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 stumbles through trials that proved too much for most those around him, whilst maintaining a haunting ability to describe the torments that try him. This account written partly in captivity in 1813, after capture at the battle of Dessau in 1813 and partly from letters he sent to his family during 1812, its historical significance and value cannot be over stated.