Book Description
In 480 BC, a huge Persian army, led by the inimitable King Xerxes, entered the mountain pass of Thermopylae as it marched on Greece, intending to conquer the land with little difficulty. But the Greeks—led by King Leonidas and a small army of Spartans—took the battle to the Persians at Thermopylae, and halted their advance—almost.
It is one of history's most acclaimed battles, one of civilization's greatest last stands. And in Thermopylae, renowned classical historian Paul Cartledge looks anew this history-altering moment and, most impressively, shows how its repercussions have bearing on us even today. The invasion of Europe by Xerxes and his army redefined culture, kingdom, and class. The valiant efforts of a few thousand Greek warriors, facing a huge onrushing Persian army at the narrow pass at Thermopylae, changed the way generations to come would think about combat, courage, and death.
The battle of Thermopylae was at its broadest a clash of civilizations; one that momentously helped shape the identity of classical Greece and hence the nature of our own cultural heritage.
Customer Reviews:
Thorough in most things, lacking in others........2007-09-03
The author goes to great lenghts to accurately depict the events leading up to the battle of Thermopylae,as well as a detailed look into the spartan way of life and the overal state of the Greek civilization as well as that of the Persian Empire. A detailed look at the immediate and long term consequences of the said battle is also depicted to great extent, leading up all the way to comparisons to past and current western vs eastern conflicts.
What baffles me, very dissapointingly is the lack of content concerning the actual battle of Thermopylae itself, a mere 11 pages cover chapter 7 (the battle) I was expecting a little more on that subject. Perhaps more detailed info on the naval battle of artemisium would have been nice, (although perhaps not directly related to sparta, I find it an important piece of the battle of Thermopylae)
Although throughout the book, one will find added bits of information of the battle, I still wish more was devoted to the actual accounts of the battle, I understand that perhaps very little about is actually known to separate facts from fiction, I'll just have to look elsewhere and hope to find a literarly piece that depicts what I was hoping to learn about.
The author's extensive research is remarkable and his efforts are certainly notewhorthy, I consider it still a must read if one wishes to find out the intricacies of that time period and the way of the spartan society.
Theromopylae Review.......2007-08-19
While I thought this book was very good, with authentic, true detail, I felt the author's writing style was just a bit challenging to follow. I read the book twice, back to back, and missed some details the first time.
While I don't give it four stars, it is good enough to be someone's first purchase in beginning to learn about ancient Greek battles.
Wonderful in the beginning, in the middle, and in the end. .......2007-08-10
The former reviewers imagine that you can write a book on a three-battle day in some more than 340 pages (Spanish edition). If that is indeed the case, they'd better read a novel on the topic. No source, now and ever, will tell you the feelings of Demaratus, Megistias, and all the actors of this epopeia during the three day battle.
Homer did that in the Trojan war, due to the very nature of the conflict. Aristocratic, one vs one combats, in an age six centuries earlier than the Thermopylae battle, with a quite different concept of war.
Some others tend to ignore the fact that a war is a business of a state and its allies against another one and its allies. Politics cannot be ruled out of a war, because, as "someone" put it, war is politics, by other means, as politics is war, by other means. In essence they cannot be divided.
Others suggest that he is making a direct comparision between Thermopylae and the 9/11 hijackers' suicidal massacre of innocent people. Having read the book, from the beginning to the end, I don't see where, when Paul Cartledge states in no uncertain terms his awesome aversion for such acts as 9/11 and related massacres.
Finally, many fail to see what the intent of this book is all about. That if we're to defeat terrorism in all its faces, we must show, at least, no lesser degree of 'assabiya (Wikipedia: Asabiyya) than that of our foes. And that playing to division and partisan games we are risking all the civilization we've created.
The number of times he recall Simonides quotation, should make us see that we have our laws, voted by all, and that we have elements to develop such 'assabiya.
If only for this message, I would award this book 10 stars. Being only able to award five, I award five, with honours.
look elsewhere.......2007-08-02
I agree with many reviewers who stated that this book is mostly a long and painful description leading up to the battle and seeingly a fly by with just a few words about the actual battle. The writing is terse and reminds me of my least favorite courses in college. Please consider purchasing:
The Battle of Salamis: The Naval Encounter That Saved Greece -- and Western Civilization by Barry Strauss. I learned a lot more about Thermopylae with Strauss' book plus a TON about the naval counterpart. Extremely well written and engaging. It was hard to put Strauss' book down.
Not a good book.......2007-07-10
Carteledge seemed more impressed with his knowledge of the events leading up to the battle than the battle itself. The book should have been named differently. His connections with the Greeks and the 9/11 terrorist floored me - not to mention his interjection of modern "Bush bashing" and even a dig at this website.
I wish I had not purchased this book.
Amazon.com
In the first significant engagement between American troops and the Viet Cong, 450 U.S. soldiers found themselves surrounded and outnumbered by their enemy. This book tells the story of how they battled between October 23 and November 26, 1965. Its prose is gritty, not artful, delivering a powerful punch of here-and-now descriptions that could only have been written by people actually on the scene. In fact, they were: Harold Moore commanded the men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, who did most of the fighting, and Joseph Galloway was the only reporter present throughout the battle's 34 harrowing days. We Were Soldiers Once... combines their memories with more than 100 in-depth interviews with survivors on both sides. The Battle of Ia Drang also highlights a technological advance that would play an enormous role in the rest of the war: this was perhaps the first place where helicopter-based, air-mobile operations demonstrated their combat potential. At bottom, however, this is a tale of heroes and heroism, some acts writ large, others probably forgotten but for this telling. It was a bestseller when first published, and remains one of the better books available on combat during the Vietnam War. --John J. Miller
Book Description
Each year, the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps selects one book that he believes is both relevant and timeless for reading by all Marines. The Commandant's choice for 1993 was
We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young.
