Product Description

This is the story of how the most powerful man on earth met his doom, and how the greatest fighting force ever assembled was wiped out.; By 1810 Napoleon was master of Europe, defied only by Britain, which he could not defeat because he had no navy. His intention was to destroy Britain through a total blockade, the Continental System. But Tsar Alexander of Russia now refused to apply the blockade, and Napoleon decided to bring him to heel.; Napoleon quickly realised that nemesis awaited him, and the events of 1812 had a colossal impact on the fate of Europe: a great patriotic surge helped turn the Russians into a nation (hence Tchaikovsky's '1812' overture) and led them to reject Western values; the Germans began their fateful 'Prussification'; the French lost their cultural dominance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #151301 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 644 pages

Review
There's no epic greater than Napoleon's doomed attempt to conquer Russia. It has all the ingredients of chilling drama: an army, led by a arrogant emperor, launch a devastating attack. They meet heroic resistance, famous General Winter intervenes, and Napoleon's army and fortunes are lost forever in the snowdrifts of Russia. This vast panorama of human tragedy is deftly handled by Adam Zamoyski. He reveals the intricacies of the duel between Napoleon and Alexander, Czar of Russia, and the political ramifications for Napoleonic Europe. But he maintains the human perspective: the viewpoint of the soldier trudging through first the dust, then the snow, or the citizens of Moscow watching their city consumed by flames. Crucially, Zamoyski presents the invasion from both the French and the Russian point of view, creating a balanced account and one all the more absorbing as a result. This tale of war and peace is a powerful study of the clash of empires and the tragic consequences of that collision. (Kirkus UK)

Evening Standard
'Graphically told in heartbreaking detail... Zamoyski elegantly delivers gripping storytelling, bold revisionism and poignant suffering.'

The Spectator
'Magnificent... the description of the retreat is one of the most vivid and horrifying passages of history I have read...'

Customer Reviews

collection of myths and prejuces
The book is an exellent example of manipulation of history made by somebody with a strong ideological background. The only goal of Zamoyski is to show that Russia and Russians have nothing to do with the defeat of Napoleon and this defeat was ceased by anything else - bad weather, illness of Napoleon or maybe little green alliens. The plan of the campaine desined by Barklay de Tolly and followed by Kutuzov is not mentioned at all. Kutuzov is shown as a stupid and lazy idiot (this is an example of manipulation again - he is characterised in the book by exepts from letters of his rivals and enemies only).
Another problem is a discription of brutality of the war. From the book it is completely impossible to understand why russians flew from Moscow in the view of Frensh army. Just a hint: every russian town on the road from Smolensk to Moscow was burnt to ashes. Author ignores any notes about mass executions of russian PoWs (de Segur, Memoires, polish regiment killed all russian PoWs they had to escort).
As well sometimes I had an impression that Napoleon's army consisted mostly from polish regiments with a few italian ones.
The book is written with the great hate to Russia and Russians and has nothing to do with the history.

This is the most fantastic book
This is the most fantastic book. I was riveted from start to finish. It conjours the beauty of 18th century war with all its posing finery while defly describing the horrifying fate of its victims and it's perpetrators. Zamoyski's style is simple and unadourned. He lets the story write itself but what a story it is and how beautifuly the atmosphere of the occassion is caught. The arrogance and mercurial inteligence of Napoleon is brilliantly portrayed. It is almost as if you are actualy beside him as he is delivering one of his monologues while striding across the snow to his departing carriage.

I'd give it six stars if I could
Outstanding book. Extremely informative, very readable indeed. I couldn't put it down and read it with the enthusiasm of an adolescent reading a Playboy. The narrative was very interesting, battle tactics were easy to follow (maps in the right places)and you don't lose the thread of who is who (which I, not being an expert historian, tend to do with some history books). I'm sorry I can only give it five stars. If you have a passing interest in this piece of history but worry about whether you can really invest time and energy in a book of this size, put your worries aside and go for it, you won't regret it.