Georg Hackenschmidt became a legend during his lifetime. For 10 years, during which he fought more than three thousand victorious fights, he had no equal on the wrestling mat. The owner of many titles and records, an immortal role model, awarded the nickname “Russian Lion” by the admiring foreign public. Our story about the life and training of Georg Hackenschmidt.
The legendary athlete was born on August 1, 1878 in the Estonian town of Tartu (formerly Yuryev). I became interested in sports from an early age and tried to devote all my free time to training. While working at a machine-building plant in Tallinn, he made himself a one-pound hammer to pump up his muscles without leaving the machine. Another of his favorite workouts was to climb a church bell tower with a pair of two-pound weights in his hands.
In 1886, Georg Hackenschmidt began performing in public, demonstrating miracles of strength and endurance. The young athlete was noticed very quickly. It became fateful for him to meet the famous wrestler Georg Lurich , who encouraged him to take up wrestling. Two years later, he moved to St. Petersburg, where he met another outstanding personality of that time - Doctor Kraevsky , whom he always mentioned with great warmth, calling him his “second father.” Kraevsky became a personal trainer for Hakk (as his contemporaries called him), helping him bring his already impressive anthropometric indicators to perfection.
Hackenschmidt's first appearance in high society was a tremendous success. Representatives of the sports elite of St. Petersburg were shocked by the ideal body contour and magnificent muscles of the modest provincial athlete. And after Georg Hackenschmidt surpassed the unshakable achievement of the great Eugene Sandow in the one-arm press, they learned about him outside the Russian Empire.
Brief biography of Hackenschmidt
Georg is known as a professional wrestler, who went down in history for the first time he managed to take the world championship in freestyle wrestling. The rapidly spreading fame contributed to the popularization not only of his person personally, but also of the special techniques that helped him achieve these heights.
However, everything was his own merit. Each exercise was developed by him independently and practiced with special diligence.
Georg Karl Julius Hackenschmidt (Hackenschmidt) - was born in 1877, on August 1, in a London hospital. From birth, the boy was distinguished by his size, too large for an ordinary child.
Since both of Georg’s parents were of average build, as the athlete himself claimed, his athletic build was inherited from his maternal grandfather. The boy himself was the eldest child in the family and was a real support for his younger brother and sister.
Georg Hackenschmidt is a German, born a Baltic, whose career began in Russia. The athlete showed a particular interest in strength exercises in his youth, while studying at school. Since Georg was initially attracted to sports, he was passionate about running and swimming. Later, the boy discovered the delights of cycling.
However, Georg became convinced that he needed to connect his future life with sports as an employee of a machine-building plant. It was there that he realized that physical activity brings pleasure.
Next, the young man himself makes his own individual hammer, which for some time served as the main equipment for training. The weight of the hammer was approximately 16 and a half kilograms. Around the same period, Georg met his first coach - a wrestler with a namesake named Georg Lurich.
Revel and the first sports membership
After graduating from a seven-year school, in 1895 the young man moved to Revel (modern Talin), where he became an apprentice at a machine-building plant to obtain a profession. Georg envisioned working as an engineer while taking care of his physical health.
However, having joined the ranks of members of the athletic and cycling club, the guy became seriously interested in sports, and even received several prizes in cycling races. During the cold season, Georg paid attention to heavy lifting and wrestling. If the young man was successful in his first hobby, then in hand-to-hand combat he was inferior to his comrades.
Start of an athlete's career
It is not surprising that after just a year, thanks to such intensive, persistent training, by 1896 the young man was already able to calmly bench press 98 kilograms with just one hand. It is known that with the efforts of his right hand alone, he lifted as much as 56 kilograms! Now Georg begins his public activities.
The athlete began performing in front of people, demonstrating in every possible way his natural as well as acquired physical talent. It must be said that Georg’s development as a master of sports was influenced by his coach, who instilled in him a serious passion for freestyle wrestling.
The year 1898 was significant for Hackenschmidt’s life, as the athlete took part in the European Greco-Roman wrestling championship. Now let’s think, do you have any doubts about the fact that this person won the championship there? Of course he won. This success marked the beginning of a whole series of victories on the path of the then young athlete.
Moving to Russia
The decision to move to Russia came to George in 1898. St. Petersburg was chosen as the city for relocation. Hackenschmidt was brought here by his acquaintance, Doctor Kraevsky, whom he met in Vienna. It was Kraevsky who showed the right path to the young athlete, taught him to eat properly and balanced, and combine physical training with diet.
