War and Peace Volume 4, Part 3, Chapter 17 Summary

  • As the French army retreats from Moscow to Smolensk, the Russian army chases after them.
  • Sometimes the Russian army is able to outrun them and attack from the front. Kutuzov tries to prevent this, since why attack a retreating army?
  • Napoleon escapes the fastest, riding away and deserting his troops. This is like a captain not going down with his ship – way, way uncool.