Borodino was the most important battle of Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812 and saw his Grande Armée, drawn from the many states within the French sphere of influence, face a stubborn Imperial Russian army under Marshal Kutozov. After a bloody series of head-on attacks and desperate counterattacks both armies were left shattered but Napoleon held the field and marched on to Moscow, from where the dreadful retreat to safety would begin. This study covers the 1812 campaign in its entirety, from Napoleon's entry into Russian territory in June, through the retreat as Russian troops harassed his army all the way back over the Vistula, with the battle of Borodno proving the focal point of the book.

The road to Borodino -- Chronology -- Opposing commanders -- Opposing plans and forces -- The invasion -- The battle of Borodino -- The end of the campaign -- Aftermath -- The battlefield today.