By 1900, Georg gained his first professional achievements at a professional tournament that took place in Moscow. Within forty days, the athlete established himself among his rivals as the strongest of all.
Championship records
After a series of victories, he began performing original acts in the circus under the pseudonym Lenz. Getting to know Lurich helped me decide my future fate. In 1898, Georg moved to St. Petersburg and took up wrestling under the guidance of Doctor Kraevsky, the “father of Russian athletics.” The editor of a sports magazine described his first meeting with Hackenschmidt.
“A broad-shouldered young man walked through the door, looking like nothing special. But as soon as he took off his jacket, we gasped. I have never seen such muscles before. Before us stood Hercules without an ounce of subcutaneous fat. He easily squeezed 80 kg, then 104 kg, which left us in amazement.”
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Throughout this difficult period, he was supported by Doctor Kraevsky, who by that time had become a true friend, brother, even a second father for Georg. Georg attributes all his victories that were won to the merits of Kraevsky.
Anthropometric data of Hackenschmidt
At his peak, Georg demonstrated the following anthropometric parameters, phenomenal for his time:
- Athlete's height: 176 centimeters;
- Weight: 94 kilograms;
- Biceps volume: 47 centimeters;
- Torso circumference: 125 centimeters;
- Thigh circumference: 67 centimeters.
"Russian Lion" Georg Hackenschmidt
The title awarded to the athlete by our Russian compatriots, inspired by his exceptional strength, as well as outstanding physical abilities. Georg defeated everyone he met in the ring. And it didn’t matter who his opponent was: a seasoned pro or a three-time champion. Hackenschmidt was not inferior to anyone. Georg was also active in the circus business: he performed with his own program, where he demonstrated his talents and unprecedented strength.
By his early twenties, he could already boast that he could easily lift a hundred heavy weights with one hand. “Russian Lion” is his nickname, which was assigned to Georg when the total number of his victories exceeded a thousand.
The King “gives” George a harem
We agree, this is far from the most common case. However, this also happened in the busy life of an athlete. This happened during the period when Georg was touring Samoa. As was the custom at that time, Hackenschmidt emerged victorious from each fight, which attracted considerable interest from the king. Who was so shocked by the unprecedented strength and physical fitness of the “Russian Lion” that he decided with all his might to keep him in his homeland.
The ruler invited the young man to his place for dinner, during which he tried in every possible way to persuade him to stay in Samoa. He promised all possible and impossible benefits, he wanted to give the athlete one of the titles, make him a high-ranking person, including offering a whole harem of girls. But the athlete was adamant. He had a strong civic position and was not going to exchange his moral values for material wealth.
Physical and mental trauma
In every sport you cannot do without injuries. While training to lift weights, the guy injured a tendon in his right shoulder. This failure was accompanied by many years of pain. But, despite the injury, Georg Hackenschmidt went to the championship in Paris at that time. He undoubtedly won two fights, one in 18 seconds, the second in 4 minutes. Then, during one of the preparatory training sessions, Gakki dislocated his shoulder. As a result, the right arm becomes weak. Georg survived two more fights, and then decided to withdraw from the championship.
The French doctor warned the young man: “You need rest for 12 months.” Georg treated his arm for six months, and in the spring of 1900 he began to exercise again. In the summer, the wrestler won two titles: “Champion of St. Petersburg” and “Champion of Moscow.” More than one victory has been won in the history of the athlete, including at the world championship in Vienna.
In 1901, Dr. Kraevsky died, and this was a huge shock for all athletes who trained according to the Vladislav Frantsevich method.
After experiencing injuries, the guy took a short break from wrestling and went to Germany. And already in 1902 he became a world record holder, lifting 187 pounds behind his back with his knees bent. Later, with his legs tied, he jumped over the table 100 times.
Exercises by Georg Hackenschmidt
Gackenschmidt began to train intensively using his own method, which included exercises to develop muscles. The main equipment was still: weights, a self-made pound hammer. The young man spent all his free time practicing in an athletic club, sparing no effort and time for self-development.
Georg gave a key place in pumping up his own body to the legs - here both equipment and various exercises for strength endurance were used. To develop muscles, the athlete resorted to jumping rope and various barbell lifts. Let's look at 12 basic strength exercises for an athlete.
The most notable training was climbing the steps of a church with a load hanging around my neck, as well as several weights in my hands. Typically, weights weighing about 32 kilograms were used. The athlete, accompanied by a boy or alone, climbed daily from the foot of the stairs to the spire itself.
