The second volume opens with descriptions of the impending Russian-French war preparations. And many of our central characters are involved in the disastrous Battle of Austerlitz (1805). Prince Andrei is badly wounded as he attempts to rescue a Russian standard. Later in the battle Prince Andrei falls into enemy hands and even meets his hero, Napoleon. But Napoleon – the great hero of many in Europe at the time – seen as the liberator and fighter for freedom against the tyranny of kings and Emperors – is revealed to be a petty tyrant himself. Tolstoy portrays Austerlitz as an early test for Russia, one which ended badly because the soldiers fought for irrelevant things like glory or renown rather than the higher virtues which would produce, according to Tolstoy, a victory at Borodino during the 1812 invasion. Next, we have several volumes of Peace in Russia to read about: in which we get more involved in our characters’ more interesting personal stories.