This book is an account of Napoleon’s Grand Army’s 1812 campaign into Russia. What this book throws into the story is the effect bacteria from the genus Rickettsia had on the outcome of the campaign and the future of world politics.

I enjoyed learning what the campaign was about, the day to day conditions of the soldiers during the march and during the battles, the political conditions of the world at the time, current military and medical practices used in those days, and many other nuggets of information the book provides. Part of the book is about Rickettsia and the disease typhus that they cause. The life/ disease cycles are covered, along with epidemiology of the disease moving through the army.

Talty’s summation of Napoleon’s demise is due to typhus moving through his army- killing as many as 5000 per day. This weakening of his forces changed the outcome of the battles, ultimately taking him out of the picture and changing the power structure of the world’s nations.