Jumping was a constant component of the training. He jumped in all directions: long, high, but a mandatory element was additional weighting in the form of dumbbells or weights.
An interesting fact from life: the athlete did not stop his training even when he was already very old. So you understand, Georg kept in shape even at the age of 82 - he still used a jump rope as a key element for jumping. Sometimes its alternative was an ordinary rope, which was stretched between a pair of chairs.
Workout
Georg cast a one-pound hammer and weights at the factory, and compiled a separate set of exercises for developing endurance and legs. He spent hours jumping over pillars and benches, climbing with a two-pound weight or with a boy on his shoulders onto the spire of the Olivest Church. He spent a lot of time jumping, considering them the best exercise for developing explosive power. A few months later, after exhausting preparation, I squeezed 6 pounds with one hand.
Later, he outlined his method in the book “The Path to Strength and Health,” describing the techniques in detail. The program included 16 exercises. Among others:
- Barbell presses from a wrestling bridge.
- Technique with a kettlebell on the neck while standing on all fours.
- One-handed barbell pushes.
- Push-ups without weights.
- Bar presses from the floor.
- Lying dumbbell flyes.
- Standing presses with an overhand grip.
In the first lessons, Gakkenshmidt recommended working with a weight of 12-20 kg, performing the practice 3 times, adding 1 approach each week, bringing the number to 10. Then he recommended increasing the weight by 2 kg and working in a circle.
Hakk Machine - Georg's amazing invention
The design of this exercise machine is a steel frame with shoulder pads with movable sleds - for greater convenience during exercises. This machine was designed by Georg himself.
Hackenschmidt simulator - the principle of its operation is to effectively develop and pump up the muscles of the legs, buttocks, thighs, and, in principle, enhance the potential of the legs. It must be said that this invention was unique in its kind back in those days, even now, after so many years, it has not lost its effectiveness, but on the contrary, it is in great demand among modern bodybuilders. It is produced by every serious manufacturer of sports equipment for fitness clubs.
George's star lit up in the sky
In the Estonian city of Dorpat (at that time the Russian Empire, now the city of Tartu), on August 2, 1878, a boy, Georg, was born into an ordinary family. After a while, Georg’s brother and sister appeared in the family. All three children grew up healthy and strong. Moreover, everyone showed physical strength above the average. Although the parents were of the most ordinary build. But Georg’s grandfather on his mother’s side had a strong body and significant physical strength. While Georg was growing up, his mother always drew a parallel between his similarities with his grandfather.
Already at the age of 8-9, Georg was the strongest and strongest among his peers. Therefore, he was always the leader of a small children's army in games. At this age, Georg began his studies at the Dorpat Real School. There he turned his attention to his passion for gymnastics. In 1891, the boy won his first prize in the school competition among boys of the same age. Then his height was already 1.41 m, and his weight was 50.3 kg.
At school, Georg was the best gorodka player, could easily handle dumbbells, and jumped 1.9 m in length and 1.4 m in height. I squeezed a 13.6 kg dumbbell 16 times with my right hand, and 21 times with my left. He ran 180 m in 26 seconds. And that was just the beginning...
Becoming an athlete
In 1895, Gakkenshmidt graduated from a real school and entered as an apprentice at a large machine-building factory in Reval with the desire to become an engineer in the future. But fate decreed otherwise. By this time, the young man became a member of the Revel Athletic and Bicycle Club. He was intensely involved in cycling and earned several prizes in this area. But as soon as the weather turned bad towards autumn, he switched his strength to exercises with heavy weights and dumbbells. The favorite activities at the Club were weight lifting exercises and wrestling. An experienced Club coach named Andrushkevich gave useful advice and instructions on body care and training to beginning athletes.
At the age of 18, Georg Hackenschmidt’s height had already reached 171.5 cm (not tall by today’s standards). The chest circumference was 106 cm, and with a full breath - as much as 114 cm! With his right hand he had already pressed 65.8 kg 12 times.
In September 1896, Georg first met the professional wrestler Lurich, not much older than Georg himself. Lurich invited everyone who wanted to fight him. And everyone who wanted it failed. Before the wrestler’s arrival at the Club, Georg was primarily involved in lifting weights, paying very little attention to wrestling training. Therefore, there was practically no experience. But nevertheless, Georg accepted the challenge of a professional wrestler. At the Revel Officers' Assembly, the novice athlete survived the first fight against Lurich, and in the second, the latter managed to defeat Georg only after 17 minutes.
