Learning Russian with War & Peace: Volume 1, Part 1

Starting with 5 words from each chapter

My Russian is a bit rusty after several years on the back burner. I am unable to understand enough to enjoy the book especially as a first-time reader, so I have resolved to read first in English (Brigg's translation - the easiest to read) then reread each chapter in Russian, gaining what I can from it and not stressing over the rest. This has been working well so far in the slow one-chapter-a-day format that I have committed to. I am a few days behind on the Russian version, but I have kept up with (and most importantly, enjoyed) the English version.

I will take this space to document some words that I am learning - just five from each chapter. I will try to choose words with relevance to the book to make them more memorable. I would advise reading each chapter first to avoid potential spoilers.

Chapter 1

князь - Duke/Prince (specifically Vasili Sergeevich Kuragin in this chapter). This was a hereditary noble title by this time period.

красноречивый - eloquent, well-spoken (literally red-spoken) - Prince Vasili describes Anna in this way after she speaks passionately about how the Emperor will save Europe from Napoleon.

определить - to define - In this chapter it is used to explain that Prince Vasili wants his son to have a certain job.

фрейлина - Maid of honor (from the obsolete German Fräulein - an unmarried woman, girl, maiden; German Hoffräulein - a girl at court) - a junior court female rank in European countries and post-Petrine Russia. It was given to representatives of noble noble families. In Europe, ladies-in-waiting formed the retinue of queens and princesses, and in Russia, the retinue of empresses and grand duchesses. (Translated from the Russian Wikipedia page) - This is Anna's role at court.

уладится - to settle (positively) - This is how Anna describes the work of matchmaking for Prince Vasili's son.

Chapter 2

шифр - cipher, monogram - Hélène wears this as a sign of status on her ball gown. "Она была в шифре и бальном платье."

обворожи́тельный - fascinating, bewitching, séduisante (French) - describing the little princess "Приехала и известная, как самая обворожительная женщина в Петербурге, молодая, маленькая княгиня Болконская..."

здоровье - health - A polite topic of conversation. "Ma tante каждому говорила в одних и тех же выражениях о его здоровье, о своем здоровье и о здоровье ее величества, которое нынче было, слава Богу, лучше."

недостаток - flaw - describing the princess's lip "Как это всегда бывает у вполне-привлекательных женщин, недостаток ее — короткость губы и полуоткрытый рот — казались ее особенною, собственно ее красотой."

напрасен - in vain - Anna's fear of Pierre causing disruption was not in vain "Страх Анны Павловны был не напрасен, потому что Пьер, не дослушав речи тетушки о здоровье ее величества, отошел от нее."

I plan to keep adding to this post as I collect more words. I am still building the habit of rereading each chapter in Russian so I am a few days behind but I hope to catch up. Let me know if there are other words that stood out to you during your reading.