War and Peace · primary
Countess Rostóva
fictional · female
The matriarch of the Rostov family, hosting a name day celebration.
Aliases
Countess · little countess · the countess · Mamma · her mother · the old countess · Mummy
Titles
Countess
Appearances
- First: Book ONE · Chapter X · ¶ 2
- Latest: Book FIRST EPILOGUE · Chapter XIII · ¶ 12
Relationships
Marriage · Count Ilyá Andréevich Rostóv
“you spoil her, Ilyá,” she added, turning to her husband.”
“Countess dear... an officer came to me to ask for a few carts for the wounded.”
Friendship · Princess Anna Mikháylovna Drubetskáya
“That’s why I so value your friendship.”
Friendship · Princess Anna Mikháylovna Drubetskáya
“When Anna Mikháylovna returned from Count Bezúkhov’s the money, all in clean notes, was lying ready under a handkerchief on the countess’ little table, and Anna Mikháylovna noticed that something was agitating her.”
Social acquaintance · Pierre Bezukhov
“The countess tried to make him talk, but he went on naïvely looking around through his spectacles as if in search of somebody.”
Family (mother) · Natásha Rostóva
“hurriedly kissing her gray hair”
Family (guardian) · Sónya Rostóv
“The countess put her arms around Sónya and began to cry.”
Friendship · Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
“I only wanted to see the old lady, who was always kind to me and to whom I am under many obligations.”
Rival · Sónya Rostóv
“She could not find fault with Sónya in any way and tried to be fond of her, but often felt ill-will toward her which she could not overcome.”
Friendship · Natásha Rostóva
“Natásha did not care for society in general, but prized the more the society of her relatives—Countess Mary”
Family · Pierre Bezukhov
“The grown-up members of the family, not to mention his wife, were pleased to have back a friend whose presence made life run more smoothly and peacefully.”
Friendship · Pierre Bezukhov
“Countess Mary glanced at him and turned to Pierre.”
Friendship · Nicholas Rostov
“There could be no doubt not only of his approval but also of his admiration for his wife.”
Parent (mother) · Natásha Rostóva
“she added: 'She is my youngest girl.'”
“The countess did not believe her ears. Denísov had proposed. To whom? To this chit of a girl, Natásha, who not so long ago was playing with dolls and who was still having lessons.”
Parent (mother) · Nicholas Rostov
“that son about whom she used to have quarrels with the too indulgent count”
“the countess called her son and informed him that she had a promissory note”
Patronage · Borís Drubetskóy
“This is for Borís from me, for his outfit.”
Child · Natásha Rostóva
“Countess Rostóva, with her daughters and a large number of guests, was already seated in the drawing room.”
Parent (mother) · Pétya Rostóv
“the thought that both her sons were at the war, had both gone from under her wing”
Romantic attraction · Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
“I always wanted Nicholas to marry the princess, and had a presentiment that it would happen.”
Parent (aunt) · Sónya Rostóv
“Sónya, won’t you write to Nicholas?”
Child (child) · Nicholas Rostov
“that son about whom she used to have quarrels with the too indulgent count”
“the countess called her son and informed him that she had a promissory note”
Child (child) · Pétya Rostóv
“the thought that both her sons were at the war, had both gone from under her wing”
Child (niece) · Sónya Rostóv
“Sónya, won’t you write to Nicholas?”
Quotations
“the Countess Rostóva’s big house on the Povarskáya”
“I thank you for myself and for our two dear ones whose name day we are keeping”
“How handsome the old man still was only a year ago!”
“The countess looked at her callers, smiling affably...”
“Ma chère, there is a time for everything...”
“She is my youngest girl.”
“the countess. 'Till now I have always, thank God, been my children’s friend'”
“said the countess with a gentle smile”
“the countess was so tired that she gave orders to admit no more”
“Ah, my dear,” said the countess, “my life is not all roses either.”
“I am living at Countess Rostóva’s”
“Countess Rostóva sat for a long time all alone applying her handkerchief to her eyes”
“Well, you see, Count, I want some money”
“Ah, money, Count, money! How much sorrow it causes in the world”
“Countess Rostóva, with her daughters and a large number of guests, was already seated in the drawing room.”
