The narrative "Us"

[Cameron]

Has anyone noticed this? The narrative method of speaking for the collective.

The narrator says "our rear guard" and "so foreign to us" on page 254. It seems like the narrator is taking on a larger representative role.

Am I wrong about this being a new thing? I've looked back a bit to see about it. He always refers to them as the "Russians". I haven't looked ahead to see if this occurs again. Anyone notice this? Seems radical for 19th century lit. Translation liberties perhaps?

[brian]

cameron: stuck back on pg 190 and been noticing the same thing...

it's definitely a bit jarring as a very neutral narrator suddenly, and very subtly, includes himself in his own narrative... it's funny, i just assumed it was a normal narrative device of the times; one that was acceptable then, but now would be seen as breaking the rules... as the narrator merely asserting his 'russian-ness', not necessarily as a radical literary move.

does anyone know anything about this?

very interesting how truly subjective the reading experience is...