> I like the imagery of this retreat being a thaw.

That was the best part for me, too. It makes it much easier to imagine.

I'm coming up with more Latin cross stitch phrases than I have time. Between "Hoc erat in fait" and "Quid obsurum, quid divinum", I've got plenty to stitch.

I like the imagery of this retreat being a thaw. It's cracks in the ice on a lake and all of a sudden an ice jam.

I liked the bit about Napoleon trudging away from the battlefield too. I imagine him like a sad little kid walking home after being bullied at school or something.

What a drag this must have been.

The bit at the end about Napoleon wandering toward Waterloo in a lonely daze was surreal.

I'm enjoying the anecdotes about the end of Napoleon being the end of all-powerful men. The feeling of transitioning into a new age brings an essence to this story and era that helps me get a clearer feel to what people's mindsets must have been at the time.

I'm so used to descriptions of battle where everyone is heroic. It's powerful to read this description of an army in retreat; the chaos, the fear, the cruelty. It was sad. Hugo is good at depicting the awfulness of war.

The language in this is sort of reminiscent of the WWI poets - Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est.

The only difference being is that Hugo sees a Grand Purpose to all of it.

Discussion prompts: 

1. The description of the mens retreat was captivating and grim. Is there anything you'd like to share?

Final line:
&gt; It was Napoleon, the immense somnambulist of this dream that had crumbled, essaying once more to advance.

[Link to the previous chapter](https://www.reddit.com/r/AYearOfLesMiserables/comments/fn1vdb/2112_chapter_discussion_spoilers_up_to_2112/?utm_medium=android_app&amp;utm_source=share)

[Link to the 2019 discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/AYearOfLesMiserables/comments/b4pz1a/2113_chapter_discussion_and_week_12/?utm_medium=android_app&amp;utm_source=share)

2.1.13 Chapter Discussion (Spoilers up to 2.1.13)