War and Peace · primary
Nicholas Rostov
fictional · male
A young man preparing to join the army, showing impulsive nature and strong emotions.
Aliases
Nicholas · Rostóv · Nikólenka · Nikolai · young count · young Rostóv · Count Rostóv · Nikolai Rostóv · Young Nicholas · Count Nicholas · Count Nicholas Rostóv · Nicholas Rostóva
Titles
cadet · Count · young count · lieutenant of hussars · Captain
Appearances
- First: Book ONE · Chapter XII · ¶ 1
- Latest: Book FIRST EPILOGUE · Chapter VI · ¶ 22
Relationships
Friendship · Borís Drubetskóy
“the student and the officer, friends from childhood”
Friendship · Borís Drubetskóy
“his friend Borís has become an officer, and so for friendship’s sake he is leaving the university and me, his old father, and entering the military service”
“Borís rose to meet Rostóv, but in doing so did not omit to steady and replace some chessmen that were falling. He was about to embrace his friend, but Nicholas avoided him.”
Family (father) · Pierre Bezukhov
“he was staying as usual at his father’s house.”
Social acquaintance · Borís Drubetskóy
“Count Rostóv asks you to come to dinner today.”
Friendship · Váska Denísov
“Ah, Bondarénko, dear friend!”
““Vasíli Denísov, your son’s friend,” he said, introducing himself to the count, who was looking inquiringly at him.”
Rival · Telyánin
“Rostóv especially detested him and was unable to overcome or conceal his groundless antipathy to the man.”
Conflict · Bogdánich
“He told me I lied, and I told him he lied.”
Friendship · Váska Denísov
““Well, fwiend? So you’ve smelt powdah!” shouted Váska Denísov just above his ear.”
“Rostóv was on orderly duty... and was awaiting Denísov, who had gone out somewhere and with whom he wanted a talk.”
Rival · Bogdánich
“Rostóv, feeling that he was at the front and in the power of a man toward whom he now admitted that he had been to blame, did not lift his eyes from the colonel’s athletic back...”
Friendship · Túshin
““Thank you; you saved me, my dear fellow!” said Túshin.”
Friendship · Túshin
““Thank you; you saved me, my dear fellow!” said Túshin.”
Friendship · Princess Anna Mikháylovna Drubetskáya
“My dear friend?” said she, in a tone of pathetic inquiry, prepared to sympathize in any way.”
Sibling · Natásha Rostóva
“She rushed to Sónya, hugged her, and began to cry.”
“Ah, and here’s Nicholas!” cried Natásha”
Social acquaintance · Berg
“Do go somewhere, anywhere... to the devil!” he exclaimed, and immediately seizing him by the shoulder and looking amiably into his face, evidently wishing to soften the rudeness of his words.”
Enemy · Prince Andrew Bolkónski
“I don’t know you and, frankly, I don’t want to. I am speaking of the staff in general.”
Rival · Prince Andrew Bolkónski
“Rostóv recalled their quarrel of yesterday and the question presented itself whether he ought or ought not to challenge Bolkónski.”
Friendship · Private Dólokhov
“Young Rostóv stood at a window with Dólokhov, whose acquaintance he had lately made and highly valued.”
Conflict · Pierre Bezukhov
“Rostóv looked inimically at Pierre”
Rival · Private Dólokhov
“Rostóv had not seen him since his proposal and Sónya’s refusal and felt uncomfortable at the thought of how they would meet.”
Rival · Private Dólokhov
“Oh, it’s terrible to feel oneself so in this man’s power,” thought Rostóv.”
Sibling · Natásha Rostóva
“see his sisters, brother, mother, and father”
“he was sorry that Natásha, for whom he cared more than for anyone else in the family”
Conflict · Váska Denísov
“What for? If I were a wobber I would ask mercy, but I’m being court-martialed for bwinging wobbers to book.”
Conflict · Borís Drubetskóy
“Borís doesn’t want to help me and I don’t want to ask him. That’s settled.”
Conflict · Mítenka
“Robber!... Ungrateful wretch!... I’ll hack the dog to pieces!”
“the young count, red in the face and with bloodshot eyes, dragged Mítenka out by the scruff of the neck”
Sibling · Pétya Rostóv
“Natásha came in with rapid steps... Pétya ran in at the same time.”
Social acquaintance · Uncle
“in sight of ‘Uncle’ who is watching from over there”
Social acquaintance · Daniel
“Nicholas was about to stab her, but Daniel whispered, 'Don’t! We’ll gag her!'”
