somewhere around 16-18 (though there are inconsistencies with the ages). The women are talking about more local matters; namely that Pierre's father, the elderly Count Kirill Bezukhov is very ill and a special doctor has been called. He is thought to be on death's door. There is curiosity on what will become of Kirill's vast estate -- millions of acres and rubles along with 40,000 serfs.

Count Kirill has no legitimate children and we find out that Vassily Kuragin is in-line to inherit through the Vassily's wife. However, there is talk of how the Count favors his illegitimate son Pierre, always taking special care of him, including how thoughtfully he directed Pierre's education. The women delight in such chatter.

The conversation turns to the "Talk of the Town," what Dolokhov and the gang did with the bear after leaving Anatole’s House in a drunken stupor.It seems the group was spotted by a local police officer, who tried to calm the men down. This was a bad idea as the group tied one end of the bear's chain to the officer and threw them both in the river! 

It led to Dolokhov being demoted in the Imperial Army and Pierre and Anatole being asked to leave St. Petersburg for a spell. The crowd certainly gets a kick out it, with the host, Count Rostov imagining, how silly the officer looked swimming with a bear on his back.

The second part of Chapter VI brings pure unaltered fun in the form of "boys being boys." This chapter has bragging, gambling, drinking, a death-defying stunt and…..a bear on a chain. Mundane background about the state of political affairs and the Society crowd’s disillusionments take a backseat. 

Upon leaving his friend’s home, Pierre enters an open carriage (an 1805 cab). Pierre promised Andrei he would go home but Pierre is pulled by the energy of the night. The brightness of the moon completely illuminated the streets and Pierre thinks to himself, “it would be nice to go to Kuragin’s.” Like a magnet he drawn to his debauched friend. Pierre rationalizes during the ride - - what are words of honor as to trivial matters when one day, we all will be dead?  He wants to do something that will stir the soul. He regarded his promise to Andrei a mere formality. So, off to Kuragin’s!

Anatole is hosting a night of cards for his friends, many of whom are in the military. Pierre hears a great deal of commotion as he enters. There are nine men gathered around a window yelling about some type of bet. Three others are “romping” around the room with a small bear on a chain. Now that’s a Party!

Feydor Dolokhov makes his debut. He is at the center of the bet and is going to try to down a huge bottle of rum while sitting on a window sill with his legs dangling into the abyss. The bottle can never leave his lips. It is a challenge nobody else could realistically attempt. The crew had to break Anatole's window and detach the frame to even attempt the stunt.  Dolokhov’s antagonist, for the purposes of the bet, is an English sailor. Anatole cheers his friend on and Pierre (out of fear for the celebrant) can barely watch. 

Dolokhov lives with Anatole and the two are known among the gambling crowd and rackets of St. Petersburg. Most of their acquaintances enjoy hanging with Dolokhov more because he is funny, and generally sociable. He has few connections and is a low level officer. He is described as of medium height and has striking blue eyes. Dolokhov comes out successful in the bet and the crowd cheers his accomplishment. 

Pierre wants to try the stunt himself, but his friends save him from hurting himself. Instead he is given the bear to pounce around with. Then the group heads out into the St. Petersburg night for more high-jinks.

Andrei and Pierre are interrupted by Princess Lise (Elisabeta Karlovna Bolkonskaya), who has changed from her formal wear into night attire. While the day is ending for Lise, the night remains young for Pierre.

The Princess is happy to see Pierre. She views him as a like-mind and is comfortable speaking freely around him. Pierre even brings up what has been crushing Lise's spirit, namely that Andrei is headed off to fight Napoleon. Her concern is Andrei's safety as well as being left behind late in her pregnancy.  She will be left to his family's country estate, staying with Andrei's father and sister. She remarks that men can’t get on in this world without war. For their ego, they feel compelled to chase some type of power and glory. Women on the other hand, want nothing of it. 

Lise notes that Andrei has a lot going for him in St. Petersburg, a good position, an opportunity to work with Emperor Alexander, and most of all -- he is going to be a father. She gets more passionate, a side she would never reveal to the society crowd. When she cries, Pierre makes a half-hearted attempt to console her but does not want to step between husband and wife.

Lise demands her husband to explain why he has become so uncaring towards her. Prince Andrei begs her to stop the barrage. With a "Mon Dieu, Mon Dieu," she kisses him and exits for bed, leaving Pierre and Andrei somewhat uncomfortable.

