The Retreat (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Retreat is a historic novel
by the French author Patrick Rambaud
that was first published in 2000. The English translation by Will Hobson appeared in 2004.
The Retreat describes the occupation of Moscow
by the French Army
in 1812 and its disastrous retreat
. The action in the novel follows closely historical observations and descriptions as seen from the French perspective. The main characters are Napoleon, Sebastian Roque who becomes his scribe during the campaign, and Captain D'Herbigny of the Guard. The defeat of the French army is relived through their experiences. The Retreat is the second book of a trilogy
by Rambaud about the decline of Napoleon, describing his first major setback; the other two books cover Napoleon’s earlier defeat at Aspern-Essling in The Battle
and his later banishment at Elba
in Napoleon’s Exile.
As explained by Rambaud in the attached Historical Notes, the French title Il neigeait (meaning "it snowed") refers to a poem by Victor Hugo
that is entitled Expiation (atonement) part of Les Châtiments
(The Punishments) and describes the retreat from Russia.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by the French author Patrick Rambaud
Patrick Rambaud
Patrick Rambaud is a French writer.-Life:With Michel-Antoine Burnier, he wrote forty pastiches, .They wrote Le Journalisme sans peine ....
that was first published in 2000. The English translation by Will Hobson appeared in 2004.
The Retreat describes the occupation of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
by the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
in 1812 and its disastrous retreat
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
. The action in the novel follows closely historical observations and descriptions as seen from the French perspective. The main characters are Napoleon, Sebastian Roque who becomes his scribe during the campaign, and Captain D'Herbigny of the Guard. The defeat of the French army is relived through their experiences. The Retreat is the second book of a trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
by Rambaud about the decline of Napoleon, describing his first major setback; the other two books cover Napoleon’s earlier defeat at Aspern-Essling in The Battle
The Battle (novel)
The Battle is a historical novel by the French author Patrick Rambaud that was first published in 1997. The English translation by Will Hobson appeared in 2000. The book describes the 1809 Battle of Aspern-Essling between the French Empire under Napoleon and the Austrian Empire...
and his later banishment at Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
in Napoleon’s Exile.
As explained by Rambaud in the attached Historical Notes, the French title Il neigeait (meaning "it snowed") refers to a poem by Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
that is entitled Expiation (atonement) part of Les Châtiments
Les Châtiments
Les Châtiments is a collection of poems by Victor Hugo that fiercely attack the grandeur of Napoléon III's Second Empire.- Historical background :...
(The Punishments) and describes the retreat from Russia.