The French Park “Kliny” (it means “Wedges”; the park is laid out in a wedge-shaped design) with its lime-tree alleys was the favorite recreation place of Tolstoy’s grandfather Prince Nikolay Volkonsky, who liked to stroll along the lanes of the park to the music of his own domestic orchestra of serf-musicians. In the drafts of “War and Peace” we find: “At seven sharp, when the clock was still striking, the prince went out from the terrace. He was wearing stockings, shoes, a simple grey coat with a star and a round hat on and had a crutch in his hand. The prince passed to the lanes, and having crossed his hands behind, started to walk. The music was playing.”
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