A Year of War and Peace+ Day 17

In which Sónya stresses, Nicholas sings, the Count goes full Michael Jackson and we see the soothing balms of social interaction at work

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War and Peace — Book One, Part One

Chapter Seventeen

The card tables were drawn out, sets made up for boston, and the count’s visitors settled themselves, some in the two drawing rooms, some in the sitting room, some in the library.

The count, holding his cards fanwise, kept himself with difficulty from dropping into his usual after-dinner nap, and laughed at everything. The young people, at the countess’ instigation, gathered round the clavichord and harp. Julie by general request played first. After she had played a little air with variations on the harp, she joined the other young ladies in begging Natásha and Nicholas, who were noted for their musical talent, to sing…