In November 1965, some 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War.
How these men persevered--sacrificed themselves for their comrades and never gave up--makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating. General Moore and Joseph Galloway, the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting, have interviewed hundreds of men who fought there, including the North Vietnamese commanders. This devastating account rises above the specific ordeal it chronicles to present a picture of men facing the ultimate challenge, dealing with it in ways they would have found unimaginable only a few hours earlier. It reveals to us, as rarely before, man's most heroic and horrendous endeavor.
Customer Reviews:
We Were Soldiers Once and Young.......2007-09-24
This book is the best reflection of some of my personal experiences in Vietnam that I have read. If one really wants to truly know what it was like ,read this book. I especially like the fact that Hal Moore is a true soldier's soldier.These kind of leaders are special men and quickly earn the respect of their men. I also liked the fact of his follow up, after coming home, with the familys of the men he lost. The thumnail sketch at the end of the book of each surviving man shows how much he thought of his troops !!
We were ROTC graduates together, but he gave his life for our country.......2007-05-13
The book is an excellent story about the glory and the gore of any war. I only recently discovered that one of the company commanders in this story was a fellow classmate of mine. Col. Moore gave this person high praise for his leadership skills in battle. My friend survived this conflict but went on to give his life on his second, and VOLUNTARY, tour of duty in Vietnam. And he was a foreign born, naturalized citizen of this, his adopted country, as well.
We were Soldiers Once...And Young: Ia Drang--The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam.......2007-01-10
For a clear and comprehensive understanding of what a major battle looked like from the ground and from both sides of a conflict, this is an highly informative book. It's detailed depiction leaves one with a deeper understanding of how horrible war really is and just what we ask soldiers to do when we send them to fight for their countries.
Gripping true to life..........2007-01-04
I finished the book over a month ago-I usually don't review at all-
& especially with the top review from Ramon A. Nadal who participated
in the battle-[much respect]
However I thought it was a pretty even-handed account of the battle-policies of the time & emotional content wasn't overdone.
I prefer documentery style books/movies etc...
It wasn't masked by any 60's rhetoric of the times-
which is nice-altho it was very "in the moment".
I wanted to get a feel for real combat-as opposed to soldiers as numbers- as Im actively opposing aggressive wars in Afghanistan & Iraq.
John Findlay
Story of Determination and Sacrifice.......2006-12-12
Books come to me in some odd ways. While walking through a small bookstore in Newark Penn Station, not necessarilly intent on buying a book, I found a copy of We Were Soldiers Once, on the bottom shelf. Having seen the movie by Mel Gibson, I was intrigued. Whenever possible, after visiting Hollywood for history, I always go back to the history to discover the gaps, the real interpretations, and unltimately, what really happened.
In this case, I am very glad I picked it up off that bottom shelf.
For anyone looking for a glamourized version of war, this is not it. Throughout the narrative each soldier who fell is mentioned, where they were from, their kin, and how they died. There are places where each paragraph for a number of pages references a fallen comrade. You can't help but feel connected to those brave men, especially when you read of their hometowns... places you recognize.
For the first major combat operation of the Vietnam War, it certainly defined the war. And for those were thrown into La Drang, it is an experience they cannot forget. Despite being a detailed account of the battle, with all the nuances that would make a military historian proud, I couldn't put it down. In fact, in more than one occasion, I resented my train for arriving on schedule.
Equally impressive was the time devoted to the Vietnamese perspective. We conveniently think of our enemies as marching robots, but if anything, Col. Moore paints a picture of an enemy that was struggling with the difficulties of battle and the realities of the battlefield.
If you are interested in a highly engaging battle account, especially of a battle so pivotal in the history of our involvement in Vietnam. And if, as a background, you are intrigued with how our military strategy evolved in such a short period - from amassing troops to using air cover, this is a book you will want to read.
Finally, if you are simply interested in learning about the men who gave the last full measure of their devotion to their fellow soldiers and their country, pick it up. Don't let this volume sit on the bottom shelf of a bookstore.
Book Description
Each year, the Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps selects one book that he believes is both relevant and timeless for reading by all Marines. The Commandant's choice for 1993 was
We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young.
In November 1965, some 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War.
How these men persevered--sacrificed themselves for their comrades and never gave up--makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating. General Moore and Joseph Galloway, the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting, have interviewed hundreds of men who fought there, including the North Vietnamese commanders. This devastating account rises above the specific ordeal it chronicles to present a picture of men facing the ultimate challenge, dealing with it in ways they would have found unimaginable only a few hours earlier. It reveals to us, as rarely before, man's most heroic and horrendous endeavor.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Not really a history...........2007-10-09
This book, while very popular and included on the US Army Chief of Staff's "Professional Reading List, is a mixed bag. There's lots of action, shooting, firefights, etc., and Col. Moore did get some of the NVA perspective as well. The maps are pretty good, and are useful to consult while reading this. After reading this book, I came away with a feeling of awe and near disbelief about what these very young soldiers had to go through, what they endured, and how many were killed. The problem, however, is that after awhile, the book reads like one non-stop chronicle of firefights and NVA assaults. There is not enough structural framework to the narrative once the battle starts. If the fighting was confusing to the GI's in the jungle where the battle was fought, how much more so to the reader 40 years later, not having seen the ground. The book suffers from what many do, especially by 1st time authors--it keeps EVERYTHING in, and leaves nothing out. The book could have used some editing of the repletion, and needs to have a much better organization of events. I kept asking myself, "why are the soldiers there?" "Why did they send in such a small force, and not reinforce in greater #'s?" Moore never really provides this.
