Chapter 218
The Myth of the Great Man
Many historians say that the French did not win the battle of Borodinó because Napoleon had a cold, and that if he had not had a cold the orders he gave before and during the battle would have been still more full of genius and Russia would have been lost and the face of the world have been changed. To historians who believe that Russia was shaped by the will of one man—Peter the Great—and that France from a republic became an empire and French armies went to Russia at the will of one man—Napoleon—to say that Russia remained a…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Many historians say that the French did not win the battle of Borodinó because Napoleon had a cold, and that if he had not had a cold the orders he gave before and during the battle would have been still more full of genius and Russia would have been lost and the face of the world have been changed."
Context: Opening the great-man debate
Cold as cause.
In Today's Words:
Some historians blame Napoleon's cold for losing Borodino and saving Russia. That logic makes a valet's boots world-historic. Ask when biography replaces the mass of wills. Name who gains leverage and who bears the private cost once the room empties. Track who benefits from the story told afterward.
"At the battle of Borodinó Napoleon shot at no one and killed no one."
Context: Who actually fought
Agency distributed.
In Today's Words:
Tolstoy insists Napoleon killed nobody at Borodino; soldiers did the shooting. Great-man stories shrink thousands of choices into one name. Count who actually bears the action. Name who gains leverage and who bears the private cost once the room empties. Track who benefits from the story told afterward.
"Had Napoleon then forbidden them to fight the Russians, they would have killed him and have proceeded to fight the Russians because it was inevitable."
Context: Why the army fought
Inevitable march.
In Today's Words:
The army would have fought even if Napoleon forbade it, and might have killed him for trying to stop. Momentum and hunger drove men forward. Leaders ride waves they did not create. Name who gains leverage and who bears the private cost once the room empties.
"It only seemed to Napoleon that it all took place by his will."
Context: How battle actually unfolded
Illusion of control.
In Today's Words:
Events moved by countless wills, yet Napoleon felt they obeyed his will. Commanders often narrate agency after coincidence arranges outcomes. Separate story from steering. Name who gains leverage and who bears the private cost once the room empties. Track who benefits from the story told afterward.
Thematic Threads
Cold as History
In This Chapter
Napoleon's sniffles become national fate
Development
Tolstoy mocks great-man logic
In Your Life:
You might see small causes assigned to huge turns.
Soldiers' Will
In This Chapter
Army would fight without Napoleon
Development
Mass agency over command
In Your Life:
You might notice momentum beyond any boss.
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 do some historians blame Napoleon's cold?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
They believe his orders would have been more genius without illness and Russia would have fallen.
- 2
What absurd parallel does Tolstoy draw?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
A valet forgetting waterproof boots would have saved Russia, like Voltaire joking about Charles IX's stomach.
- 3
Did Napoleon personally kill anyone at Borodino?
application • mediumOne way to read it
No; soldiers did the killing while he shot at no one.
- 4
Why would the army fight even if forbidden?
application • deepOne way to read it
They were committed to Moscow; fighting had become inevitable and they might have killed Napoleon for stopping them.
- 5
When have you seen one person credited for a mass outcome?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Name the crowd behind the portrait. Andrew maps Tolstoy's great-man critique.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Invisible Power Structure
Choose a situation where you've seen someone get praised or blamed for an outcome. Draw two columns: 'Visible Leader' and 'Hidden Forces.' In the first column, list what the obvious person did. In the second, list all the behind-the-scenes people, circumstances, and systems that actually created the result. Look for patterns in who gets credit versus who does the work.
Consider:
- •Consider both positive outcomes (who really deserved the credit?) and negative ones (what forces beyond individual control contributed?)
- •Think about your own invisible contributions - where do you do essential work that goes unrecognized?
- •Notice whether the 'leader' was performing authority (looking decisive, staying calm) rather than actually controlling the outcome
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you were either blamed for something beyond your control, or when your essential work went unrecognized while someone else got credit. How did that experience shape how you view leadership and responsibility?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 219: The Night Before Battle
Having demolished the myth of Napoleon's individual control over Borodinó, Tolstoy will continue exploring how historical forces really work, revealing the gap between how events appear to unfold and how they actually happen.
