Through Russian Snows A Story of Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow

by G.A. Henty, William Heysham Overend (Illustrator)

Henty gives us two brothers as heroes, Frank and Julian Wyatt from Weymouth. Julian, through some fault of his own, is carried to France by smugglers and ends up in a French prison. Given the opportunity to fight for France in Germany, Julian agrees and is off to the invasion of Russia.
Brother Frank obtains a commission in the army in England, learns Russian, fights a duel, and is sent on detached service to Russia as aide-de-camp to Sir Robert Wilson.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Classics, Russia

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1895

About the author

George Alfred Henty, better known as G.A. Henty, began his storytelling career with his own children. After dinner, he would spend and hour or two in telling them a story that would continue the next day. Some stories took weeks! A friend was present one day and watched the spell-bound reaction of his children suggesting Henty write down his stories so others could enjoy them. He did. Henty wrote approximately 144 books in addition to stories for magazines and was known as "The Prince of Story-Tellers" and "The Boy's Own Historian." One of Mr. Henty's secretaries reported that he would quickly pace back and forth in his study dictating stories as fast as the secretary could record them.

Henty's stories revolve around fictional boy heroes during fascinating periods of history. His heroes are diligent, intelligent, and dedicated to their country and cause in the face, at times, of great peril... Henty's heroes fight wars, sail the seas, discover land, conquer evil empires, prospect for gold, and a host of other exciting adventures. Along the way, they meet famous personages... In short, Henty's heroes live through tumultuous historic eras meeting leaders of that time. Understanding the culture of the time period becomes second nature as well as comparing/contrasting the society of various cultures.

Reviews

[Thom Swennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through Russian Snows could be an extension to another novel by G.A. Henty, Through the Frey. Both stories deal with wrongful murder accusations and the eventual dismissal of charges. They are, however, two distinctively different tales. Julian and Frank Wyatt are to young middle-class English gentlemen. Julian thinking he will be charged with the murder of a local magistrate flees with smugglers from England to France. Because France and England are at war, he is soon put into prison. When given the choice to either serve in Napoleon’s army that is preparing to invade Russia or stay and waste away in the French prison, Julian chooses the former. The story relates a short but concise account of France’s Russian campaign and describes both the Battles of Smolensk (August 16-18, 1812) and Borodino (September 7, 1812). The French retreat from Moscow is vividly described in all its algid horror and reveals a surprise that saves his life. I was pleasantly surprised with this book and found it very engrossing. I feel sure many who pick it up will reach the same opinion.

[Phoebe Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I can't get over the fact that one of the main characters is named Julian. 😆 That's my supervisor's name, and what makes it even funnier is that when we started listening to the audiobook, we were on a trip coming back home from having met him in person for the first time (I work remotely). VERY funny coincidence, especially since Julian is an uncommon first name.

Overall not a bad story, different from a lot of Hentys because we have two main characters and no love interest, yay 😛 Of course Henty does his usual military focus (instead of the characters) during the campaigns, which can be hard to follow because there's no map in an audiobook 😭 I knew the retreat from Russia was bad, but I didn't know just how awful the WHOLE campaign was - ugh! "General Winter" defeats Russia's enemies time and time again . . .

But why, WHY do Henty's heroes have to get mixed up in smuggling?! He seems to sympathize with the smugglers, even though they're breaking the law and making life harder for the legal merchants. (Okay, maybe I'm being a little unfair to Henty here . . . I *do* have a thing for pirates, and I guess it's kind of the same dynamic that makes smuggling sound exciting. Not a great example for young readers though.) I'm also not a huge fan of how much drinking and smoking they do, either. ☹️

Frank was a good fellow and a gentleman, I liked him. Duels are stupid, though, and I'm glad that silly idea of "honor" hasn't held over into our times - not in the same way, at least.

And what is this? A Henty hero has a character arc? *gasp* One of the things I really liked was that Julian did change for the better, but at the same time retained his original, easygoing personality. I know from experience that it's hard to write believable character arcs 😓

Stephanie was a doll - I loved all the parts with her on the march. That is totally something I might have written. 😇

[Sarthak Bhatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was good but the author just shits on Kutuzov at every opportunity and yes I do know that the book was written in the late 19th century but still, it feels a bit odd. Almost every decision Kutuzov took was good enough, agreed he was too cautious sometimes but he sure doesn't deserve all the contempt that the author shows towards him. Even during Austerlitz Kutuzov warned alexander to not attack as he knew Napoleon had something up his sleeves. In the end, I was left aghast when the author writes about Bennigsen and says what a better general he was compared to Kutuzov!!! This was the same bennigsen who was crushed by marshall Lannes in Friedland. Bennigsen couldn't defeat Lannes decisively as Lannes used skirmishers and gradually ceded land to the Russians until Napoleon came later to give a decisive blow. And the reader is supposed to consider that bennigsen was better than Kutuzov?. On the other hand, the story of the great retreat was good to read, I just hoped there could be more focus on generals like davout or a battle scene depicting the nearly suicidal cavalry charges of Murat or the scene depicting Russian generals consultant with each other after Borodino.

