Chapter 209
The Truth Behind Famous Battles
On the twenty-fourth of August the battle of the Shevárdino Redoubt was fought, on the twenty-fifth not a shot was fired by either side, and on the twenty-sixth the battle of Borodinó itself took place. Why and how were the battles of Shevárdino and Borodinó given and accepted? Why was the battle of Borodinó fought? There was not the least sense in it for either the French or the Russians. Its immediate result for the Russians was, and was bound to be, that we were brought nearer to the destruction of Moscow—which we feared more than anything in the world;…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Why was the battle of Borodinó fought? There was not the least sense in it for either the French or the Russians."
Context: Opening challenge to legend
Pointless battle.
In Today's Words:
Tolstoy asks why Borodino was fought when it made no sense for either army. Famous events often lack rational motive. Question the myth before you admire the general. Name who gains leverage and who bears the private cost once the room empties. Track who benefits from the story told afterward.
"For Kutúzov this was mathematically clear, as it is that if when playing draughts I have one man less and go on exchanging, I shall certainly lose, and therefore should not exchange."
Context: Explaining Kutuzov's dilemma
Draughts analogy.
In Today's Words:
Losing pieces while behind in draughts guarantees defeat, so exchanging is folly. Kutuzov saw Moscow's price in arithmetic. Beware choices that look bold but worsen the count. Name who gains leverage and who bears the private cost once the room empties. Track who benefits from the story told afterward.
"In giving and accepting battle at Borodinó, Kutúzov acted involuntarily and irrationally. But later on, to fit what had occurred, the historians provided cunningly devised evidence"
Context: Against genius myth
Retrofit genius.
In Today's Words:
Kutuzov acted involuntarily at Borodino; historians later supplied clever proof of foresight. After chaos we narrate genius to soothe pride. Read disaster for accident, not plan. Name who gains leverage and who bears the private cost once the room empties. Track who benefits from the story told afterward.
"So the histories say, and it is all quite wrong, as anyone who cares to look into the matter can easily convince himself."
Context: Debunking entrenched position myth
Official story false.
In Today's Words:
Histories claim Russians chose a fortified position; Tolstoy says that is easily disproved. Textbook battles are often tidy lies. Look at terrain and timing yourself. Name who gains leverage and who bears the private cost once the room empties. Track who benefits from the story told afterward.
Thematic Threads
Myth vs Fact
In This Chapter
Historians invent chosen position
Development
Tolstoy essay thread
In Your Life:
You might hear clean stories about messy decisions.
Involuntary Command
In This Chapter
Napoleon and Kutuzov trapped by momentum
Development
No genius, only pressure
In Your Life:
You might act because events boxed you in.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
Why does Tolstoy say Borodino made no sense?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
It brought both armies closer to the ruin each feared most.
- 2
What draughts analogy does he use?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Exchanging pieces while already behind guarantees loss, like accepting battle that costs Moscow.
- 3
What is wrong with the official position story?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Russians did not choose or fortify Borodino in advance; Napoleon shifted the field by crossing the Kolocha.
- 4
How do historians treat Kutuzov's choice?
application • deepOne way to read it
They later invent evidence of foresight though he acted involuntarily and irrationally.
- 5
When have you seen a messy choice rebranded as strategy?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Name the panic and the later press release. Andrew maps Borodino legends.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Spot the Retrofit
Think of a recent decision you made that didn't turn out well - maybe taking a job, ending a relationship, or making a purchase. Write down the real reasons you made that choice in the moment (pressure, fear, limited options, emotions). Then write down how you explained it to others afterward. Notice the difference between your actual messy reasoning and your cleaned-up public story.
Consider:
- •Look for places where you added logic that wasn't really there at the time
- •Notice if you emphasized smart-sounding reasons while downplaying emotional or desperate ones
- •Consider whether your retrofitted story might be preventing you from learning from what actually happened
Journaling Prompt
Write about a major decision in your life that everyone praised as brilliant, but you know was really just you making the best of a bad situation. What would change if you told that story honestly?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 210: The Weight of Twenty Thousand
Having exposed the myth of strategic genius at Borodino, Tolstoy pushes deeper into what actually drives human behavior during crisis. The next chapter weighs twenty thousand ordinary lives against the stories leaders tell about their own importance.
