Napoleon's invasion of Russia is one of the most dramatic events in history. It occupied only six months, June to December 1812, and during that period nearly half a million men died. At the start Napoleon was at the height of his power. At the end he faced the destruction of his empire. Why did he invade Russia and why, in spite of his early successes and the capture of Moscow, did he fail? The author examines the story afresh. He considers why one of the greatest commanders in history failed and one of its least gifted succeeded, how Tolstoy misinterpreted the drama, and how Hitler, 130 years later, failed to benefit from Napoleon's example.
