What is the surname of the aristocratic family that includes Anatole and Hélène? Their surname is Kuragin.
Anatole and Hélène Kuragin are the children of Prince Vasili Kuragin, a powerful but self-serving member of the Russian aristocracy. Their family belongs to the circle of wealthy, socially ambitious figures who maneuver through Petersburg and Moscow society.
Hélène is celebrated for her beauty and social polish. She marries Pierre Bezukhov, whose unexpected inheritance makes him one of Russia’s richest men. Anatole, meanwhile, is a charming but irresponsible military officer who pursues pleasure and attempts to elope with Natasha Rostova despite already being secretly married.
A common confusion comes from the novel’s many aristocratic families. The Rostovs are associated with Natasha and Nikolai, the Bolkonskys with Andrei and Marya, and the Drubetskoys with Boris and Anna Mikhailovna. Kuragin is the family name shared by Anatole, Hélène, and their brother Hippolyte.