The strict father of Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in War and Peace is Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky. He is the elderly patriarch of the Bolkonsky family and the father of both Andrei and Princess Marya.
Tolstoy presents Nikolai as eccentric, demanding and intensely disciplined. At his estate, Bald Hills, he follows a rigid daily routine involving walking, woodworking and lessons for Marya. His severity often makes him seem emotionally cold, especially toward his daughter, but the character also shows deep pride, intelligence and hidden feeling.
Readers may encounter the name as Nikolay rather than Nikolai because Russian names have several English transliteration systems. The full form is commonly rendered Prince Nikolai Andreich Bolkonsky, while his son is Prince Andrei Nikolayevich Bolkonsky. The similar names can create another mix-up: young Prince Nikolay, Andrei’s son, is a separate character who appears later in the family line.