- Hardcover: 656 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; illustrated edition edition (5 April 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007123752
- ISBN-13: 978-0007123759
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.2 x 5.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
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62,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #26 in Books > History > Europe > Enlightenment, Revolution & Empire 1751-1900
- #28 in Books > History > World History > 1751-1900
- #31 in Books > History > Europe > Napoleonic Wars
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Product Description
Review
‘No review can do justice to the scholarly integrity and human sensitivity of this book, or to the horror is describes…“1812” is one of the greatest stories ever told.’ Christopher Woodward, Spectator
‘Adam Zamoyski’s account of the 1812 campaign is so brilliant that it is impossible to put the book aside…A master craftsman at work.’ Sunday Times
‘An utterly admirable book. It combines clarity of thought and prose with a strong narrative drive.’ Daily Telegraph
‘Zamoyski’s book is a brilliant piece of narrative history, full of sparkling set-pieces, a wholly fascinating account of what must be reckoned one of the greatest military disasters of all time.’ Sunday Telegraph
‘Elegantly delivers gripping storytelling, bold revisionism, and poignant suffering.’ Simon Sebag Montefiore, Evening Standard
Evening Standard
'Graphically told in heartbreaking detail... Zamoyski elegantly delivers gripping storytelling, bold revisionism and poignant suffering.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
65 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book offers a lucid account of both the military and diplomatic aspects of Napoleon's disastrous Russian campaign. Its greatest strength lies in an exceptionally graphic account of the experience of the Napoleonic soldiery on the march to, and in the retreat from, Moscow. We are not spared harrowing details of suffering from heat and cold, but we also meet many examples of heroism and generosity, most movingly told. Many of the details have an almost hallucinatory vividness. It has greatly enriched my own sense of the pathos of history and of the potentialities of human nature in conditions of extreme trial.
My one criticism of the book is that, if one compares it to Antony Beevor's classic book on Stalingrad, which pays equal attention to the experience of the Russian and of the German soldiery, this book is one-sided. Zamoyski, as a learned and judicious historian, has a right to argue that the standard Russian account of the campaign is a patriotic myth and that the weather did more than the Russian army to defeat the French, but the focus remains too strongly on the invaders: the heroism and suffering of the ordinary Russian soldiery is not treated with the same sympathy and attention to detail as is accorded to the French (and the Poles). This book remains, however, a masterpiece of story-telling. It deserves the huge success one may confidently predict for it.
My one criticism of the book is that, if one compares it to Antony Beevor's classic book on Stalingrad, which pays equal attention to the experience of the Russian and of the German soldiery, this book is one-sided. Zamoyski, as a learned and judicious historian, has a right to argue that the standard Russian account of the campaign is a patriotic myth and that the weather did more than the Russian army to defeat the French, but the focus remains too strongly on the invaders: the heroism and suffering of the ordinary Russian soldiery is not treated with the same sympathy and attention to detail as is accorded to the French (and the Poles). This book remains, however, a masterpiece of story-telling. It deserves the huge success one may confidently predict for it.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a superb read - very hard to put down - as it provides an absorbing mix and insight into the historial/ military tactical/ human interest issues of 1812 to really understand and, yes, experience one of the most important and tragic events in European history in the last 200 years.
As a read it is in turn heart-breaking, in the detail of the suffering of soldiers and civilians, awe-inspiring in the descriptions of the heroics, and fascinating in its insights into the commanders, especially Napoleon - with all his flawed genius.
The tactical military stuff is v well described and dealt with - with sufficient detail to understand and be interested, without being swamped with data and having to keep checking previous sections and the maps.
The only Downside was when the book ended!
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm really not sure if I can do this book enough justice in the space of a tiny review. Before reading it I was, like many others perhaps, very much aware that Napoleon's march on Moscow was a turning point in his career and in European history, but apart from that, well... largely ignorant. Reading Zamoyski's book changed all that, and the only regret I have is not having read it earlier.
"1812" is a stunning history book! The 25 chapters are 'bite-size', just the right size to read at least one chapter each evening before going to bed (or two, or three... I found it very hard to put this book down), and in them Zamoyski gives a fascinating account of the entire campaign (beginning with the reasons why, and ending with the aftermath). In doing so he strikes a perfect balance between on the one hand a crystal-clear analysis of the broader political/military scene and motivations of the principal actors, and on the other hand lots of small but telling anecdotes.