Of some interest.......2007-06-24
This is an account of the first large scale encounter between the North Vietnamese Army and the Americans. Prior to this battle the Viet Cong had fought against the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.(ARVN) The success of the Viet Cong had led the North Vietnamese to think that they could win the war by conventional means in 1965. They started to send large detachment of troops down the Ho Chi Min trail. The command problems the North Vietnamese faced was that it took literaly months for their troops to travel the length of the trail. The original plan which led to this battle was for the North Vietnamese to blockade a large town and then to ambush the ARVN relief column.
The problem was that whilst the units were moving down the trail America committed large numbers of units to the war. This battle was not only an experiment for the North Vietnamese it also was for the Americans. Previously the French had problems in fighting the Vietnamese. Although they had modern forces their units were slow and the Vietnamese could make decisions about when to give battle. The Americans developed the notion of "Air Cavalary". Helicopter born infantry which could be quickly dropped in areas in which enemy troops were concentrated. This battle was the first combat experiance of Air Cavalary.
Broadly what happened was that the North Vietnamese units failed in their attempt to trap an ARVN column. The Americans dropped an air cavalary unit in an area which had concentrations of the units which had been involved in this attack. The North Vietnamese had a superiority in numbers of troops but no artillery or air support. They decided to attack anyway. There were two distinct battles. One was an attempt to destroy a unit of 400 Air Cavalary troops which initially landed. This was not succesfull as the Americans were able to use artillery and air support to destroy the attacking North Vietnamese. The second was a ambush of American relief forces had been landed and decided to retreat after the completion of the first battle.
The result overall of the engagement was inconclusive although it led to both sides thinking that they could win. The Americans inflicted a kill ration of something like 12 to 1. As a result the American commander thought that he could win a battle of attrition. It was from this battle that the search and destroy missions and body counts came from. The North Vietnamese although came out of the battle thinking that they could win. Despite the lack of artillery support and air support they had badly cut up one American column and they had inflicted casualties on the other.
The book is pretty much an oral history of both battles. Like any oral history it gives a fragmented picture of what went on as it moves from one eye witness account to another. Not surprisingly as the book is written by an American the account has the veneer of heroism over it. Although in any battle there are different types of heroism. Whilst the American troops were clearly brave and the dependence on supply by helicopter meant that the troops on the ground were not supplied with water(preferance was given to ammunition)the North Vietnamese had to fight with light weapons against a vastly better armed enemy.
On every Servicemember's Reading List.......2007-06-13
Battles achieve legendary status - however as modern times proceed, we don't hold the same reverence that we do to those battles from the time of Napolean to Gettysburg to Normady. This battle is on the same grounds and deserves the same reverence of how war was fought. Every military history buff and military strategist must read this account.
we were soldiers.......2007-01-18
A compelling story about emotions of soldiers and their families before, during and after return from their tour of duty in Vietnam.
We Were Soldiers Once.... and I Was too........2006-06-30
This is a prizewinning after-action-report and a fine account of our soldiers in action. I fought during Tet, and I know how brutal it was. This book made me tremble, but I feel great pride. All should read.
Book Description
An explosive chronicle of historyÂ's greatest sea battle
In the tradition of Antony BeevorÂ's Stalingrad, NelsonÂ's Trafalgar presents the definitive blow-by-blow account of the worldÂ's most famous naval battle, when the British Royal Navy under Lord Horatio Nelson dealt a decisive blow to the forces of Napoleon. The Battle of Trafalgar comes boldly to life in this definitive work that re-creates those five momentous, earsplitting hours with unrivaled detail and intensity.
Customer Reviews:
Well Written and Readable Account of the Last Great Battle of Wooden Ships .......2007-08-18
Adkins provides a highly readable account of the Battle at Trafalgar where Napoleon's fleet with his Spanish allies are virtually crippled by highly effective British crews that are the actual turning point in the last great battle of wooden ships. The book is particularly welcome to those unfamilar with nautical terms as Adkins slides in definitions and illustrations that help a landlubber know the difference between starboard or port and for everyone he describes the life of a crew member from grog to the unique ways they treated their clothing and sails. The book is full of brief but effective biographies obviously with Nelson receiving the full treatment. In additionm there are descriptions of the various crew titles and responsibilities that provide a full appreciation for how an early 19th century ship was run. Also contrasted with the British fleet is the difficult relationship between the Spanish and French that may have contributed to a somewhat fractured command. The battle details are written with first hand accounts with mapping showing the intricate locations of ships durig the development of the battle. It is quite amazing that the ship positions could be reproduced with such relative accuracy. The less appreciative may grow weary of the lengthy detail of the battle but anyone who appreciates naval history will be impressed with these almost individual accounts of the ship battles as ships virtually fight in clusters or as individuals as Nelson's plan is to go right at them. Also fascinating is Napoleon's heavy but not so effective influence on the French fleet. The outcome of course effects the strategic situations on land contributing to the future land campaign against Napoleon.
Education and Information.......2007-07-14
Mr. Adkins wrote a very well researched, well written book on the Battle of Trafalgar. He included enough information about the lifes and times of the sailors to paint a thorough picture in the reader's head of what things must have been like. Best of all he uses a terrific set of maps with estimations of the locations of the various ships involved in the battle as it unfolded. These maps made reading the book and tracking what was happening when very easy.
Nelson's Trafalgar (Book Review).......2007-06-09
Nelson's Trafalgar: The Battle That Changed The World by Roy Adkins
Bought it a couple of months ago, but never got to finish it, until now. Just in time, too, since I just saw "Pirates Of The Carribean 3", which were using the same ships mentioned in the book, so I got to appreciate what a "3-Deck Ship Of The Line" looks like.
