Folio Archives 23: The Retreat from Moscow 1812-1813 – Sgt. Bourgogne 1985
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1wcarter
Folio Archives 23 : The Retreat from Moscow 1812-1813 – Sgt. Bourgogne 1985
I have chosen this book for review, not because of its binding, style or illustrations (which are all fairly typical of 1980s FS books), buty because it is an extraordinary and fascinating story.
Napoleon’s winter time retreat from Moscow resulted in the destruction of vast majority of his army, more from cold and starvation than enemy action. Napoleon himself abandoned the army during the retreat and fled back to Paris.
The first-hand story written by Sergeant Bourgogne of his extraordinary experiences during this retreat make fascinating reading, and give a detailed insight into the lives of men in the army during this very trying time. Many of the tales show just how much both luck and diligence play a part in survival in times of duress. I found the book hard to put down.
The book is only 262 pages long, and has map endpapers to allow the route of the retreat to be easily followed.
Introduced by Vincent Cronin, translated by J. W. Fortescue, and with 16 pages of black and white illustrations. Bound in dark blue cloth blocked with contemporary painting of the crossing of the Berezina River. It is housed in a plain cream slipcase.
It is cheaply available on the secondary market and a highly recommended read to anyone interested in contemporary historical commentary.
Endpapers
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed at : http://www.librarything.com/topic/266300
I have chosen this book for review, not because of its binding, style or illustrations (which are all fairly typical of 1980s FS books), buty because it is an extraordinary and fascinating story.
Napoleon’s winter time retreat from Moscow resulted in the destruction of vast majority of his army, more from cold and starvation than enemy action. Napoleon himself abandoned the army during the retreat and fled back to Paris.
The first-hand story written by Sergeant Bourgogne of his extraordinary experiences during this retreat make fascinating reading, and give a detailed insight into the lives of men in the army during this very trying time. Many of the tales show just how much both luck and diligence play a part in survival in times of duress. I found the book hard to put down.
The book is only 262 pages long, and has map endpapers to allow the route of the retreat to be easily followed.
Introduced by Vincent Cronin, translated by J. W. Fortescue, and with 16 pages of black and white illustrations. Bound in dark blue cloth blocked with contemporary painting of the crossing of the Berezina River. It is housed in a plain cream slipcase.
It is cheaply available on the secondary market and a highly recommended read to anyone interested in contemporary historical commentary.
Endpapers
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed at : http://www.librarything.com/topic/266300
2scratchpad
I've had my eye on this for a while. Might it make an interesting partner for With Napoleon in Russia? That book reprinted in 2015. I don't suppose Bourgogne's book has been reprinted?
4scratchpad
>3 affle: Thanks for that. I'd be hoping for something a bit more recent. It must have been fairly popular and perhaps it can be popular again. In the meantime I might pick up a copy but enquire about the print year first.
5elladan0891
>2 scratchpad:
Good match. I first bought and read Vossler's With Napoleon in Russia, then got The Retreat from Moscow, but haven't read it yet. I found With Napoleon in Russia very interesting. Lieutenant Vossler's memoirs cover the invasion of Russia, the retreat, some of the 1813 campaign during which he was captured and shipped off to Russia, and his captivity with subsequent return home upon release. There is very little fighting described, much of the book reads as a travelogue, as Vossler takes time to describe each place he passes, including conditions of local populations, people he meets and architectural and urban attractions he tries visiting whenever he can.
I found it very interesting that the officers of the warring nations seemed to identify much more with each other than with their own men, and how well captured officers, even the low ranks like lieutenants, were treated (transported in carriages, billeted in inns or with local population, paid wages (!!!!!), etc).
All of that is written in a plain and straight-forward language, so if you're looking for a swashbuckling adventure or deathless prose, I'd skip With Napoleon in Russia, but as a window into the past I thought it was fantastic.
Good match. I first bought and read Vossler's With Napoleon in Russia, then got The Retreat from Moscow, but haven't read it yet. I found With Napoleon in Russia very interesting. Lieutenant Vossler's memoirs cover the invasion of Russia, the retreat, some of the 1813 campaign during which he was captured and shipped off to Russia, and his captivity with subsequent return home upon release. There is very little fighting described, much of the book reads as a travelogue, as Vossler takes time to describe each place he passes, including conditions of local populations, people he meets and architectural and urban attractions he tries visiting whenever he can.
I found it very interesting that the officers of the warring nations seemed to identify much more with each other than with their own men, and how well captured officers, even the low ranks like lieutenants, were treated (transported in carriages, billeted in inns or with local population, paid wages (!!!!!), etc).
All of that is written in a plain and straight-forward language, so if you're looking for a swashbuckling adventure or deathless prose, I'd skip With Napoleon in Russia, but as a window into the past I thought it was fantastic.
6scratchpad
>5 elladan0891: Thanks for the info. Sounds interesting. I look forward to reading them both.