Ps- if you think that I am just a nerd nerding things out pointlessly you are absolutely right! I don't have anything better to do.

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Through Russian Snows' gives a historically accurate and detailed look at Napoleon's campaign against Russia in 1812. While this novel is a bit lacking in character development and plot construction, Henty does a good job incorporating the events of this campaign with fictitious characters. The writing is somewhat detailed and repetitious at times leading to a few dull and boring sections. The history in this novel is accurate and intriguing, however, which gives the reader a lot to learn and is a beneficial history lesson. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and learned a lot of interesting facts and history in a fun way.

[April Matovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most Henty books, there are two main characters - brothers actually - one who ends up fighting with the French, and one who ends up working through the British military to help Russia defeat Napoleon's army. It is more interesting, and more off the beaten path.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Very interesting story involving the Napoleonic War. I found it very inspiring and love to read about people doing good things during difficult times and bring unselfish.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing read! I was worn and weary when I finished this book, so much marching!


You keep rooting for Napoleon but tenacity and desire may eventually lead to a dead end, what then?! All European and military history buffs will thoroughly enjoy this book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great boy's book

[Second_ffgf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story line is quite interesting with unexpected curves.

[creig speed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

This book was obtained for free and is one of the best I have read. Some details of the campaign but mostly the brothers part in the affair....

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly different from your usual Henty plot line but pretty interesting all the same. This story revolves around two brothers.

One of them (Julian) is unjustly accused of murdering a local despotic magistrate and he is forced to flee for his life to France. Since France is at war with Britain at that time he is put into a prison. After some time he volunteers to fight for the French army providing that he is never forced to fight against his own country. After some battle action he is sent to Russia where he experiences the horrible French retreat.

He is wounded and captured by Russian peasants but because he saved the life of the young daughter of a Russian count, he is welcomed by him and lives the good life in St. Petersburg after his capture.

Meanwhile his younger brother Frank, learns Russian, joins the army and ends up as the aide de camp to a British general who is sent to Russia as kind of a liaison.

They eventually meet in St. Petersburg and Frank tells him he has been absolved of his crime and both return to England richer for both of their experiences in Russia, and Julian materially because of his saving the count's daughter.

I enjoyed it due to the narrative on smuggling, French prison life, life in the French army, the general Russian setting, and the French retreat. Other than that, it's your basic Henty story.

[Farah Mendlesohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henty is always fun and nothing like as illiberal as his reputation (he was mostly traduced by those in the 1930s trying for a much more radical reaction).

In this one, the 18 year old hero is caught touristing at a smuggler's operation. The local magistrate tries to fit him up but is stopped by the chair of the board - lots of class politics, no one wants to see a respectable boy go down. One of the smugglers kills nasty magistrate and kidnaps the hero so he can't peach. He's dumped on the French, and rather than languish imprison agrees to fight for them (Napoleon) as long as he isn't fighting the British. He gets sent on the march into Russia.

Meanwhile 16 year old brother gets a commission, learns Russian and ends up on the British staff in Russia.

Adventures on both sides ensue until they meet again.

Henty is particularly good at battles and appalling conditions. I enjoyed it.

[Bella Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite reading this book for school, I actually really enjoyed it! The characters were likable, and the story had a good ending. Ironically, I didn’t learn a whole lot about Napoleon, and I think the book was more entertaining than educational. This book follows the stories of two brothers who get split up due to unfortunate circumstances and end up fighting on opposite sides of the war. Julian fights with the French and Frank fights with the Russians. If any of this sounds interesting, I think you’d like this book.

[PJ Wenzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, interesting and educational. I’ll be hunting up more of these to read. It’s just a heck of a good story. One for the campfires for sure.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I good book with a good ending by a good author...

[Mattaniah Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical GA Henty Classic, loved it!

[ferretpatrol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most interesting Henty that I have read, but still good history.

[Will Harrub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read about a dozen of Henty’s books, I regret to say this is the worst I’ve read and the only one I would give lower than a 4-star rating to.

The first half of the book is excellent, full of action and events to keep the pages turning, which is typical Henty. He also used two brothers as protagonists, which I’d never seen before from Henty, who usually sticks to one protagonist. The aspect of two brothers sharing a story was fascinating.

Halfway through however is where the excitement and story development ends. Halfway through the book, after both brothers enter the war on separate sides, the story development essentially ends and Henty turns his attention to describing the events of the war. It was most unfortunate to see that with the exception of one major addition to the plot roughly 70% of the way through, the story was pretty much over at the halfway point.

Henty almost always does an excellent job of keeping you intrigued to his stories consistently throughout his books, so I can’t read too much into just one of his works that I didn’t overly enjoy. The first half’s action as well as the unique format of two brothers as protagonists warrant a 3-star rating. The remainder of the book as well as the overall story arc however, warrant nothing more.