'Background'
The book is about the Battle of Trafalgar, one of the most decisive & spectacular sea battles in the history of mankind.
To give a short summary: Napoleon wanted to invade Britain & claim it as part of the French Empire he was establishing. But doing so requires a seaborne crossing, & because of that he had to make sure that Britain's Navy is sunk, or at least heavily damaged so he can proceed w/ the invasion.
The British knew this, of course, & the legendary Lord Horatio Nelson, the then Admiral of the British Navy assigned w/ the mission to find & destroy the combined French & Spanish fleet, thought the best defense, was a good offense.
So the British fleet pursued & finally cornered the combined French & Spanish fleet on the port of Cadiz in Spain, where they established a blockade. They then just waited for the French & Spanish fleet to sail out, & engage them in a decisive battle that they hope will destroy it, & prevent Napoleon's invasion.
'Detailed Information'
One great things about this book, is that it assumes (rightfully so) that most of its readers are not that familiar w/ 18th century naval warfare. The author, Roy Adkins, is both a HISTORIAN, & ARCHAELOGIST, so the book ended up w/ lot of ACCURATE & DETAILED information not only about the battle, but also things related to naval warfare at that time.
For example, the first chapters are devoted to things like:
- How the Sailors & Officers lived at that time;
- The ships, & the weaponry;
- The strategy & tactics;
- The political background;
- The diferences between the French, Spanish & British navies;
- Nearly EVERYTHING, except the toilet. Oh, wait, they have that, too.
The preparation is so good, that by the time the first shots are just about to be fired to start the battle, you end up almost as excited as the participants in that war.
'The Battle of Trafalgar'
The battle itself is REALLY intense. You could almost visualize the ships as they started trading cannon-fire broadsides at each other, w/ cannon & musket balls flying everywhere, throwing out huge chunks of timber, & flesh & bones. You could almost see the men as they screamed & died, while others went about trying to do their assigned tasks to take out the opposing ship.
There are quite a number of illustrations throughout the book to help you understand better some of the terminologies, & also to show the disposition of the forces as the battle progressed.
In the end, Britain proved it is unchallenged in the seas, w/ none of their ships surrendering despite heavy damage, while taking out of action almost half of the entire French & Spanish fleet. The result effectively ruined Napoleon's plan to invade Great Britain, who eventually orchestrated his defeat later at Waterloo.
'Master & Commander'
I suggest that you watch that superb movie set in about the same period , "Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World", either before and/or after reading the book. The movie is superbly accurate in its depiction of 18th Century naval warfare, w/ most of its elements also detailed in the book.
The book provides much more detailed information, of course, but the movie provides a visual cue of some of the elements.
'Conclusion'
Overall, it is a book I really, truly enjoyed reading. I'm really glad I bought this one, it really has provided a wealth of information of another time, when sailing ships had supremacy of the seas.
The only negative thing I can think of about the book, is the fact that despite all the explanations, some of the ancient naval terms can be overwhelming, especially for landlubbers like me. The old English style of language of some of the accounts also tends to make some passages a bit difficult to absorb. But, these obstacles are not really insurmountable, it just needs a little bit more patience & concentration to understand & absorb.
These difficulties certainly do not rob the book of its brilliance. It's hard to beat in terms of historical detail, & intense action of naval warfare. A classic in the making, a MUST-READ book for me. A terrifically good yarn.
I hope Adkins comes up w/ more books about Lord Horatio Nelson's other famous sea battles.
BOOK HIGHLIGHTS:
- The first 95 pages gives you a complete & almost encyclopedic background of the battle.
- The next 120 pages gives you accounts of the battle from start to finish, with all the intensity & chaos of the battle between both fleets.
- Things slow down a bit during the recounting of the intense storm that came after the battle, claiming even more lives on both sides.
- Events pick up again when the race to tell the news to the British Admiralty went underway.
- The book wraps up w/ what happened to some of the participants & ships after the battle; An analysis on the battle's effects to the entire war; And also recounts the eventual promotion of Nelson to almost god-like status by the British people of being its most beloved hero of all time.
Good description of a critical naval battle.......2007-03-18
Roy Adkins' book, "Nelson's Trafalgar," is a detailed well rendered version of the great sea battle that doomed any chance for Napoleon to claim control over the seas and invade Britain.
The book is a blow by blow account of the planning for the battle and how the plans for each fleet--the English fleet and the Combined fleet of France and Spain--were implemented. Nelson's battle plan was to break the line of ships organized by the French commanding admiral, Villeneuve. The French admiral wanted to maintain his line and have a "mobile reserve" of ships at his disposal. His dispositions went awry and his battle plan never materialized.
The book presents a number of attractive features: (a) detailed battle maps from hour to hour, so that the reader can see the progression of the battle; (b) a listing of the ships of each fleet, including number of cannons and commanding officers; (c) a detailed description of weapons and ships of the two fleets, to provide important context; (d) a description of key figures on each side; (e) excerpts from personal recollections by key actors in the battle; (f) extraordinary detail of the battle itself, including small details.
The book also speaks of the aftereffects of the battle. Included is the possible murder of the failed French commander, Villeneuve, the cheapness of the English government in taking care of its brave victors (including ignoring Nelson's request that Emma Hamilton and his daughter be taken care of), the dominant role of the English navy after Trafalgar.
This is a book that readers with an interest in this dramatic battle will find valuable. The detail gives a sense of the actual events of the time.
Important battle placed in context.......2007-01-03
On October 21st, 1805 the important naval battle of Trafalgar took place. During it two major events happened: the British obliterated a combined fleet of French and Spanish ships; and Lord Nelson who was in overall command was killed. the book claims that this is "The Battle That Changed The World".
