The first history of the epic defeat of Napoleon's empire told from the Russian perspective. Though much has been written about Napoleon's doomed invasion of Russia and the collapse of the French Empire that ensued; virtually all of it has been from the Western perspective. Now; taking advantage of never- before-seen documents from the Russian archives; Dominic Lieven upends much of the conventional wisdom about the events that formed the backdrop of Tolstoy's masterpiece; War and Peace. Lieven's riveting narrative sweeps readers through epic battles; tense diplomatic exchanges on which the fate of nations hung; and the rise of Russia from near-ruin to Europe's liberator. Rich in detail; Russia Against Napoleon is a groundbreaking masterwork.
#70131 in Books Chris Wickham 2010-08-03 2010-08-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.42 x 1.49 x 5.48l; 1.31 #File Name: 0143117424688 pagesThe Inheritance of Rome Illuminating the Dark Ages 400 1000
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An important book; but not an easy readBy Paul E. SchnitzelReviews of this book have varied. I agree with those who have spoken of its over-long; complex sentences. If you choose to purchase this book; prepare to have your attention span tested to the full. You will find yourself re-reading sentences to remind yourself of just what the author is trying to say. It is full of names: Theudebert; Sigibert; Dagobert and Adlabert; just to mention a few. I found my mind wandering to names like Dogbert and Catbert; from the Dilbert comic strip (just for comic relief). That said; this book is full of scholarship; erudition and insights. It deals not just with names; but with broader cultural; political and economic themes. You will learn more about the early Middle Ages.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Informative but academicBy TomLInformative ... too much so. It was too academic for my taste.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Stavros GiannatosGreat read.
