That same summer of 1812, two young women in Moscow, Countess Natasha Rostova and Princess Polina, both of whom had recently come out in society, became each other’s first friends. They had spent their lives to this point sheltered at home by families, tutors, and governesses. The two dark-haired young women could have been sisters, but Natasha was smaller with paler skin. Polina’s large eyebrows and darker skin made her look Greek.

Polina acted older than her age, read French novels in her father’s library, and followed reports of the movements of the Russian army against Napoleon. That summer, she would meet the French writer Madame de Staël who was visiting Moscow. Polina idolized Madame de Staël, for her novel Corinne, the story of a noblewoman who lived as a poet and musician in Rome. Moreover, Madame de Staël was not afraid of Napoleon (in fact he was afraid of her and had banished her from France!).

Natasha was mischievous, acted her age, loved to sing, and was training with an Italian singing teacher whom her father had engaged, for her father always said she would be a singer. Natasha was deeply curious about faraway places, Madagascar, and Europe where her former fiancé had traveled without her. She was resigned that she would never leave Russia.