As the 200th anniversary of the battle approached, many people released books telling the story of the battle and is various components. While this book is not one of the great ones telling this story, it is clearly written and does an adequate job of telling its story.
Since the book is intended for a general audience who may not know much of the period or the specifics of naval warfare, the author intersperses his telling the story of the battle with many tangents in which he tries to place his story in the context of the times. While this is a logical and reasonable approach, I felt that it actually distracted from this particular story. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I have read many naval novels set in the time period (Hornblower and Bolitho series in particular) and so was aware of the kinds of issues that Adkins brings up.
In the early chapters, Adkins sets the strategic stage with the British fearing an upcoming invasion of their island by the French and Napoleon doing his best to get an invasion underway. We are then told of the preparations in Britain to repel this invasion (this is where one of the odd things is told - many of the items being put in place were not completed until years after this battle and therefore were not really necessary any more). We are also told about the lives of British sailors and officers and their conditions at sea. Anyone of this century who reads these may find these conditions to be completely abhorrent and may wonder why the sailors did not forcibly rise against them, so Adkins shows that those conditions were at times superior to what these same people could expect on shore and were at least equal to shore conditions.
Nelson's career and life at this stage as well as some of the other main officers are also laid out in very brief pages. Those who find this tickling their interest in learning more about these characters will be forced to look elsewhere for the more detailed information available as this book just sketches things out.
The middle of the book is dedicated to the battle itself and is interspersed with maps and diagrams that aid the understanding. This was well done as there were almost 60 ships involved and several of them had either identical or very similar sounding names (Neptune, Neptune, and Neptuno, for instance) so without the diagrams one would get quite lost.
The battle lasted almost six hours and the author does a very credible job in my opinion of explaining what happened during it as well as the import of various things. Again he takes some detours as when he explains the positions and clothing of various jobs on the ships, the reasons why the surgeons operated as they did in the part of the ship that they did, and the names of each of the decks. There are also good explanations of the state of medicine at the time.
While reading the descriptions of the battle, I was struck with how bloody and gory the ships became and how shot up everyone was. The final tally of the battle was that a dozen and a half ships of the French and Spanish capitulated to the British and one French ship blew up while none of the British ships were defeated but many of the ships were completely dismasted, almost all were punctured and were taking on water, and everywhere was there death and despair. Imagine my surprise when at the end of the book the author presents statistics that point out that only 17% of the British sailors were casualties. I was sure during my reading that the casulaty figures must have been greater than 50%!!
A second major component of the story is the aftermath. As it turned out, Nelson was shot early on in the battle and died about midway through it, but he knew that a storm was coming. Well the storm did come and it turned out to be a powerful hurricane that resulted in more damage, destruction, and deaths than the battle itself! Many of the damaged ships were lost to sinking by the waves or being dashed against the rocky shoals of the coast of Spanish so that only about three or four of the captured ships made it back to British ports.
The finaly portions of the book cover the immense importance placed on the loss of Nelson and contrasting it with the fate of the others who took part in the battle on all sides. The author points out how the British King and Government purposely played up Nelson and his heroism as a substitute for taking care of the rest of the people. The final irony in the book is that we are told that Napoleon had already decided not to invade Britain at that point and was involved in the Austerlitz campaign while the battle took place. So, why is the book sub-titled "The Battle That Changed The World"? The author attempts to explain this by showing how France concentrated on the European land mass while England built a larger and larger empire. Stating that this was the direct result of this one battle is stretching it in my opinion.
I enjoyed reading this book as it was a story told well. Those amongst us who are looking for a readable introduction to Trafalgar and its import will do well by reading this book. For those of us who know something of the period and the events of it, this book yields little new information. Experts in the field will probably find the necessary superficiality of it distracting. So, read it yourself and enjoy!
Customer Reviews:
Only So-So.......2007-02-03
The author did a good job reviewing the literature, but the problem is that the literature (in English) regarding this battle, at the time of this publication, was mediocre. So, this book is by default mediocre, since the subject matter was mediocre. Much better books (Jason Mark) have been published since. Also, a much more useful book would be to include/review German & Russian sources (both archival & literature). That would be a useful review. This book? Maybe for a high schooler or younger, that's about it.
Very good.......2006-03-10
Stalingrad enthusiasts will like this book very much, even though the true Stalingrad scholar will always favour Stopped at Stalingrad by Dr Joel Hayward and The Road to Stalingrad by Professor John Erickson. This particular book here is not as thorough or new in terms of ideas, but is the best of the smaller accessable books. It's an interesting read too. I do commend Geoffrey Roberts.
An excellent book........2003-04-30
Having read two of Geoffrey Roberts' other books, I was eagerly awaiting the publication of "Victory at Stalingrad". My grandfather was killed in Stalingrad so I had a personal interest in reading about this period of the war. I was not disappointed. Roberts details the events of this amazing period of World War II with great understanding and does full justice to the true significance of the battle and the people who lost their lives.
The indispensable starting point.......2003-03-22
Anyone interested in the history of World War II should read this book. In less than 200 pages Geoffrey Roberts analyzes the battle of Stalingrad and places it in the context of the entire war. In addition to providing a balanced, concise, and informative account of the battle and its importance, the book includes such valuable features as a chronology of the battle, 11 maps, a glossary of military terms, biographical notes on the main participants, and an invaluable guide to further reading.
This fiery trial.......2003-03-11
Describing the American Civil war the then president described it as a fiery trial. Geoffrey Roberts has given us an account of another fiery trial. The book is an excellent read, describing not only the victory at Stalingrad but a short gripping account of the conflict on the eastern front. It is brief and to the point as well as having a factual analysis of the historical event.
