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Restarting this. Excited.

Love these characters. Final stretch, will finish by All Souls Day, and what a fitting day that will be.

The Russians retreated at Borodino, but this was their victory, for they shattered the confidence of France. Was Kutuzov more "brilliant" than Napoleon? No, for it is not the generals who win battles but the whole army and its morale. The Russian troops had no reason to die in Austerlitz, but needed block the way to Moscow to defend their capital and homes. The French troops here were the Russians in Austerlitz.

One of the best parts of the novel imo. The characters undergo tremendous but subtle changes.

Bonaparte's defeat was written in the stars. His low birth ensured his insecurity; his insecurity caused his arrogance; his arrogance was his downfall. With this failing in his character, I cannot see how he could have remained Emperor. He would have constantly been at war with his neighbors for perceived slights against him by his fellow monarchs whom he felt never accepted him as their equals.