# Andrey Vassilievitch — The Dark Forest character guide

> Andrey Vassilievitch in The Dark Forest by Hugh Walpole.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Little Andrey Vassilievitch, Andrey, Poor Andrey

**First appearance:** 0002-the-dark-forest

## Snapshot

A widowed, excitable soldier who confesses his fear of the front to the narrator, he is the unit's most touching and least defended soul.

## Who they are

Andrey Vassilievitch wakes the narrator with news of the advance, his fat hand trembling on the bed, and admits in the same breath that he is frightened and cannot say of what. He mourns his remarkable wife, treasures his old friendship with Nikitin, and stiffly refuses to speak against Semyonov. His unguarded confession of fear gives the book one of its earliest and most human portraits of what the war does to ordinary men.

## In the story

### [I: Spring in the Train](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-i-i-spring-in-the-train)

A chattering member of the unit, attentive to Dr. Nikitin throughout the day.

### [The Schoolhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-i-ii-the-schoolhouse)

Finds the waiting disheartening.

### [III: The Invisible Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-i-iii-the-invisible-battle)

Andrey Vassilievitch is shown huddled after a shell explosion, then later freezes with fear on the moonlit road, but ultimately forces himself to continue.

### [IV: Nikitin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-i-iv-nikitin)

Described in his alliance with Nikitin, his doglike devotion, and his hatred of Semyonov.

### [VI: The Retreat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-i-vi-the-retreat)

Tired and depressed during the retreat; Trenchard comforts him.

### [One Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-i-vii-one-night)

Discussed by Nikitin as a splendid man whom the narrator should like; not directly present in the chapter.

### [I: The Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-lovers)

Mentioned as part of the group Semyonov dismisses as 'crazy romantics.'

### [II: Marie Ivanovna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-marie-ivanovna)

Andrey Vassilievitch is present at the celebration, busy with his uniform, and his words about his wife are recalled by the narrator.

### [III: The Forest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-the-forest)

Andrey is nervous and anxious, thinking of his wife; he exchanges a strange glance with Nikitin.

### [Four?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-four)

Mentioned as also experiencing visions of his wife, similar to Trenchard's illusions.

### [V: The Door Closes Behind Them](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/chapters/part-ii-v-the-door-closes-behind-them)

Killed during the Austrian attack; his death is reported to the narrator.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/characters/andrey_vassilievitch
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dark_forest_se/characters