Book Description
The battle of Shiloh, fought in April 1862 in the wilderness of south central Tennessee, marked a savage turning point in the Civil War. In this masterful book, Larry Daniel re-creates the drama and the horror of the battle and discusses in authoritative detail the political and military policies that led to Shiloh, the personalities of those who formulated and executed the battle plans, the fateful misjudgments made on both sides, and the heroism of the small-unit leaders and ordinary soldiers who manned the battlefield.
Customer Reviews:
You might be a redneck if..........2007-09-10
You thought this book was an accurate history of Shiloh.
This history of the Battle of Shiloh ignores the battlefield roles played by Sherman and Grant, and concentrates on the decisions made by the Confederate generals. The title is Shiloh: The Battle That Changed The Civil War... yet the book ignores the ways in which this battle gave rise to the two leaders that eventually won the Civil War!
The result is a bit one-sided, in a strange way. For example, at one point the author mentions a meeting, at 10 AM on Day One, between Sherman and Grant. The topics of discussion are never mentioned. A hundred pages later, we learn that Grant has formed a line of last resistance on his left wing... in between, nothing of his actions. In fact, the book seldom makes mention of any tactical decisions made by Sherman or Grant.
As a result, the author's legitimate criticisms of Grant and Sherman, for their actions taken before the battle, remain unbalanced with any attention to the energy and decisiveness shown by both during the battle. The ability of the Union to hold on Day One, and to take the offensive on Day Two, lack any grounding in an understanding of the actions of these two leaders.
This clear avoidance of any discussion of any action by Grant or Sherman for the entire first day of the battle gives the author license to depict Grant and Sherman as the true causes of the near-disaster, without any redeemable moments, decisions, or qualities. This may be fair, but other historians have also traced the rise of these two men to their energies in overcoming the Confederate advantages and yielding a Union victory. The author leaves the reader without a full understanding of the battle.
The writing is a bit muddled, with place names and the names of combatants mushed around just enough to cause some confusion. The best parts of this book come from the author's research into earlier and later lives of the combatants. The concentration on Confederate actions does yield a stronger sense of their strategies than might be found in some other histories of Shiloh. In the end, however, the author misses what made this battle seminal... among all other results, Shiloh forged in fire the two quite fallible leaders, Grant and Sherman, who went on to win the war.
honest picture of Shiloh.......2007-08-13
The Battle of Shiloh was engaged in by both Union and Confederate amatures. It resulted in maturity for both sides. This is probably the best book on the battle to date. Rev. Daniels not only offers a well researched retelling of the battle and a reasoned evaluation of the strategy leading up to and following the battl, but a review that is amazingly free of hero worship. Some readers will find the book disquiting, some will thank the author for his work, but everyone interested in this battle and the war in general. Thanks to Larry Daniel.
Daniel does a good job examining Shiloh.......2006-11-26
I cannot find the reference in my memory, but I do recall a line in some work on the Civil War in which a veteran soldier says something like "I wasn't so bad scared since Shiloh." Shiloh was the first monster battle of the Civil War. Prior to this contestation, the major battles included First Manassas (or First Bull Run), Wilson's Creek, Pea Ridge (or Elkhorn Tavern), and Forts Henry and Donelson. None was anything like Shiloh.
Larry Daniel's book is a detailed and very readable accounting of this battle. Quite useful are the maps included in the book. After the collapse of the Confederate line with Grant's victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, General Albert S. Johnston felt that he had to retreat. With General P. G. T. Beauregard, he contemplated an effort to recover the painful losses from the retreat. And thus, the movement toward Shiloh began.
After the capture of the Confederate forts, Grant moved to Pittsburg Landing, to await the arrival of General Don Carlos Buell's army. Together, they would move out to attack further south. In the meantime, the southern forces began a major effort to strengthen the units under Generals Beauregard and Johnston, including Braxton Bragg's forces. The "southern Napoleon," Beauregard developed an aggressive plan to surprise and attack Grant. Stunningly, Grant made himself an inviting target by not fortifying his position, an idea supported by his increasingly good friend William T. Sherman.
The southern army moved to the attack, with all sorts of mishaps in the process. The fact that the attack was still a surprise is an example of the oblivious northern army not paying attention to facts on the ground. Once the battle began, chaos ensured. The disposition of the Confederate Army was flawed; the Union army lost much ground. Johnston was killed; Beauregard took command of the southern forces. Many future officers of renown, such as Pat Cleburne, got their first major taste of battle and command here.
By the end of the day, the southerners were in reasonably good shape, but they could not drive Grant's force into the Tennessee River. Meanwhile, elements of Buell's Army arrived.
The next day, Grant, imperturbable even though he had almost lost the day, began a counterattack and ultimately drove Beauregard's army from the field. Both Union and Confederate leaders were stunned by the bloodiness and carnage associated with this battle. It was unlike anything that had gone before and foreshadowed the major bloodletting of later battles.
Grant's career was almost undone. However, as Daniel points out (page 311), ". . .Shiloh had been a tremendous strategic victory for the North. . . ." Few recognized that at the time, but it was so. This is a well written, well researched book that remains an outstanding rendering of the first titanic battle of the Civil War.
Confederate perspective: Nothing gained........2006-11-11
This battle of Shiloh, like other battles from the Confederate point of view, was a no gainer that only served to deplete southern manpower that
the south could not replace. This book clearly shows that the Confederacy
certainly had the will to fight in spite of the lack of resourses and was doomed to lose eventually. Clearly, "Shiloh: The battle that changed the
civil war" left no doubt that Confederate leadership failed to follow through with gains accomplished during the first days of battle, as this became a trait that the Confederacy would continue the rest of the war.
It took one hundred pages for the battle of Shiloh to begin, and got somewhat boring before the battle got under way, but made up for it the rest of the way. I found that the book was fairly well researched, and
factual. I used the book during a visit to the battlefield and found it very helpful.