““What is it?” asked the countess, startled...”
“the countess was crying.”
“the countess reread the letter each time with fresh pleasure...”
“The countess did not believe her ears.”
“tell him he is a fool, that’s all!”
“Countess... said Denísov, with downcast eyes and a guilty face.”
“the countess would say when Borís was mentioned”
“asked the countess”
“the old countess, in nightcap and dressing jacket, without her false curls”
“said the mother”
“I love him like a son”
“It won’t do, my love!”
“What rubbish you’re talking!”
““Aren’t you ready? It is nearly ten,” came the countess’ voice.”
“the countess came in shyly, in her cap and velvet gown”
“in front of her mother”
“the countess took up a position in one of the front rows of that crowd”
“Allow me to introduce you to my daughter”
“As soon as he saw Natásha his face brightened. He kissed the countess’ hand”
“Your offer... is agreeable to us, and I accept your offer”
“wrote the countess”
“he is an excellent man!”
“the countess, who heard at once from the maids what had happened at the lodge”
“the old countess to weep tears of joy.”
“The countess, with her loving heart, felt that her children were being ruined”
“The countess lifted her head and looked attentively at her daughter.”
“Mamma, I want him. Why should I be wasted like this, Mamma?”
““Mr. Dimmler, please play my favorite nocturne by Field,” came the old countess’ voice from the drawing room.”
““Ah, how afraid I am for her, how afraid I am!” said the countess, not realizing to whom she was speaking.”
“the countess, who had long noticed what was going on between them”
“the countess, with a coldness her son had never seen in her before”
“mention of the young Countess Rostóva”
“You promised Countess Rostóva to marry her and were about to elope with her, is that so?”
“Ah, Pierre,” said the countess going up to her husband.”
“I have received a refusal from Countess Rostóva”
“She is very ill”
“the countess, though not quite well yet and still weak”
“How would the countess have done had she not been able sometimes to scold the invalid”
“the countess hurriedly followed him”
“The countess was pleased with Natásha’s zeal;”
“There he is, always losing everything!”
“The countess, in dismay, looked up to heaven, clasped her hands, and turned angrily to her husband.”
“we heard that you have family troubles and that the countess, your wife...”
“the countess was seized with terror”
“the passionate tenderness with which his mother received him did not please the sixteen-year-old officer”
“the countess watched the things being packed”
“I was never pleased at Bolkónski’s engagement to Natásha,” said the countess”
“the countess had a headache brought on by all the noise and turmoil”
““What officers? Whom have they brought? I don’t understand anything about it,” said the countess.”
“At nine o’clock the countess woke up”
“You have managed matters so that we are getting nothing for the house”
“the countess came in from the sitting room with a weary and dissatisfied expression”
“The countess began to cry.”
“My dear, you order what is right.... You know I don’t understand about it”
“the countess, tired out and already dressed in shawl and bonnet for her journey”
“The countess opened her eyes in dismay and, seizing Sónya’s arm, glanced around.”
“the countess bent over her reticule to hide her agitated face.”
“The countess said she had been unable to close her eyes on account of his moaning.”
“The countess, on hearing that Moscow was on fire, began to cry.”
“The countess went up to her daughter and touched her head with the back of her hand”
“the old countess’ mind more and more”
“Sónya! ... won’t you write to Nicholas?”
“this was the countess.”
“the doctor says that he is not in danger”
“The countess was lying in an armchair in a strange and awkward position, stretching out and beating her head against the wall.”
““Natásha! Natásha!...” cried the countess.”
“The countess pressed her daughter’s hand, closed her eyes, and became quiet for a moment.”
““How glad I am you have come. You are tired. Won’t you have some tea?””
““Natásha, he is no more, no more!””
“the countess’ room could only be reached through his.”
““She is a very admirable and excellent young woman,” said she, “and you must go and call on her.”
“the countess was in one of her customary states”
“Countess Mary Alexéevna had sent greetings”
“I used to meet him at Mary Antónovna’s”