Enemy (bitterest foe) · Ilágin
“Nicholas... regarded him as his bitterest foe.”
Friendship · Sónya Rostóv
“Nicholas did not leave Sónya’s side, and gazed at her with quite new eyes.”
“Nicholas had told his wife all that had passed between himself and Sónya, blaming himself and commending her.”
Rival · Prince Andrew Bolkónski
“the name of Prince Andrew Bolkónski, appointed to the command of a regiment of Chasseurs.”
Political alliance · Napoleon Bonaparte
“Yes, most precious... a royal word,” said Count Rostóv, with a sob.”
Friendship · Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
“I cannot express, Princess, how glad I am that I happened to ride here and am able to show my readiness to serve you”
Friendship · Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
“I am very, very grateful to you”
Conflict · Alpátych
“You’re a traitor yourself! I know you. I’ll flay you all alive!...”
Family (son-in-law) · Berg
“Berg, the Rostóvs’ son-in-law, was already a colonel wearing the orders of Vladímir and Anna...”
Social acquaintance · Daniel Teréntich
“Old Daniel Teréntich, the count’s valet (as he was called), came up to the group and shouted at Míshka.”
Social acquaintance · Catherine Petróvna
“the governor’s wife herself, who welcomed Rostóv as a near relative and called him 'Nicholas.'”
Social acquaintance · Anna Ignátyevna Malvíntseva
“This was Malvíntseva, Princess Mary’s aunt on her mother’s side, a rich, childless widow who always lived in Vorónezh.”
Marriage · Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
“In the winter of 1813 Nicholas married Princess Mary”
Family (sister-in-law) · Sónya Rostóv
“Nicholas married Princess Mary and moved to Bald Hills with his wife, his mother, and Sónya.”
Friendship · Countess Rostóva
“There could be no doubt not only of his approval but also of his admiration for his wife.”
Social acquaintance · Pierre Bezukhov
“Nicholas has the weakness of never agreeing with anything not generally accepted.”
Parent (father) · Count Ilyá Andréevich Rostóv
“Ah, my boy, my head’s in a whirl!” said the old man with a smile”
“Count Ilyá Rostóv presented his son to Bagratión”
Parent (mother) · Countess Rostóva
“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”
Romantic attraction · Sónya Rostóv
““Sónya! What is anyone in the world to me? You alone are everything!” said Nicholas.”
“I am in love with your brother once for all and, whatever may happen to him or to me, shall never cease to love him as long as I live.”
Military command · Private Dólokhov
“the command of the left flank belonged by seniority to the commander of the regiment Kutúzov had reviewed at Braunau and in which Dólokhov was serving as a private.”
Romantic attraction · Alexander I
“Seeing that smile, Rostóv involuntarily smiled himself and felt a still stronger flow of love for his sovereign.”
Military command · Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov
““Who? Kutúzov?” asked Rostóv.”
Military command · Napoleon Bonaparte
“He knew that he might and even ought to go straight to him and give the message Dolgorúkov had ordered him to deliver.”
Mentor · Váska Denísov
“Denísov evidently tried to expose Rostóv to danger as seldom as possible, and after an action greeted his safe return with evident joy.”
Parent (father) · Countess Véra
“The old count felt this most.”
Parent · Count Rostóva
“the old count began irresolutely to admonish Nicholas and beg him to abandon his purpose.”
Mentor · Ilyín
“Ilyín, who was pressing close to him. This officer, a lad of sixteen who had recently joined the regiment, was now in the same relation to Nicholas that Nicholas had been to Denísov seven years before.”
Romantic attraction · Mary Hendríkhovna
“All the officers appeared to be, and really were, in love with her that evening.”
Mentor · Count Ostermann-Tolstóy
“Count Ostermann-Tolstóy met the returning hussars, sent for Rostóv, thanked him, and said he would report his gallant deed to the Emperor and would recommend him for a St. George’s Cross.”
Patronage · Lavrúshka
“Rostóv was just mounting to go for a ride round the neighboring villages with Ilyín; he let Lavrúshka have another horse and took him along with him.”
Romantic attraction · Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
“did she love him?”
“With a softened, happy, timid look she watched the boy she loved in the arms of the man she loved.”
Romantic attraction · Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
“I really believe she is un petit peu amoureuse du jeune homme.”
