War and Peace · Character
Ilyín
- Minor
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 175
Sixteen and already in uniform, Ilyín seems all bright nerves and eager movement, close at Rostóv’s side and quick to speak. His youthful excitement lends warmth to the cramped, rain-soaked world around him.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- 16
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 175
- Books
- 1
Ilyín enters the story as a sixteen-year-old young officer and Rostóv’s devoted protégé, pressing close to him in the shelter of a wet, uncomfortable night. His excitement and talkative agitation make him a vivid presence among the officers, whether splashing through mud or riding beneath the birches. The novel presents him as a youthful companion in Rostóv’s military life, without giving him a separate, extended arc.
Description
Ilyín is a sixteen-year-old young officer; the text does not specify his height, build, complexion, hair, eyes, or facial features. He wears a hussar uniform, sometimes rain-wet and at other moments changed into dry clothes. His excited face and animated, restless manner are the clearest features of his appearance.
Connections
Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals
Nicholas Rostóvconflicting source relationships
The two officers ride together to Boguchárovo in high spirits. Ilyín accompanies Rostóv during the confrontation with the peasants and notices Rostóv’s changed mood after meeting Mary.
Story so far
BOOK 1War and Peace
Appearances
Meet Ilyín in Bookworm
Meet Ilyín in your EPUB — spoiler-safe to the book you're on.