The Battle of Borodino: Napoleon Against Kutuzov (Campaign Chronicles)

I knew next to nothing about the battle of Borodino before I read this book. I knew it was a large battle of Napoleon's Russian campaign and it was depicted in War and Peace, but that was about it. After reading this book, Borodino is one of my favourite battles of all the Napoleonic wars. In fact, this book is among the best accounts of Napoleonic combat I have read, second only to Bernard Cornwell's superb Waterloo. Borodino is a lot like Waterloo: A titanic, bloody struggle fought all day long between two large armies determined to win for their country.The book is entirely about the battle of Borodino, and is not a book on the whole Russian campaign. The battle itself is covered in most pages of the book, and multiple black and white illustrations supplement the text nicely. Both the Russian and French order of battle is shown at the end of the book. The cost of Borodino was staggering: 80,000 or more French and Russian soldiers killed or wounded in just one day. Think about that for a minute. It was far worse than Gettysburg, Antietam, or Shiloh when it comes to 19th century battles. It even surpassed Waterloo and Austerlitz in carnage of other Napoleonic battles.But I absolutely loved this book. For Napoleonic buffs, it is a must buy. It should be shelved alongside other military classics. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The narration concerning the battle is very detailed and reads as well as possible.The book does include a very well written summary that will inform the reader about the prior basics. however Reading Dominic Lievin's Russia Against Napoleon first would be recommended.This is a very well researched book. The material of ( perhaps ) all previous written descriptions are referred to and some comparisons are provided. If the author has found they are wrong he provides the material and logic as to why.There are OK maps. Too bad everyone did not adopt the Osprey books style maps. You could purchase the Osprey book as well so that you have better maps to use. This is the first author not only to use Count Phillip de Segur and Gourgaud as references ( the book lists resources ) . He points out one of Gourgauds mis. . .- when he was just wrong.Segur is referred to by contemporary authors Allen, Leiven, Price.It is too bad this book was not written just after Dominic Leiven since Leiven is the one author missing. I highly reccomend reading Russia Aagainst Napoleon Lominic Lieven as well as follow up books such as :Napoleon : The End of Glory by Munro PriceMichaelLleggiere napoleon and BerlinNapoleon 1814: The Defence of France by Andrew Uffindelland don't forget War and Peace . . . if you have the time.This book works well with Lievens books, I did not notice any differences. Except in Lieven's book he mentions where Osterman-Tolstoy shows up and Mikaerdize mentions other interesting facts. Still it was not until I read Price's book that he mentions that Osterman was a cousin of Leo.enjoy.

Another excellent book we needed years ago. Of course there are dozens of books on Borodino battle of the Napoleonic campaign if 1812 - but this one by an outstanding historian provides so much critical information and analysis from the Russian view point that it is essential - I love the cover by Verischagin and have an exact version of it made in Zinnfiguren. - I envy professors of Russian history today for the new scholarly works they now have available.I wrote a lengthy review on my web site some years ago.

So many authors write about warfare. If you already know what happened, then maybe you learn something. But this author is different. With great pictures and excellent maps he tells the story of Borodino in the clearest fashion I have ever read and experienced. Included is analysis of mis-information about the battle, as well as might have beens. And all done with amazing first hand accounts the existence of which I had not known. I look forward to many more battle histories from this author.

Very informative...Became interested after reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace... My only complaint is that the letter “f”, as would be used in “fire”, “flèche”, and “flank” were missing throughout the book, obviously a printer’s error...

READ CAREFULLY> This is an well written history but as someone earlier commented the proofing on the Kindle edition is horrible! Less than 12% into it and it's missing letters! "Flank" becomes "lank". "Fire" becomes "ire". "Satisfied" is "satisied". It's like reading a third grade spelling quiz. This edition does the author an atrocious disservice. It's not like you can't figure out the words. But do you really want to spend your money on such a poorly produced product?

I have the kindle version and the text is frequently missing the letter "F" which makes it difficult to read.

Well researched, well written, endlessly interesting! A Wonderful history of one of the mist important battles of the Napoleonic Wars and the 19th Century. Filled in with informative charts and appendices. Great maps and illustrations. But Too many formatting errors and missing letters. Why is this still the case for so many great Kindle books?

Comprehensive and mostly enthralling. Extensive and highly relevant references. Presents a balanced view and draws reasoned conclusions as to what might actually have happened, which is particularly enlightening when, as seems often to be the case, participants have provided conflicting accounts.Surprisingly, there are a large number of typographical errors, ranging from letters to parts of sentences missing.

detailed

Napoleon described Borodino as `the most terrible of all my battles', yet it has been curiously neglected by military historians. Until the dreadful carnage of the First World War, Borodino was perhaps the most savage land battle since Cannae in 216 BC (although there have been battles with higher casualties, the hourly casualty rate at Borodino - 6,500 per hour or 108 men per minute - is truly staggering) . Napoleon claimed it as a victory, yet it was a victory on paper only: all he really gained was a few hundred metres of Russian earth. In spite of terrible losses on both sides, Napoleon failed to destroy the Russian army, which arguably emerged the moral victor. It was at Borodino that the Grande Armee was dealt a mortal blow; it was here that its long death agony began, not to end until the sad remnants of this once mighty force straggled across the Berezina several months later. Most Western accounts of Borodino have tended - perhaps understandably - to write from the Allied point of view, which gives a rather one-sided picture. Alexander Mikaberidze's account, while doing justice to the Allied side, provides the first truly convincing account of the battle from the Russian viewpoint. As always, Dr Mikaberidze's meticulous research is evident throughout the book; he has made extensive use, not only of published Russian primary sources, but also of Russian archive materials. He paints an objective yet moving and absorbing picture of this most terrible of Napoleon's battles, in the process setting the record straight with regard to many of the myths and misconceptions that have arisen regarding that awful day in September 1812. Dr Mikaberidze's reputation as a Napoleonic scholar of note will be further enhanced by this magnificent book.

Highly detailed and well documented; really for specialists but a great account. Balanced opinion on Napoleon handling of the battle and a critical vision of Kutuzov and the soviet school.A true slaughter due to lack of maneuvering, highly concentrated artillery barrage and two armies committed to win or die.Only four stars to distinguish it from Berezina from the same author, which is really a 5 stars and an impressive book.Recommended.

The author has written a very readable and clear account of the factors affecting the action in this titanic struggle. Plenty of quotes from people who participated in the action. He also discusses the controversies historians have had in interpreting the events in the context of its time.