Once together in the luxurious dining room, Andrei drops his guard.  Andrei reveals feeling that he can speak honestly with Pierre as Pierre is the only “live soul” Andrei knows. Andrei gives this advise: Never marry until you’ve accomplished all you hope to accomplish and never marry until you no longer love the woman of your choice (a reference to how aristocratic marriages are often arranged). Pierre stays silent. Andrei relays the Princess is of excellent character but there is nothing he wouldn’t give to be free of her.

Andrei then references his adulation for Bonaparte, who was unencumbered by a wife in pursing monumental accomplishments. Andrei shares the desire to change the world. With the will power his hero demonstrates, he wants to push the progress of humanity. He dismisses the triviality of Society life.

Pierre can not believe Andrei thinks his life wrecked, when most people would covet all Andrei has; station, reputation, and intelligence. 

Andrei turns the discussion to focus on how Pierre is doing. Pierre, with a bit of his own disillusionment, announces nothing significant has changed as he remains the illegitimate son of his father, without name or a guarantee of future prospects.

Each of these protagonists have what the other covets – Pierre freedom and an uncharted future and Andrei station and a beautiful wife about to give him a child. 

Andrei gives Pierre advice: Beware of the Kuragins! This will be hard to do as that is who Pierre is staying with in St. Petersburg.  Andrei cautions Pierre to especially stay away from the womanizing, Anatole. Pierre gives his word that he will go straight home.

The guests are leaving Anna Pavlovna's event. The horse carriages and coats are readied by footmen. Andrei Bolkonsky and Pierre Bezukhov enjoy briefly interacting with one another. They are two of the great characters of literature and are not together all that often, so these moments are special.

Tolstoy provides a description of Pierre. He uncommonly tall, stout and has large reddish hands. Whenever entering or leaving a room, he does so clumsily. At the soirée, instead of his own hat, he grabs the three-cornered hat of a General. He has a massive heart to go along with his frame. A level of favor seems to follow him, like many a Biblical character with a transcendent essence. It is important to remember that Tolstoy was heavily influenced by Scripture.

Prince Andrei has no interest in conversing with the society crowd - but he has a warm affinity for Pierre and looks forward to conversing with him after the party.

The scene shifts to Andrei's study, where Pierre picks out Julius Caesar's Commentaries. This is likely a subtle reference to the novel's anti-hero, Napoleon, being regarded as one of the all-time great generals. Tolstoy condemns war with uncanny ability but Napoleon's reputation still places him among the legends.

Pierre relays he is undecided on his path in life, though his father has given him two choices: to enter the Army (Calvary Division) or the Diplomatic Service. Neither are appealing. We receive background information that Pierre was sent away at around age 10 with a tutor to experience the great cities of Europe. At 20, he returned to Moscow (the ages aren't precise) and his father sent him to St. Petersburg.

Pierre knows one thing above all - he has no inclination to join the governments of England, Austria and Russia against "the Greatest Man in the World" (Napoleon). He then turns the conversation around and asks Andrei: with such a good life in St. Petersburg, why is Andrei is venturing to war? Andrei responds that his current life is not the one he was looking for. Andrei strives for something more.

Anna Pavlovna's soirée reaches its climax. The elderly Princess Anna Drubetskoya grabs Prince Vasili Kuragin's hand as he attempts to leave. She will not let go and the Aristocrat knows he is going to be asked for a big favor. Princess Anna lost her societal connections but has one card to play. She knows Prince Vasili was helped early in her life by her father. Tolstoy points out, "Influence is a capital to be used with economy if it is to last."

Anna reminds Vasili of the old days in effort to get her son Boris a position with the Imperial Guard and also as an adjunct to the historic General Mikhail Kutuzov. Gen. Kutuzov has a central role in this work and holds the reputation of a great military leader whose chief virtue was patience. The impassioned appeal works and Vasili will take up her son's cause.

For those who have not left, the talk centers around Napoleon. The hostess feels the powers of Europe are bound to stop him. A French exile, the Vicomte de Mortemart is leading the choir against Bonaparte, the "Usurper."

Napoleon has his admirers among the aristocracy, including from the two main characters of the book, Pierre and Prince Andrei. The Prince handles the discussion with more polish, such as by quoting Napoleon at his coronation "Dieu me la donne; gâre à qui la touche." {God gave me this; beware who touches it!}

Pierre feels the need to be heard and forces his way in the discussion. He describes that the controversial execution of the Duke d'Enghien (of French nobility) was a political necessity. He argues Napoleon is a man for the ages towering above others; he restored order; preserved the ideals of the Revolution and stopped the abuses. Pierre is reduced to an awkward smile after general rebuke.

