Description

He was the general who triumphed over Napoleons Grande Arme during the Patriotic War of 1812 not merely restoring national pride but securing national identity Many Russians consider Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich GolenischevKutuzov the greatest figure of the 19th century ahead of Pushkin Tchaikovsky even Tolstoy himself

As awardwinning author Alexander Mikaberidze shows in this fascinating often startling and wholly humanizing new biography Kutuzovs story is far more compelling and complex than the myths that have encased him An unabashed imperialist who rose in the ranks through his victories over the Turks and the Poles Kutuzov was also a realist and a skeptic about military power Over his long careermarked equally by victory and defeat embrace and ostracismhe grew to despise those whose concept of war had devolved to mindless attack

Here at last is Kutuzov as he really wasa master and survivor of intrigue moving in and out of royal favor committed to the welfare of those under his command and an innovative strategist Across the generations portraits of Kutuzov have ranged from hagiography to dismissal with Tolstoys portrait of him in War and Peace perhaps the most indelible of all This immersive biography returns a touchstone figure in Russian history to human scale