Drawn out and hard to follow.......2006-08-03
This book was very dry and drawn out and I couln't wait to be finished. It was often hard to follow as the author added almost too much detail regarding units and commanders. It was hard to keep track of who was who and often found myself looking back to remember who someone was. Maps often did not correspond with what section it was placed in and were often confusing. Also many editing errors. For example, spelling a name differently at the end of a paragraph than at the beginning. The Book is subtitled "The Battle That Changed the Civil War," but only goes into this in the last two pages! If only Stephen Sears would write a battle history of Shiloh!
Book Description
In November 1965, some 450 men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together these actions constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War.
The story of how these men persevered paints a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating. General Moore and Joseph Galloway, the only journalist on the ground throughout the fighting, interviewed hundreds of men who fought there, including the North Vietnamese commanders. This devastating account rises above the specific ordeal it chronicles to present a picture of men facing the ultimate challenge, dealing with it in ways they would have found unimaginable only a few hours earlier. It reveals to us, as rarely before, man's most heroic and horrendous endeavor.
read by Johnny Heller
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book on tape.......2006-08-18
The movie was great, but the book (on tape) was much more intense and horrifying. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
Classic Book - Superb in Audiobook Format.......2005-10-25
I thoroughly enjoyed this story on a recent family trip across country. I was surprised when my wife, who is usually not interested in war stories, became immersed in the book. I only wish it was available in CD-Rom format.
it stays with you even after you've read it.......2004-11-06
This book is a very real and truthful account of what happened. I read it in a few days and could not put it down. The story goes into the lives of the men there and you will be horrified, stunned, and angry. This book is impossible to read as an outsider; it draws you in and stays with you for a while afterward. The personal accounts are so chilling and real. Also, the lives of the families at home, the political happenings and the aftermath confront you with shocking realizations.
Powerful.......2003-01-12
I have never read a book that i could not put down,i bought this book yesterday 1/10/03 and just finished it now 1/11/03. My heart goes out to those American Soldiers who were in this battle and how brave and galently they fought,i had never heard of this battle until i saw the movie,i wanted to find out the facts as to what happened in the battle.This book told me everything down to the last detail.This is a book everyone should read to see what its really like in battle.That battle and bravery our soldiers will stay with me forever.
History All Americans Should Know.......2002-11-14
I recommend this honest and very straight forward book to all who care to know more about the Vietnam conflict. As a kid who was born in the 1960's, my appreciation of the soldiers who fought and gave their lives has been limited to the various movies and stories of the era.
The authors of this book have done an incredible job gathering information from their fellow soldiers (and in some cases those soldiers families) in order to convey and portray what can only be described as an incredibly poignant account of their experiences.
I know that this will be a story I will one day recommend that my own children read in an effort to improve their understanding of the sacrafices such brave people have made for the sake of our continued freedom.
Book Description
Profiles of 16 decisive struggles from ancient and modern times. Gripping accounts range from Alexander the Great's overthrow of the Persian empire in the 4th century BC to World War II's Battle of Midway. Pratt depicts the circumstances leading up to the decisive clashes, the personalities involved, and the historically important aftermath. 27 maps.
Customer Reviews:
Good on the West, but he doesn't know the Rest.......2002-03-19
I loved this book as a teenager, and read it several times. But ongoing reflection, as well as teaching and graduate study in history, leads me to offer a more qualified recommendation. Pratt's core idea, that warfare can decisively affect the course of history, is quite sound. But his rather offhand view of war outside the Western world is not supportable. Pratt asserts that truly decisive battles influencing history occurred only in the West; elsewhere, victories changed nothing, and usually victors were simply absorbed by the societies they subjected.
This notion sadly reinforces an ethnocentric view that non-Western peoples somehow stand outside history, and that nothing ever really changes for them. Like many specialists in US and European history glancing at the whole world, Pratt proceeds from inattention and/or ignorance in generalizing, even stereotyping, on topics beyond his expertise. Such an assertion plainly overlooks many examples of the decisive character of warfare in Asia and Africa, with or without European participation---the conquests of Jinghiz Khan and his successors, Japan's conquest of Singapore in 1942, Ethiopia's 1896 triumph over Italy at Adowa, the effects of slaving wars in Africa, etc.
Pratt renders persuasive accounts of decisive Western battles in clear, lively prose. But misjudging the miltary experience of the rest of the world weakens his case, which through fuller research could be extended fruitfully to encompass the globe. The whole subject requires further examination; there's plenty of work for numerous scholars to tackle, and this should ultimately show that Pratt's thesis is indeed applicable on a worldwide scale. Ultimately, military historians have moved beyond the Alexandrian/Napoleonic conception of decisive battlefield victory to an appreciation of the total process of war in winning conflicts.
For more on the nonhistorical "nature" of non-Western societies and the processes which integrated them into a European-dominated global system, read Eric Wolf, "Europe and the People Without History" and Chinweizu, "The West and the Rest of Us." For Asians' and Africans' encounter with Western military technology, strategy and tactics, see Geoffrey Parker, "The Military Revolution" and Daniel Headrick, "The Tools of Empire." M. Saul & P. Royer, "West African Challenge To Empire" & J. Thornton, "Warfare in Atlantic Africa" show how African wars were actually fought.
Great popular history writing.......2001-05-31
Like A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR, Pratt's BATTLES THAT CHANGED HISTORY is a terrific entry-level volume, especially for the young reader. He combines a snappy, thrilling writing style with a keen ability to explain complex historical situations and an original thesis about the role of military power in world history.