Child (child) · Count Ilyá Andréevich Rostóv
“Ah, my boy, my head’s in a whirl!” said the old man with a smile”
“Count Ilyá Rostóv presented his son to Bagratión”
Child (child) · Countess Rostóva
“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) · Countess Véra
“The old count felt this most.”
Child · Count Rostóva
“the old count began irresolutely to admonish Nicholas and beg him to abandon his purpose.”
Student · Ilyín
“Ilyín, who was pressing close to him. This officer, a lad of sixteen who had recently joined the regiment, was now in the same relation to Nicholas that Nicholas had been to Denísov seven years before.”
Student · Count Ostermann-Tolstóy
“Count Ostermann-Tolstóy met the returning hussars, sent for Rostóv, thanked him, and said he would report his gallant deed to the Emperor and would recommend him for a St. George’s Cross.”
Quotations
“Nicholas and Sónya, the niece.”
“It is not from friendship at all; I simply feel that the army is my vocation.”
“I know I am no use anywhere except in the army; I am not a diplomat or a government clerk.”
“All Nicholas’ animation vanished.”
“pointing to Nicholas as he went out.”
“'The Brook,' suggested Nicholas.”
“Nicholas had written, 'still, I should not cry, but you can’t... no one can understand... what a soul he has!'”
“the squadron in which Nicholas Rostóv served as a cadet”
“Rostóv rode back early in the morning from a foraging expedition”
“Rostóv going to the cottage he occupied with Denísov”
“Rostóv, 'I have already been for the hay, and have seen Fräulein Mathilde.'”
“'Please, Denísov, let me lend you some: I have some, you know,' said Rostóv, blushing.”
“'I know who has taken it,' repeated Rostóv in an unsteady voice”
“Rostóv went to Telyánin’s quarters.”
“'Allow me to look at your purse,' he said in a low, almost inaudible, voice.”
“'O God,' he said with tears in his eyes, 'how could you do it?'”
“to Rostóv who was crimson with excitement.”
“I told him he lied.”
“Not on any account!” exclaimed Rostóv.”
“Come, that’s right, Count!”
“I can’t apologize, by God I can’t, do what you will!”
“You look as if you’d just come out of a hot bath.”
“Rostóv on the left flank, mounted on his Rook”
“Rostóv, feeling that he was at the front”
“Nicholas Rostóv turned away”
“in which Rostóv was serving, and a misunderstanding arose.”
“thought Rostóv, feeling that at last the time had come to experience the joy of an attack of which he had so often heard from his fellow hussars.”
“The cadet was Rostóv.”
“Rostóv, too, dragged himself to the fire.”
“thought Rostóv, looking at the changing shadows before him.”
“Nikólenka... a letter... wa... a... s... wounded... my darling boy...”
“Nicholas said that he kissed his father’s and mother’s hands asking for their blessing...”
“Nicholas Rostóv received a letter from Borís”
“Oh, you damned dandies! Clean and fresh as if you’d been to a fete, not like us sinners of the line,” cried Rostóv”
“Oh dear, what a beast I am!” muttered Rostóv”
“Rostóv had been to see Borís”
“Rostóv, standing in the front lines of Kutúzov’s army”
“Rostóv was not far from the trumpeters”
“Rostóv involuntarily smiled himself”
“Rostóv too, bending over his saddle, shouted 'Hurrah!'”
“Rostóv noticed Bolkónski”
“Rostóv on Bedouin, recently purchased from Denísov”
“how happy I should be if he ordered me to leap into the fire this instant!”
“Nicholas Rostóv spent that day in a dull and wretched mood.”
“But don’t hurt my little horse!”
“To the health of Alexander the First! Hurrah!”
“the boyish face of Rostóv, breathless with excitement and hope”
“said Rostóv, with his hand to his cap”
“Rostóv had managed to get a few hours’ sleep before morning”
“he was orderly to the bravest general”
“thought Rostóv and galloped on”
“Rostóv had been ordered to look for Kutúzov and the Emperor”
“Rostóv rode on at a footpace not knowing why or to whom he was now going.”
“Nicholas Rostóv returned home on leave.”
“Oh God! Is everyone all right?”
“Rostóv was very happy in the love they showed him;”
“Nicholas Rostóv was welcomed by his home circle as the best of sons, a hero, and their darling Nikólenka”
“Now he was a lieutenant of hussars, in a jacket laced with silver”
“he did not draw closer to Sónya, but rather drifted away from her”
“among whom were Denísov, Rostóv, and Dólokhov”
“his fine well-set-up young son, resting on him”
“Nicholas Rostóv, with Denísov and his new acquaintance, Dólokhov”
“Nicholas Rostóv.”