One of the things that struck me most is how (as Zamoyski clearly demonstrates) few of the events were the result of intelligent, strategic decisions taken with clear goals in mind, but rather how one thing led to another and decisions were often reduced to the choice between the lesser of two evils. It's astonishing really, and all the more so if you come to realize the enormous cost in human misery and lives resulting from these decisions.
Zamoyski includes literally hundreds of extracts of private correspondence, notes, diaries, etc. from Napoleon and Tsar Alexander themselves down to foot soldiers, which don't detract from the main story but always succeed very well in illustrating the point Zamoyski is trying to make. I'm sure most of us are aware Napoleon's Grande Armée didn't have a field day in this campaign, but just how horrific it actually was is perhaps never better said than in the (often very moving) words of the actual participants. Last but not least the book contains 23 simple but clear maps, and is written in impeccable English.
This is a real feast from cover to cover!
"1812" is a stunning history book! The 25 chapters are 'bite-size', just the right size to read at least one chapter each evening before going to bed (or two, or three... I found it very hard to put this book down), and in them Zamoyski gives a fascinating account of the entire campaign (beginning with the reasons why, and ending with the aftermath). In doing so he strikes a perfect balance between on the one hand a crystal-clear analysis of the broader political/military scene and motivations of the principal actors, and on the other hand lots of small but telling anecdotes.
One of the things that struck me most is how (as Zamoyski clearly demonstrates) few of the events were the result of intelligent, strategic decisions taken with clear goals in mind, but rather how one thing led to another and decisions were often reduced to the choice between the lesser of two evils. It's astonishing really, and all the more so if you come to realize the enormous cost in human misery and lives resulting from these decisions.
Zamoyski includes literally hundreds of extracts of private correspondence, notes, diaries, etc. from Napoleon and Tsar Alexander themselves down to foot soldiers, which don't detract from the main story but always succeed very well in illustrating the point Zamoyski is trying to make. I'm sure most of us are aware Napoleon's Grande Armée didn't have a field day in this campaign, but just how horrific it actually was is perhaps never better said than in the (often very moving) words of the actual participants. Last but not least the book contains 23 simple but clear maps, and is written in impeccable English.
This is a real feast from cover to cover!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An epic tale told in an epic manner.
This book starts with a birth surrounded by all the pomp and power of an empire at its peak. in reality the book is about failure and indecision, about the useless sacrifice of... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk
Good account of Big History
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Published 1 month ago by Lamu Hermit
Only small negligences
The book is entertaining and well written (the English know how to write thrilling history books), however, small negligences appeared, e.g. Read more
Published 1 month ago by The Austrian
Awe inspiring!
what can i say, other then that this is perhaps one of the best books i have ever read. it really is that good and the author does an amazing job in telling the story both in a... Read more
Published 4 months ago by john
History at its best
I see no point in retelling any of the gripping and harrowing tale this book movingly narrates, but I do feel compelled to write a short review in the hope that others will read... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Nathan Fisher
An engaging account of one of the greatest disasters in military...
I have to admit that the Napoleonic Wars are outside of my usual area of reading. However some points of history have such a colossal impact on world events, you can feel a genuine... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kuma
The 'heroism and shipwreck' of 'Napoleon's hubris': Colossal!
The hyperbole on book jackets/covers can be annoying, especially when the book fails to live up to the hype. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sebastian Palmer
Cold War Legacy
I was surprised that even generation after the end of Cold War books like this one are still published and claim a shelf space in history section - I felt it rather belongs to... Read more
Published 16 months ago by A. Tartyshev
magnificent narrative history
Magnificent work of narrative history bringing home the sweep of historical events and many individual stories of suffering and horror experienced by the members of Napoleon's... Read more
Published 19 months ago by John Hopper
1812:Napoleon's Fatal March on Moscow.
This book is an excellent read. Plenty of Historical facts from the time. You almost feel what is must have been like to be a part of the Grand Armee during this time. Read more
Published 20 months ago by ianh
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