Although Parkinson wrote this book in a very young age back in 1976, he presented the real General Michail Illarionovich Kutuzov overturning many myths that were built about him. Of course the largest part of the book is devoted to Kutuzov's role in the 1812 campaign but there are also many interesting details about his eralier carreer and his successes (and terrible wounds) while fighting against the Turks at the Danube front. A well balanced and accurate source for anyone who wishes to learn more about the famous hero of Tolstoy's "War and Peace" and the menace of Napoleon's Grand Armee in the Russian steppes.