Moscow Apocalypse

12 hrs. 54 min.

Language Russian

Author Nikolay Svechin

Narrator Mikhail Roslyakov

Description

The story takes place in the autumn of 1812 in Moscow occupied by the French. A former nobleman, Pyotr Akhleshtyshev, is sentenced on false charges. He awaits deportation to hard labor in Butyrka prison. A rival, Prince Shekhonsky, put Pyotr behind bars so he could marry his fiancée and seize her fortune. The arrival of Napoleon’s army throws everything into chaos. Akhleshtyshev escapes from the transport and ends up in Moscow taken over by the enemy. The city is filled with violence, looting, and robberies. With the help of a criminal friend, Akhleshtyshev saves his former fiancée—now Princess Shekhonskaya. Her husband fled, leaving her to fate. For eight days they wander through burning Moscow, watching all the horrors of the fire. At first, only the fate of his beloved woman matters to Akhleshtyshev—he doesn’t plan to fight. But the occupiers’ atrocities force him to take up arms. Pyotr participates in nighttime guerrilla war, becomes an assistant to the resident of Russian military intelligence, and carries out disinformation against Napoleon regarding Kutuzov’s plans. Finally, the French leave Moscow, but they mine the Kremlin and attempt to blow it up. The partisans save Russian shrines. The capital is freed. For his merits, the Sovereign отменив the sentence and restored his nobility. Now he can marry the woman he loves. However, the war continues: Pyotr is promoted to officer rank and assigned to the secret service, and he departs for the active army.