Napoleon's Expedition to Russia: The Memoirs of General de Segur
Christopher Summerville (Editor), General Count Philippe de Segur
Carroll & Graf; ISBN: 0786711744
Napoleon's invasion of Russia is one of the most mythic and dramatic events in Western history. General de Segur was one of the survivors of the expedition, a lucky man indeed given that only about 10,000 came back from an army of 500,000 - a 98% casualty rate! De Segur was one of Napoleon's aides and he wrote a best-selling memoir of his experiences. Christopher Summerville has edited the two volume memoir into this very readable and concise book. Summerville places de Segur's account in its proper context with extensive historical notes at the beginning of each chapter explaining the background of the events and giving the big picture of all the forces that were maneuvering around Napoleon's doomed Grand Army. While Napoleon must bear the ultimate responsibility for the debacle, it is the bravery and skill of his top officers - particularly Marshall Ney, famously the last man out of Russia - that must be credited for rescuing even that small number of troops who made it out alive. This is an amazing story of incredible suffering, immense bravery, and bigger-than-life personalities in an age when the word "glory" and "war" could still be used in the same sentence without irony. De Segur's eloquent and passionate memoir and Summerville's first rate commentary will only whet your appetite to read more about the subject. Highly recommended.
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