“Rostóv agreed to be Dólokhov’s second.”
“Rostóv ran toward him and said something.”
“Rostóv was struck by the totally altered and unexpectedly rapturous and tender expression on Dólokhov’s face.”
““Who?” asked Rostóv.”
“Rostóv went on ahead to do what was asked...”
“Nicholas Rostóv spent in Moscow”
“implying that even Denísov was nothing compared to Dólokhov”
“Rostóv smiled.”
“Rostóv went to the English Hotel straight from the theater”
“Rostóv staked five rubles on a card and lost”
“Rostóv’s winning or losing on that seven of hearts”
“Instead of sixteen hundred rubles he had a long column of figures scored against him, which he had reckoned up to ten thousand, but that now, as he vaguely supposed, must have risen to fifteen thousand.”
“I was so happy, so free, so lighthearted!”
“Now a bullet through my brain—that’s all that’s left me!”
“Oh, it’s terrible to feel oneself so in this man’s power,”
“To say “tomorrow” and keep up a dignified tone was not difficult, but to go home alone, see his sisters, brother, mother, and father, confess and ask for money he had no right to after giving his word of honor, was terrible.”
““Everything’s still the same with them,” thought Nicholas, glancing into the drawing room, where he saw Véra and his mother with the old lady.”
““Is Papa at home?” he asked.”
““My God, I’m a ruined and dishonored man! A bullet through my brain is the only thing left me—not singing!” his thoughts ran on.”
““Oh, this senseless life of ours!” thought Nicholas.”
“Nicholas, hearing him drive up, went to meet him.”
“I have lost a little, I mean a good deal, a great deal—forty three thousand.”
“Papa! Pa-pa!” he called after him, sobbing, “forgive me!”
“Rostóv felt, for the first time, how close was the bond that united him to Denísov and the whole regiment.”
“Rostóv experienced the same feeling as when his mother, his father, and his sister had embraced him.”
“Rostóv lived, as before, with Denísov, and since their furlough they had become more friendly than ever.”
“Rostóv had no chance of being present”
“Rostóv was on orderly duty”
“Denísov has been worrying,” said Rostóv”
“Rostóv had never yet seen him in”
“Rostóv knew him too well”
“Rostóv, who felt his friend’s absence very much”
“Rostóv explained that he wanted to see Major Denísov of the hussars, who was wounded.”
“Rostóv went to the middle of the room and looking through the open doors into the two adjoining rooms saw the same thing there.”
“Rostóv rode to Tilsit”
“Rostóv, profiting by the darkness”
“Rostóv had argued that if Napoleon were taken prisoner”
“Ah, it’s you? Very glad, very glad to see you”
“Rostóv, without sitting down, began at once”
“Rostóv recognized Napoleon.”
“Rostóv kept his eyes on every movement of Alexander and Bonaparte.”
“Rostóv standing by the corner of a house.”
“Rostóv began shouting with uncalled-for wrath.”
“Nicholas Rostóv had kept firmly to his resolution”
“Nicholas Rostóv experienced this blissful condition to the full”
“This letter grieved and mortified Nicholas”
“Nicholas again put it off”
“Nicholas began to settle down in his old home world”
“Her brother often wondered as he looked at her”
“Nicholas was at first serious and even dull.”
“I knew that I should never understand anything in this crazy world.”
“Papa, he is a blackguard and a thief! I know he is!”
“I used to understand what a ‘corner’ and the stakes at cards meant, but carrying forward to another page I don’t understand at all.”
“this!” and he tore up the note, and by so doing caused the old countess to weep tears of joy.”
“the hounds of that ardent young sportsman Rostóv”
“young Rostóv, in his dressing gown, looked out of the window”
“Nicholas said timidly”
“asked Nicholas, scratching Mílka behind the ears”
“said Nicholas. 'Come to me with Uvárka.'”
“Nicholas ordered the horses to be saddled”
“replied Nicholas reluctantly”
“said Nicholas to Natásha”
“Nicholas, with a stern and serious air which showed that now was no time for attending to trifles, went past Natásha and Pétya who were trying to tell him something.”
“That’s where I’m going. Shall we join up our packs?” asked Nicholas.”
“Nicholas Rostóv meanwhile remained at his post, waiting for the wolf.”
“Memories of Austerlitz and of Dólokhov flashed rapidly and clearly through his mind.”
