The Memoirs of Sergeant Bourgogne (1812-1813)

Considered by the majority of commentators to be the quintessential personal narrative of Napoleon’s disastrous 1812 campaign in Russia. The book charts the progress of the Grande Armée toward it’s apogee at the occupation of Moscow, followed by the great fire of Moscow and the looting of the city to the terrible retreat. During the retreat the full horror of the hunger, privation are vividly depicted, not only in Bourgogne’s own sufferings, but also those of his friends and countrymen. He stumb