War and Peace · primary
Prince Vasíli Kurágin
fictional · male
A prominent figure in Petersburg society, father of Hélène and Hippolyte.
Aliases
Prince Vasíli · Prince Kurágin
Titles
Prince · His Excellency
Appearances
- First: Book ONE · Chapter II · ¶ 1
- Latest: Book FIFTEEN · Chapter XIX · ¶ 6
Relationships
Friendship · Anna Pávlovna Schérer
“I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend”
Rival (contempt) · Prince Nicholas Andréevich Bolkónski
“Old Bolkónski had always had a poor opinion of Prince Vasíli’s character, but more so recently...”
Political alliance · Princess Mary Bolkónskaya
“I have had a proposition made me concerning you,” he said with an unnatural smile.”
Friendship · Anna Pávlovna Schérer
“Prince Vasíli, who still occupied his former important posts, formed a connecting link between these two circles. He visited his 'good friend Anna Pávlovna' as well as his daughter’s 'diplomatic salon.'”
Rival (political) · Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov
“Kutúzov was a traitor, and Prince Vasíli during the visits of condolence paid to him on the occasion of his daughter’s death said of Kutúzov, whom he had formerly praised...”
Parent (son) · Anatole Kurágin
“I don’t speak of Anatole, your youngest. I don’t like him”
Parent (son) · Hippolyte
“Hippolyte is at least a quiet fool, but Anatole is an active one.”
Parent (father) · Countess Hélène Bezúkhova
“Tell me what this wretched war is for?” she added, addressing Prince Vasíli, and without waiting for an answer she turned to speak to his daughter, the beautiful Hélène.”
“Prince Vasíli mimicked the sobbing of Sergéy Kuzmích and at the same time his eyes glanced toward his daughter.”
Patronage · Princess Drubetskáya
“I will do the impossible—your son shall be transferred to the Guards.”
Mentor · Borís Drubetskóy
““Try to serve well and show yourself worthy,” added he, addressing Borís with severity.”
Patronage · Pierre Bezukhov
“He had Pierre at hand in Moscow and procured for him an appointment as Gentleman of the Bedchamber...”
Patronage · Alpátych
“the prince had a list of things to be bought in Smolénsk and, walking up and down the room past Alpátych who stood by the door, he gave his instructions.”
Patronage · Tíkhon Shcherbáty
“So he called Tíkhon and went through the rooms with him to show him where to set up the bed for that night.”
Child (parent) · Anatole Kurágin
“I don’t speak of Anatole, your youngest. I don’t like him”
Child (parent) · Hippolyte
“Hippolyte is at least a quiet fool, but Anatole is an active one.”
Child (child) · Countess Hélène Bezúkhova
“Tell me what this wretched war is for?” she added, addressing Prince Vasíli, and without waiting for an answer she turned to speak to his daughter, the beautiful Hélène.”
“Prince Vasíli mimicked the sobbing of Sergéy Kuzmích and at the same time his eyes glanced toward his daughter.”
Student · Borís Drubetskóy
““Try to serve well and show yourself worthy,” added he, addressing Borís with severity.”
Quotations
“Prince Vasíli’s daughter, the beautiful Hélène”
“addressing Prince Vasíli”
“said Prince Vasíli to Anna Pávlovna.”
“Princess Hélène, Prince Vasíli’s daughter,”
““No, impossible!” said Prince Andrew, laughing and pressing Pierre’s hand...”
““You must excuse me, dear Vicomte,” said Prince Vasíli to the Frenchman...”
““What would it cost you to say a word to the Emperor, and then he would be transferred to the Guards at once?” said she.”
““My dear Anna Mikháylovna,” said he with his usual familiarity and weariness of tone...”
““No, I won’t promise that. You don’t know how Kutúzov is pestered since his appointment as Commander in Chief.”
“Prince Vasíli kept the promise he had given to Princess Drubetskáya”
“Prince Vasíli’s son”
“Prince Vasíli is the next heir through his wife”
“Prince Vasíli arrived in Moscow yesterday”
“To Prince Vasíli. He was so kind.”
“Next day Prince Vasíli had arrived and settled in the count’s house”
“Prince Vasíli saw the princess off”
“Prince Vasíli, who had grown thinner and paler during the last few days, escorted him to the door.”
“my dear princess and cousin, Catherine Semënovna,” continued Prince Vasíli”
“Prince Vasíli and the eldest princess were sitting close together talking.”
“Not two minutes had passed before Prince Vasíli with head erect majestically entered the room.”
“Prince Vasíli in front of the door”
“named Prince Vasíli in an inquiring whisper”
“Prince Vasíli and the eldest princess, who were sitting under the portrait of Catherine the Great”
“Prince Vasíli was seated in an easy chair in his familiar attitude”
“Prince Vasíli came next. He staggered to the sofa on which Pierre was sitting”
“Prince Vasíli played a very despicable part”
“Prince Vasíli was not a man who deliberately thought out his plans.”
“With apparent absent-mindedness, yet with unhesitating assurance that he was doing the right thing, Prince Vasíli did everything to get Pierre to marry his daughter.”
“Well, my dear fellow, tomorrow we are off at last,” said Prince Vasíli one day, closing his eyes and fingering Pierre’s elbow.”
“Prince Vasíli sighed.”
“spending chiefly at Prince Vasíli’s house in the company of the stout princess, his wife, and his beautiful daughter Hélène.”
“Prince Vasíli had to go on a tour of inspection in four different provinces.”
“Princess Kuragina, a portly imposing woman who had once been handsome, was sitting at the head of the table.”
“Thank God! My wife has told me everything!”
“announcing that he and his son would be paying him a visit”
“His Excellency Prince Vasíli Kurágin and his son, I understand?”
“Prince Vasíli and his son were already in the drawing room.”
“Here at least we shall have the benefit of your company all to ourselves, dear prince,” said the little princess (of course, in French) to Prince Vasíli.”
“Prince Vasíli announced his hopes and wishes to the old prince.”
“the gaze under which she felt that she could not think, but would only be able to submit from habit, and she said: “I wish only to do your will, but if I had to express my own desire...””
“My son’s fate is in your hands. Decide, my dear, good, gentle Marie, whom I have always loved as a daughter!”
“that moment after supper at Prince Vasíli’s”
“Prince Vasíli expressed his opinion more openly”
“his mother-in-law, Prince Vasíli’s wife”
“Prince Vasíli, who still occupied his former important posts”
“Prince Vasíli in a conversation about the war”
“Prince Vasíli interrupted”
“Prince Vasíli at Anna Pávlovna’s again met the “man of great merit.””
“warmly rejoined Prince Vasíli”
“Prince Vasíli, who of late very often forgot what he had said”
“Hélène, I have a word to say to you”
“Prince Vasíli himself, famed for his elocution, was to read it.”
“Prince Vasíli now said with a prophet’s pride.”
“Prince Vasíli during the visits of condolence paid to him”
“Prince Vasíli, who having obtained a new post and some fresh decorations was particularly proud at this time”