Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov

Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov, referred to most often as the Count but sometimes called Sasha by his friends and family, is the main character of this novel. He is a descendant of an aristocratic Russian family. He is also the godson of a counselor of the Tsar.

At the beginning of the novel, the Count has been sentenced to a life sentence under house arrest at the Metropol. He received this sentence because of an inflammatory poem to which the Count had signed his name as the author. It is not until almost the end of the novel that the reader learns that the Count did not write the poem that got him placed on house arrest. The poem was written by Mishka, the Count’s best friend. Because Mishka already had a reputation it was believed he would be killed if it was discovered...