This defeat was almost fatal for Georg, causing in the athlete a passion for sports and a desire to become a real fighter. And the next few defeats in fights with the German wrestler, Fritz Konietzko, and the Polish wrestler, Vladislav Pytlyasinsky, only warmed up the fire of thirst for professional wrestling in the young man’s heart.
Getting to know Kraevsky
In December 1897, Georg slightly injured his hand in a factory. This was the reason for his visit to the doctor, in whose office Dr. Kraevsky, who was in the service of His Majesty the Sovereign, happened to be. Vladislav Frantsevich Kraevsky founded an athletic and cycling club in St. Petersburg, whose members included many aristocrats and rich people.
During the examination, Doctor Kraevsky noticed the guy’s physique and made an invitation to Georg to visit him in St. Petersburg and live in his house. The main argument was that Georg could become a professional wrestler with such physical characteristics. And that same Lurich was trained by Doctor Kraevsky himself.
With the support of all members of the Club, but against the will of his parents, Georg went to St. Petersburg and settled in the large house of Doctor Kraevsky on Mikhailovskaya Square. There he was received with all hospitality and friendliness.
Vladislav Frantsevich’s house was perfectly equipped with everything necessary for developing strength and training with dumbbells and barbells. In addition, there was a room hung with portraits of famous wrestlers and athletes who came to St. Petersburg and without fail accepted the hospitality of Kraevsky’s house. The whole atmosphere at home had an inspiring effect on the athletes and motivated them to greater success.
In the doctor's house there was a special room with a swimming pool, where Hackenschmidt and the doctor swam. And then, without drying themselves with a towel, they went into the next room and trained until they were completely dry. But the most important rule that the mentor defined in his training system is eight hours of sleep.
Georg quickly improved both in physical development and in wrestling skills. During the entire period, the athlete did not touch either tobacco or alcohol. He drank only milk, drinking about three liters a day.
Hack machine squats
Hack machine squats are performed similarly to the principle of fixed back squats. Hackenschmidt squats produce the same effect, but at the same time, exercises involving them will be much more effective, since a much wider range of muscles are involved here, and, therefore, you will be able to pump up faster. Muscle training is carried out by moving additional weight along the plane, bending the legs at the knees.
Girls and beginners can exercise on the simulator, as it is considered the least dangerous when performing basic technical tips. There are several options for positioning the feet on the platform while performing the exercise.
- Legs on the top of the platform - Gluteus and Biceps hamstrings
- Legs on the bottom of the platform - Quadriceps
- Feet together - Quadriceps
- Legs apart - Hip adductors
Which muscles are actively working in each case - follow the following instructions.
We recommend considering the technical aspects of performing squats in a hack machine using the following technique as an example.
Hack squats with narrow feet
It is worth noting that exercises in the Hack machine are somewhat different from classic squats with a barbell. Here the pressure of the projectile shifts to the lower body, and not to the shoulders (for this you will need to resort to a different type of training). The simulator helps improve the condition of the muscles of the buttocks, quadriceps, and as synergists - the muscles of the calves, legs and abs. That is, muscle pumping is done in a comprehensive manner.
What do you need to perform proper squats in a hack machine?
First, you need to choose the most optimal weight for yourself on the simulator. Here it is important not to overdo it, but to calculate everything correctly. It is necessary to take a position in such a way that your back rests against the back of the “apparatus”. Straighten up so that your shoulders touch the shoulder pads, and place your feet on the platform parallel to shoulder width. Bend at the lower back, then lean forward a little.
- Place your feet back to the starting position.
- Then proceed to prepare the projectile for movement: you need to unlock the restraining fasteners and remove the clamps.
- As you exhale, slowly begin to lower the platform by bending your knees, lowering yourself to a 90-degree angle at the knee joint.
- At the bottom support, make a smooth push with your feet, directing the weight upward. Then straighten your legs, then return to the starting position.
Squats in a hack machine must be performed several approaches, exactly as many times as specified in the training structure. We recommend looking at the detailed technique, tips and mistakes of the exercise in the next video.
Squats in a hack machine have a number of features that make it stand out from regular classic squats. It has its advantages, which include:
- easy accessible technique for performing exercises. You automatically no longer need to “balance” with the barbell to better transfer its center of gravity;
- load capacity increases;
- minimal risk of injury during training, since the entire load is evenly distributed;
- squats in a hack machine will allow you to develop your body on your own, without backup, without resorting to the services of third parties;
- As the muscles in your legs develop evenly, your body will begin to produce hormones responsible for growth.