“No, it’s impossible!” thought Nicholas, still shouting with a hoarse voice.”
“Oh my God! Why?” Nicholas cried in despair.”
“With happy, exhausted faces, they laid the old wolf, alive, on a shying and snorting horse and, accompanied by the dogs yelping at her, took her to the place where they were all to meet.”
“Nicholas no longer considered it necessary to show his manly superiority over his sister”
“How charming this Natásha of mine is! I have no other friend like her and never shall have.”
“Nicholas to marry a rich heiress”
“Nicholas was spending the last of his leave at home”
““I remember,” answered Nicholas.”
““Sónya, do you remember?” asked Nicholas.”
““If we have been angels, why have we fallen lower?” said Nicholas.”
“Nicholas sat down at the clavichord.”
“The count sat in the ballroom, smiling radiantly and applauding the players.”
“Nicholas, in his old lady’s dress over which he had belted his hussar overcoat, stood in the middle of the sleigh, reins in hand.”
“Nicholas drove at a steady pace”
“Nicholas handed the reins to the coachman”
“I will never let anyone say anything bad of Sónya”
“that Circassian was Sónya, and that Sónya was certainly his future happy and loving wife”
“Nicholas told his mother of his love for Sónya”
“Nicholas received a promise from his mother that Sónya should not be troubled”
“the old count, Nicholas”
“the count was much upset”
“Nicholas to retire from the army and return home.”
“if I am still alive and still loved by you, I will throw up everything and fly to you,”
“Nicholas Rostóv, as was natural to him, felt contented with the life he led in the regiment”
“Nicholas, having been joyfully welcomed by his comrades, was sent to obtain remounts”
“Rostóv, conscious of his advantageous position in the regiment”
“Rostóv, with a young officer named Ilyín, his protégé, was sitting in a hastily constructed shelter.”
“Rostóv heard the story and not only said nothing to encourage Zdrzhinski’s enthusiasm”
“Rostóv threw his cloak over his shoulders, shouted to Lavrúshka to follow with the things”
“Dear me, how jolly we are!” said Rostóv laughing.”
“Rostóv received his tumbler, and adding some rum to it asked Mary Hendríkhovna to stir it.”
“Rostóv took a pack of cards and proposed that they should play 'Kings' with Mary Hendríkhovna.”
“Rostóv went off to his squadron without waiting for tea.”
“Rostóv riding in front gave the order 'Forward!'”
“Rostóv allowed himself the indulgence of riding not a regimental but a Cossack horse.”
“Rostóv had felt afraid; now he had not the least feeling of fear.”
“Rostóv’s spirits rose, as at the strains of the merriest music.”
“Drawing himself up, he viewed the field of battle opening out before him from the hill.”
“Rostóv, with his keen sportsman’s eye, was one of the first to catch sight of these blue French dragoons pursuing our Uhlans.”
“Count Ostermann-Tolstóy met the returning hussars, sent for Rostóv, thanked him, and said he would report his gallant deed to the Emperor and would recommend him for a St. George’s Cross.”
“the name of Nicholas Rostóv, awarded a St. George’s Cross of the Fourth Class for courage”
“Rostóv charged the French”
“found his master, Nicholas Rostóv, quartered at Yankóvo”
“Rostóv glanced angrily at Ilyín”
“Rostóv did not go back to the house but remained in the village awaiting her departure”
““It is quite a romance. Nicholas Rostóv! She was surrounded, and they wanted to kill her and had wounded some of her people. He rushed in and saved her....””
“Nicholas was somewhere with the army and had not sent a word since his last letter”
“the Rostóvs received another letter from Nicholas”
“Nicholas’ letter in which he mentioned Princess Mary”
“As the war had caught him in the service, Nicholas Rostóv took a close and prolonged part in the defense of his country”
“the good-natured and well-bred Count Rostóv”
“Nicholas sat leaning slightly forward in an armchair”
“Nicholas at once understood that Anna Ignátyevna was a very important person”
“I love her, and promised to marry her, and will do so....”
“Rostóv was not seized with despair”
“Nicholas was present, was held in the cathedral”
“Nicholas went up to her without waiting”
“he said to himself. 'Why am I not free?'”
“this unexpected and, as it seemed to Nicholas, quite voluntary letter from Sónya freed him”
“Nicholas was with the Russian army in Paris when the news of his father’s death reached him”
“Nicholas to decline the inheritance”
“he accepted a post in Moscow in that service”
“her relation to Rostóv.”