3 - I think most of this part of the book was written with the assumption that the readers are familiar with all these people and the outcome of these events, and Hugo just takes it further by detailing everything.

2 - It's a powerful line. For me, it just reinforces how some people can believe in something/someone so much they are willing to readily die for it.

3 - I didn't know that about Ney; think it will come up later in the book or is it just a subtle wink to knowledgeable readers?

2. This line is translated “Knowing they are about to die, the mount shout, “ vive l’empereur!’ History knows no more poignant moment.” I like the other translation of “death rattle” for it’s poetic ness of these men who to their last breath believe in the cause. It’s rather remarkable because how many can say that?

2). I wonder if there are primary sources backing that up. Typically people writing about battles want both their own people and the enemy to sound brave.

3). I'm not sure if some would consider it a spoiler (shocker, but I don't remember if Hugo tells us in the 2nd half of the Waterloo chapters), so I don't want to comment about it directly at this point. But what happened is easily found on his [wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Ney). It also has a bonus, fun little "alleged survival" section.

Note that spoiler markings don't appear on mobile, so please use the weekly spoiler topic, which will be posted every Saturday, if you would like to discuss later events.

[Link to chapter](https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables/Volume_2/Book_First/Chapter_12)

Discussion prompts:

1. Yet another short chapter, and Hugo does not waste any word by telling us simply what happened.
2. Thoughts on this line: "'Long live the emperor!' History has nothing more moving than this death rattle bursting out into acclamation."
3. Thoughts on the last line? It hints at Ney's eventual execution by the French after Napoleon's exile.
4. Other points of discussion? Lines that stood out to you?

Final line:

&gt;Unhappy man, thou wert reserved for French bullets!

[Link to the previous chapter](https://www.reddit.com/r/AYearOfLesMiserables/comments/ma9qij/2111_chapter_discussion_spoilers_up_to_2111/?utm_medium=android_app&amp;utm_source=share)

[Link to the 2020 discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/AYearOfLesMiserables/comments/fn1vdb/2112_chapter_discussion_spoilers_up_to_2112/?utm_medium=android_app&amp;utm_source=share)

2.1.12 Chapter Discussion (Spoilers up to 2.1.12)