Product Description

This book tells the story of one of the most astonishing dramas in Europe’s history. In the summer of 1812 after years of uneasy peace, Napoleon, the master of almost the whole continent, marched into Russia with the largest army ever assembled, confident that he would sweep everything before him. Less than two years later the Russian army was itself marching into Paris and Napoleon’s empire lay in ruins. Using an array of new, rare and surprising sources, Dominic Lieven writes with great panache and insight to describe from the Russians’ viewpoint how they went from retreat, defeat and the burning of Moscow to becoming the new liberators of Europe. He conveys the savagery and valour of the fighting (including such huge set-pieces as the Battle of Leipzig), the often tense diplomacy that held together the Allied coalition against Napoleon and the astonishing feats of supply which allowed the Russian army to cut its way across Europe.The consequences of these events could not have been more important: after a whole generation of fighting, Europe (except for the brief coda of Waterloo) was at peace and France’s global pretensions at an end. But the great winners, Britain and Russia, now presented new nightmares for the rest of the world. Much more than just battlefield history, Russia Against Napoleon is also the story of how Russia's home front was mobilised against Napoleon and how much the Russian people suffered in pursuit of victory. It is too the story of one of the most successful espionage operations in history. Ultimately this book shows, memorably and brilliantly, Russia embarking on its strange, central role in Europe’s existence, as both threat and protector – a role that continues, in all its complexity, into our own lifetimes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1442 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-01
• Binding: Hardcover
• 672 pages

Review
Lieven tells it with all the verve of the enthusiast and the erudition of the fine scholar he is . . . The result is a balanced, informed and entirely convincing explanation of how Russia was able to defeat the Napoleonic empire. It is also a perfect marriage of scholarship and engaging narrative that fills a yawning gap in the historiography of the period, while entertaining the reader (Adam Zamoyski, Standpoint )

About the Author
Dominic Lieven has spent many years studying Imperial Russia and is the author of the highly praised Empire: The Russian Empire and Its Rivals. He is Professor of Russian Government at the London School of Economics. He lives in London.

Customer Reviews

The Real War & Peace
Once again Amazon are offering another wonderful tomb at an amazing discounted price. For me, bookshops have now become nothing but showrooms: go in one and have a look at what you want. Then go home and order on Amazon and save yourself a fortune!
Regarding this book - it is nothing short of tremendous. The story is well known but the way in which the author has taken the subject, made it exciting and entertaining makes this a great read. This is the scholarly account of War and Peace and it is enlightening and entertaining, with some great accompanying pictures.
A must for any Russian-history-ophile!

New Tsar
Very readable account of how Tsar Alexander planned to, and then did, defeat Napoleon. Puts the Tsar in, for me, a whole new light, as it does Napoleon.