Showing posts with label French army. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French army. Show all posts

Thursday, 22 February 2018

Volume 3: Book 11 - Chapter 26

Characters Present:

The French Army

Location: 

Moscow


The French army have arrived in Moscow, but it quickly ceases to be an army as the troops realise that Moscow has been abandoned.  The men disperse quickly over the city, appropriating valuables and claiming new homes.  Many of them come to their doom, after leaving the city a few weeks later, trying to carry their stolen goods, much like a monkey with its fist full of nuts in an narrow necked jar. 

Moscow, being mostly built of wood, eventually gets burnt down.  It is debated as to whether it was to be attributed to Rostopchín being vengeful, or to the carelessness of the soldiers living in a city that didn't really belong to them.

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Book 2 - Chapter 20

Characters Present: 

The German colonel from the last chapter
Dólokhov
Major Ekonómov (first appearance)
Captain Tushín
Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Location:
Znaim

The German general charges into the cut-off copse on his horse in a panic to see whether his men are being killed horribly, and happily, the pressure on the Germans has been eased by some Russian sharp-shooters.

Dólokhov has been killing the French shows several trophies in the way of personal items to Major Ekonómov, wishing to be remembered for his heroism.

Tushín is having a lovely time down at the front of the line with his battery and doesn't show any sign that he will obey when told to retreat by a staff-officer.  Bolkónski reaches the battery and shakes Tushín's hand and says "Until we meet again". Tushín is described as having tears in his eyes as he watches Bolkónski ride away [1]





[1] Bolkónski and Tushín seem to have man-crushes on one another. 

Saturday, 18 July 2015

Book 2 - Chapter 16

Characters Present:

Prince Andrew Bolkónski

Captain Tushín 
An infantry officer with a manly voice

Location: 

Still in Znaime


Bolkónski continues his tour of the camp and climbs a hill where he can see the whole of the Russian Army and the beginnings of the French army.  He observes that the French line is much wider than the Russian and notes that the French could very easily outflank the Russians.

Bolkónski starts to develop a strategy to pass on to Bagratión but then overhears voices philosophising about death in a cabin that is on the hill.  He recognises one voice as belonging to the dashing Captain Tushín, who he met while he (Tushín) was being scolded for not wearing boots a couple of chapters ago, and the other to be very manly indeed. 

Their conversation is interrupted by a canon ball whizzing through the air and destroying part of the cabin.

Friday, 17 July 2015

Book 2 - Chapter 15

Characters Present:

Prince Andew Bolkónski
Fedor Ivanovich Dólokhov

Location:
  
Znaime 

Bolkónski, having managed to convince Kutüzov to ride ahead, arrives at  General Bagratión's encampment in Znaime.   The battle has not yet commenced, and nobody there really knows what is going on. 

Bolkónski asks to tour the camp and upon reaching the lines, and notes that the Russians and the French are so close that they can speak.  He rides along the line for a bit, and spots Dólokhov and a Frenchman taunting each other.