Prince Andrei suggests there are both noble and ignoble qualities of Napoleon, referencing his loyalty to his soldiers but also notes how some prisoners thought to be under his control (particularly in Egypt) were treated cruelly.

Anna's reception is full swing. As Tolstoy describes, "The spindles hummed steadily and ceaselessly on all sides." The patrons settle into a number of groups and discuss how an alliance is needed to stop Napoleon and that Russia should spearhead the effort. 

The beautiful Hélène gets a chance to walk between the groups and garner quite a bit of attention. A French expatriate, the Vicomte de Mortemart, tells a tale about Napoleon ordering the killing of a rival. The Vicomte explained that it was a romantic rival but historically it was a political rival from France, Louis Antoine de Bourbon, (the duc d'Enghien), who was generally regarded as a threat to the French Republic. 

Prince Andrei Bolkonsky arrives and is NOT thrilled to see his peers from High society, nor his lovely wife, who is pregnant.  He announces that he will be heading to war as an aide-de-camp to the historic General Mikhail Kutuzov.  Andrei is very happy, however, to see his old friend Pierre Bezukhov. The two agree to break bread after the event. Both acknowledge the loveliness of Hélène.

Attendant to the Empress, Anna Anna Pávlovna Schérer, is proud to have some of St. Petersburg's finest nobles in her drawing room.

Princess Hélène Kuragina is noted by all to be strikingly gorgeous. Little Princess Lise is upset her husband, Price Andrei Bolknosky, has joined the military cooalition against Napoleon. She is pregnant with their first child and is worried about soon becoming a widow. 

She notes: “my husband is deserting me? He is going to get himself killed. Tell me what this wretched war is for?”

Little groups are forming and discussing the topics of the day, such as alliances and the latest plans for peace. 

Pierre Bezukhov then arrives. Pierre (not the most Russian of first names but one that would be common in the aristocracy that preferred speaking French) has returned home from about a decade studying abroad, including spending time in France. Pierre believes himself enriched by the ideals of the French Revolution and aftermath. 

Pierre is the illegitimate son of the most prominent Count in Russia, who is quite ill.  The Count holds many estates that are as big as actual states in the United States. Pierre struggles to get into conversations and once he sees an opening, feels the irresistible need to make his point known -- something Tolstoy notes -- young people are apt to do.

Podnotes by Sean Roman are intended as a study guide and to provide common sense descriptions and context to this great work.

Chapter 1 introduces the antagonist, Napoleon, who is being discussed at an evening soirée as a threat to all Europe. The hostess, Anna Pávlovna Schérer, an unmarried socialite who is an attendant to the Empress, posits that only Emperor Alexander can save Europe from the legendary general referred to as an "Antichrist."

Anna is so concerned she notes,

“Can one be well while suffering morally? Can one be calm in times like these if one has any feeling?”

One of the guests, Prince Vasili Kuragin, a man of high rank and importance, turns the conversation to something more relatable, his unmarried children. There is the beautiful Hélène, the prodigal Anatole, and the dull Hippolyte. Anna proposes to be matchmaker for Anotole, who has the reputation of a playboy. Anna believes that Princess Marya, the soulful daughter of old (fictional) General Nicholas Bolkonsky would be an ideal match. As Princess Marya is from a wealthy family, Count Vasili is encouraged by the idea.

The goal of podcast is to supplement your reading of War & Peace with a down-to-earth description of what is happening and to provide commentary as well as context. Most episodes summarize a chapter. Particularly complex chapters are divided into two episodes.

The episode descriptions can also assist readers with descriptions on how each chapter plays out. Each podcast is expected to come in under 10 minutes. A few may be a tad longer but 10 minutes is the goal.  Recitation (review) chapters and bonus episodes can be longer.

The episodes are something like summaries/Cliffnotes on a podcast, hence Podnotes. This introductory podcast provides some of the motivation for attempting this Herculean effort: namely, a belief that this fictional book that stands above all others. It is like the top part of the pyramid on the back of a dollar bill, somehow rising above and standing apart from all other fictional works.

This introduction also provides a quick background on Tolstoy and how his aristocratic background and military experience during the Crimean War informed War & Peace.