Kutuzov

A Life in War and Peace

By: Alexander Mikaberidze

Narrated by: Daniel Henning

He was the general who triumphed over Napoleon's Grande Armee during the Patriotic War of 1812, not merely restoring national pride but securing national identity. Many Russians consider Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Golenischev-Kutuzov the greatest figure of the 19th century, ahead of Pushkin, Tchaikovsky, even Tolstoy himself.

As award-winning author Alexander Mikaberidze shows in this fascinating, often startling, and wholly humanizing new biography, Kutuzov's 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 career-marked equally by victory and defeat, embrace and ostracism—he grew to despise those whose concept of war had devolved to mindless attack.

Here, at last, is Kutuzov as he really was—a 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 Tolstoy's 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.

©2022 Alexander Mikaberidze (P)2023 Tantor

Amazing

“This book offers a comprehensive account of Kutuzov’s life, capturing both his military career and personal journey with remarkable balance. Through its pages, I was transported into the world of the 18th and 19th centuries. It’s a well-researched and engaging work that brings history vividly to life.”

Good history, terrible narrator

The history is well done, but the narration was awful. Sounded like a human trying to imitate AI.

Easy flowing but detailed and comprehensive

Strikes the right balance. Easy listening. The narrator could have practiced his Russian pronunciation. But that’s not a criticism of the book! It made me want to get another biography from Napoleonic era right away :-)

Gossip as history

Way below the authors other work on audible in quality and credibility: this is 50% he said they said the tsar said etc blurring the actually quite momentous events and rendering important history into a gossip fest. The narrator doesn’t help with strange mispronunciations such as “read-out” for “redoubt” “Keeve” for “Kiev” and others. Confusing to an audience who can't see the text..
Not really recommended.