War & Peace 2

I have finished the first section of War and Peace. That is, through Count Kirill Bezukhov's death, and up to the first chapter at Bald Hills.

Not to much to comment on just yet, but there is one thing that I would like to mention. I have always been confused by Kirill Bezukhov's death bed scene. The part where Pierre is horrified when his father is rolled over always seemed forced to me. I mean, what is it about his father's arm that is so horrifying? I think this translation is a little clearer on just what happens, and Pierre's state of mind that leads up to it. After all it is the culmination of the whole scene. Brigs has it thus,

While the count was being turned over, one of his arms got caught helplessly behind him and he made a vain attempt to drag it back. Whether or not the count noticed the horror with which Pierre stared at that lifeless arm, or whether some other idea flashed throuhg his dying mind at that instant, he looked down at his unresponsive arm, then at the expression of horror on Pierre's face, then back at his arm, and finally his face produced a smile which jarred with his features, a pathetically weak smile that seemed to mock his own helplessness. Suddenly, at the sight of that smile, Pierre felt a shudder in his cest and pricklin in his nose, and his eyes clouded over with tears. They finished turning the sick man towards the wall. He gave a sigh.