Example of a training program with a hack machine
Combining exercises into a complex for leg development is extremely simple. If you have a Hack machine in your gym, combine it with leg presses, sitting and lying leg curls. We offer the following basic training for beginners on equipment.
Outside the ring
Very little is known about what Gackenschmidt did after finishing his sports career. He tried to provide a scientific basis for his own system of strength development and was developing wrestling tactics. Gackenschmidt did not support the cruel approaches of many wrestlers to training.
After the First World War, George took French citizenship, and in 1950 - British citizenship. Soviet athletes and coaches who went to foreign competitions in the post-war period said that Hackenschmidt often came to tournaments with their participation and liked to chat.
Hackenschmidt had very beautiful quadriceps - this is the result of an effective exercise he invented that made it possible to maximize the use of the front surface of the thigh. Today it is called the hack squat. Georg performed it with a barbell, and subsequently a machine was invented that gave a similar effect. It's called the hack machine and is used by bodybuilders all over the world.
Gackenschmidt lived most of his life in London, where he was a great athlete and died in 1968.
Leg training on simulators
Hack squats with narrow feet
- 3 sets of 12,10,8 repetitions
- Body part: Quadriceps Equipment: Exercise
Leg press
- 3 sets of 12,10,8 repetitions
- Body part: Quadriceps Equipment: Exercise
Leg straightening in the simulator
- 3 sets of 10-15 reps
- Body part: Quadriceps Equipment: Exercise
Leg bending in a lying machine
- 3 sets of 10-15 reps
- Body part: Hamstrings Equipment: Exercise
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How did the athlete eat?
Georg was very meticulous about his diet, in particular, he strictly adhered to the diet that Kraevsky developed especially for him. In this diet, each element was as balanced as possible, that is, it was exclusively beneficial.
Georg himself never overeated, but consumed exactly as much food as was enough for him to maintain a balance of strength and energy. The basis of the diet was: fruits, vegetables, nuts. Since Gakkelschmidt was a vegetarian, it was necessary to eat them daily in large quantities in order to replenish the fat and carbohydrate content in the body. No less important in the diet were protein-rich foods, which served as the basis for normal muscle growth and nutrition.
Why is Georg Hackenschmidt called the “Russian Lion”?
Georg Hackenschmidt’s nickname “Russian Lion” was not given to him by chance. The thing is that Georg was born in the city of Dorpat, which is currently called Tartu and is located in Estonia. At the time of the birth of the legendary athlete, Estonia was part of the Russian Empire, so it is not surprising that opponents and fans considered Hackenschmidt to be Russian. It is interesting that, in fact, Georg’s nationality has nothing to do with Russians or Estonians, because he himself comes from the Baltic Germans. But this did not bother the public, and the athlete was called the “Russian Lion” all his life.
Hackenschmidt was also deliberately dubbed the “King of Beasts,” because he was famous for his incredible strength and power, comparable to the power of a predator. And this is funny, given the fact that the famous athlete was a vegetarian and did not eat meat. In addition, Georg was known as a decent, noble and well-mannered man, distinguished by endurance and courage not only in sports, but also in ordinary life.
So, Georg Hackenschmidt is a unique athlete, born in Estonia, who is a Baltic German by nationality and has British citizenship, who was called the “Russian Lion” all his life.
Hackenschmidt's first and last loss
“Nothing lasts forever under the sun,” so the invincible “Russian Lion” at one point ceased to be considered invincible. This legendary event happened in Chicago on April 3, 1908. Many fans spoke of it as something truly tragic, since it seemed that Georg was invincible. The battle lasted at least 2 hours. None of the wrestlers ever fell, so as not to give an advantage to the other.
It was noted more than once by fans that Frank, Hackenschmidt’s opponent, fought dishonestly. The enemy used “forbidden techniques” like scratching, in addition, his body was covered with some kind of oily liquid, which gave him some advantage, because the enemy could not hold his body for long (his hands slipped). Thus, it was simply impossible to capture it or turn it over. There was even an opinion that the judges were simply bribed, that they simply turned a blind eye precisely for this reason.
To say that this fight caused violent indignation with many controversies for many years is to say nothing. Georg's fans were indignant. So, in 1911, a rematch was supposed to take place, which never happened, because Hackenschmidt received a serious leg injury. This event was fatal for the career of the “Russian Lion”. The loss affected him so much that the champion refused to take part in further tournaments.
