On 7 September 1812 at Borodino, 75 miles west of Moscow, the armies of the Russian and French empires clashed in one of the climactic battles of the Napoleonic Wars. This horrific - and controversial - contest has fascinated historians ever since. The survival of the Russian army after Borodino was a key factor in Napoleon's eventual defeat and the utter destruction of the French army of 1812. In this thought-provoking new study, Napoleonic historian Alexander Mikaberidze reconsiders the 1812 campaign and retells the terrible story of the Borodino battle as it was seen from the Russian point of view. His original and painstakingly researched investigation of this critical episode in Napoleon's invasion of Russia provides the reader with a fresh perspective on the battle and a broader understanding of the underlying reasons for the eventual Russian triumph.REVIEWS Alexander Mikaberidze is one of the most important young Napoleonic scholars in the US, and this book is just another reason why that is the case. does an outstanding job of telling the story. will be interesting to scholars and the 'just interested' alike. augmented by some outstanding graphics. What makes this book especially important, is the incredible breadth of sources used to produce it. gives readers at any level everything they could possibly want--and more. It belongs in anyone's Napoleonic library. "J. David Markham, Historian/Author, www.NapoleonicHistory.com"