Memoirs of Sergeant Bourgogne 1812-1813 (Constable, £9.95 in UK)

Bourgogne's book is a classic, and deservedly so; as a member of Napoleon's elite Imperial Guard, he took part in the invasion of Russia and the subsequent long retreat westwards, which largely brought about the Emperor's downfall. His account of the burning of Moscow, the march home which began in good order and mild weather, and ended in disaster amid the Russian snows, the loss of comrades, the hallucinatory quality of the mid winter marching and fighting, the semi starvation and, above all, the relentless cold, makes memorable though often grim reading. There is a good introduction by Ralph Partridge.