Excerpt characterizing Hackenschmidt, Georg
“Allez, mon ami, [Go, my friend,” said Princess Marya. Prince Andrey again went to his wife and sat down in the next room, waiting. Some woman came out of her room with a frightened face and was embarrassed when she saw Prince Andrei. He covered his face with his hands and sat there for several minutes. Pathetic, helpless animal groans were heard from behind the door. Prince Andrei stood up, went to the door and wanted to open it. Someone was holding the door. - You can’t, you can’t! – a frightened voice said from there. – He began to walk around the room. The screams stopped and a few seconds passed. Suddenly a terrible scream - not her scream, she could not scream like that - was heard in the next room. Prince Andrei ran to the door; the scream stopped, and the cry of a child was heard. “Why did they bring the child there? thought Prince Andrei at the first second. Child? Which one?... Why is there a child there? Or was it a baby born? When he suddenly realized all the joyful meaning of this cry, tears choked him, and he, leaning with both hands on the windowsill, sobbed, began to cry, as children cry. The door opened. The doctor, with his shirt sleeves rolled up, without a frock coat, pale and with a shaking jaw, left the room. Prince Andrey turned to him, but the doctor looked at him in confusion and, without saying a word, walked past. The woman ran out and, seeing Prince Andrei, hesitated on the threshold. He entered his wife's room. She lay dead in the same position in which he had seen her five minutes ago, and the same expression, despite the fixed eyes and the paleness of her cheeks, was on that charming, childish face with a sponge covered with black hairs. “I love you all and have never done anything bad to anyone, so what did you do to me?” her lovely, pitiful, dead face spoke. In the corner of the room, something small and red grunted and squeaked in Marya Bogdanovna’s white, shaking hands. Two hours after this, Prince Andrei entered his father’s office with quiet steps. The old man already knew everything. He stood right at the door, and as soon as it opened, the old man silently, with his senile, hard hands, like a vice, grabbed his son’s neck and sobbed like a child. Three days later the funeral service was held for the little princess, and, bidding farewell to her, Prince Andrei ascended the steps of the coffin. And in the coffin was the same face, although with closed eyes. “Oh, what have you done to me?” it said everything, and Prince Andrei felt that something was torn away in his soul, that he was guilty of a guilt that he could not correct or forget. He couldn't cry. The old man also entered and kissed her wax hand, which lay calmly and high on the other, and her face said to him: “Oh, what and why did you do this to me?” And the old man turned away angrily when he saw this face. Five days later, the young Prince Nikolai Andreich was baptized. The mother held the diapers with her chin while the priest smeared the boy’s wrinkled red palms and steps with a goose feather. The godfather grandfather, afraid to drop him, shuddering, carried the baby around the dented tin font and handed him over to his godmother, Princess Marya. Prince Andrei, frozen with fear that the child would not be drowned, sat in another room, waiting for the end of the sacrament. He looked joyfully at the child when the nanny carried him out to him, and nodded his head approvingly when the nanny told him that a piece of wax with hairs thrown into the font did not sink, but floated along the font. Rostov's participation in Dolokhov's duel with Bezukhov was hushed up through the efforts of the old count, and Rostov, instead of being demoted, as he expected, was appointed adjutant to the Moscow governor general. As a result, he could not go to the village with his entire family, but remained in his new position all summer in Moscow. Dolokhov recovered, and Rostov became especially friendly with him during this time of his recovery. Dolokhov lay sick with his mother, who loved him passionately and tenderly. The old woman Marya Ivanovna, who fell in love with Rostov for his friendship with Fedya, often told him about her son. “Yes, Count, he is too noble and pure of soul,” she used to say, “for our current, corrupted world.” Nobody likes virtue, it hurts everyone's eyes. Well, tell me, Count, is this fair, is this fair on Bezukhov’s part? And Fedya, in his nobility, loved him, and now he never says anything bad about him. In St. Petersburg, they joked about these pranks with the quarterly, because they did it together? Well, Bezukhov had nothing, but Fedya bore everything on his shoulders! After all, what did he endure! Suppose they returned it, but how could they not return it? I think there weren’t many brave men and sons of the fatherland like him there. Well now - this duel! Do these people have a sense of honor? Knowing that he is the only son, challenge him to a duel and shoot so straight! It's good that God had mercy on us. And for what? Well, who doesn’t have intrigue these days? Well, if he is so jealous? I understand, because he could have made me feel it before, otherwise it went on for a year. And so, he challenged him to a duel, believing that Fedya would not fight because he owed him. What baseness! That's disgusting! I know you understood Fedya, my dear count, that’s why I love you with my soul, believe me. Few people understand him. This is such a high, heavenly soul!
