(This chapter makes me almost want to reread War and Peace as well as Les Miserables.) Russian strategy of withdrawal . . . lure N. into the country . . . N. aware of the trap, but falls into anyway, always thinking that the decisive battle must occur soon . . . Vilnius as base for N. , , , Russians systematically destroy crops, windmills, bridges, livestocks, fodder, shelter, grain--anything that the French could use-- as they retreat . . . scorched earth--their own earth . . . Russia before the scorched earth policy would have not provided food for N's troops . . . 1000 horses die every day for 175 days French army spends in Russia . . . Typhus fever hits N's troops . . .80,000 dead or sick from typhus . . . fever, shaking, congestion of the brain, death . . . N. misled regarding state of health of his troops and state of food supply . . . Russians avoid battle, fleeing with precision: "There appeared more order in their defeat than in our victory." . . . N. presses on, boldness being his trademark and fearful of showing hesitation . . . incredible heat in August . . . simultaneously, Wellington defeats the French in Iberia at the battle of Salamanca . . . food shortages force N's men to go out into countryside where Russian irregulars kills them or take them prisoner . . .vast size of Russia overwhelms N's ability to invade . . .. Battle of Borodino--bloodiest battle untle the first battle of the Marne a century later . . . N wins, but not decisively . . . Russian army withdraws, again . . . N. criticized for not risking his Guard (elite troops) to the battle . . . he felt the need to keep them back in case . . . was it a mistake? Historians mixed, as was N.
Weakest. Tommy is in prison. His son, Ryan, is now 17. Catherine the cop's sister, Clare, takes Ryan to visit Tommy in prison, without telling Catherine. Not good. Sisters have a break when Catherine finds out. Plot two: PE teacher, abusive to wife. She is getting drugs from local Indian/Pakistani pharmacist. Husband finds out and has wife arrested! Pharmacist worried . . . plots to kill husband. Wife agrees, then changes her mind. Pharmacist in a rage kills her. (All a bit of a stretch, as he is a mild mannered family man.) Tommy escapes from his court hearing, hides out, gets in touch with Ryan. Plan is to go to Marabella, Spain together. Tommy's "helpers" get worried about Tommy and decide to do him in. Instead, he kills them . . . and is knifed himself. He returns to Catherine's house, looks through a photo album showing Catherine took good care of Ryan, and decides not to kill her....
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