The key to this book is the phrase "Changed History" in the title. In his introduction, Pratt takes pains to distinguish his list of battles from those of the progenitor of the genre, Sir Edward Creasy, whose "Fifteen Decisive Battles" provided the inspiration for Pratt's work. Pratt notes that so many famous Western battles (e.g. Hastings or Tours) actually played a defensive or reinforcing role in history rather than "changing history." This insight leads Pratt to choose some battles that many might view as eccentric (e.g. Beneventum, the original "Pyrrhic victory", rather than, say, Zama, which ended the Second Punic War). It is Pratt's rationale for these choices, expressed in clear, crisp prose, that makes this book so valuable for younger readers in need of a boost in their motivation to read history.
history made exciting, a great read.......2000-07-23
Fletcher Pratt makes history come alive in these short, challenging chapters. He gives many counterintuitive explanations, which always makes it an exciting read. He explains how life would be much different if the outcomes were different.
Book Description
SOME FORCES GOT THE GLORY.... OTHERS WON THE WAR In Normandy the great invasion had begun. In the Pacific, the U.S. Navy went toe to toe with Japan. And far from the spotlight-but right in the heart of World War II-the U.S. Seventh Army was charging "up the gut" of Nazi-held Europe. Overlooked by the press and historians, the Seventh would battle its way from Sicily to France and into Germany itself.In this thrilling chronicle, Charles Whiting captures the men who did the fighting and planning for the Seventh, from Patton-charismatic, ferocious and flawed-to a hardscrabble Texan named Audie Murphy, America's most decorated fighting man. Here are blow-by-blow accounts of courageous charges against dug-in German machine gun nests, of horrific battles through the bloodied snows of the Alps, ferocious Panzer-led counterstrikes, sniper attacks, and finally an assault on Hitler's own mountaintop retreat, The Eagle's Nest. Capturing war in all its vivid horror and courage, AMERICA'S FORGOTTEN ARMY is an unforgettable testament to American GIs-the ordinary men whose blood and bravery crushed the powers of the Third Reich. AUTHORBIO: CHARLES WHITING, a premier historian of World War II, served with a reconnaissance outfit in the war.He is the author of several bestselling books, including Patton, The Last Assault, and Death on a Distant Frontier.He currently lives in York, England.
Customer Reviews:
Standard lackluster read from Whiting.......2006-06-19
As a historical writer Charles Whiting, in the parlance of our favored American pastime, is a solid hitter with a decent average of ground-rule doubles and an occasional triple with little evidence of a power stoke. Fortunately, "America's Forgotten Army: The Story of the U.S. Seventh" keeps up Whiting's average but does nothing to suggest a reader will see him hit one 'out of the park'. The title and subtitle alone suggest something more impressive than the reader gets. Whiting is certainly a prolific writer but maybe he should concentrate more on quality than quantity. Like so many of his books "America's Forgotten Army" is quite mediocre in its presentation, in this case leading to little improvement on the 'forgotten' nature of the Seventh's time in WWII (as suggested by the subtitle). As is also common of Whiting's works, he doesn't really do justice to the previous literature. For example, Whiting fails completely to utilize "Riviera to the Rhine", the official US Army history of Sixth Army group in the ETO, as a source of information. Whiting's minimal use of previous works also tends to leave the reader feeling as if Whiting is truly telling "the story of the Seventh" for the first time...don't be fooled. Aside from the official US Army accounts there are others, including one that uses essentially the same subtitle: "Destination Berchtesgaden: The story of the United States Seventh Army in World War II" by John F. Turner, published in 1975!! The conspicuous lack of reference to other secondary sources, and virtual absence of primary source works, is a common theme with Whiting's works. As such it is hard to see where he is contributing to the historical base other than rehashing 'old' stories. Fortunately for those of us happy to see important stories of WWII out in the public eye, Whiting has reached the popular press and viewing public, more so than earlier sources covering the same topics (that Whiting neglects to cite).
If you've never read anything about the Seventh US Army in WWII, "America's Forgotten Army" might be a good read for you, but be very aware that Whiting's accounts are not the first, nor the best. If the readers' interests are piqued she/he should search out some of these previous works. All in all, "America's Forgotten Army" is a 3 star effort (2 stars for historical content, 3.5 stars for readability).
America's Forgotten Army.......2004-11-05
I recently learned the author was my uncle's commanding officer during WWII and this book follows my uncle's war experiences.
I would be interested in books recommended detailing the Pacific theater since my late father served in the Medics and was on Saipan. Sorry I don't know his division. Also my late husband served in with the 101st in Viet Nam during 1968-69 for 11 months and am interested in any books on the 101st Airborne Divison.
Thank you.
Excellent Book.......2003-09-25
This book has many areas that are not covered in other books and movies such as "Patton" and I really enjoyed how it focused on the common soldiers and commanders, while from time to time, interjecting some of Patton's enthusiasm for war.
It is most accurate in it's military history save for a couple of small flaws, and the characters included in the book are amazing. Overall a really good book expecially if you like military history.
Superficial, disjointed & mildly racist.......2002-09-14
This book is less a work of serious military history than it is a written version of a series of Movietone news reels of the US 7th Army's campaigns in the Mediterranean and Europe in World War 2, right down to the racial overtones typical of the period.
It jumps around in time and place, from one action item to the next, rarely fully developing anything. It leaves the reader with the distinct impression that the only troops of any value are white American boys, blacks (the author's term, not mine) are only good for driving trucks in the rear areas, and that whilst using napalm in the Pacific on asians was OK, using it in Europe on white folks wasn't.
If you want to read a thorough, yet accessible history of the US Army's campaign in W.Europe in WW2 I recommend "Eisenhower's Lieutenants" by Russell F.Weigley. Leave Mr.Whiting's piece of pulp history on the shelf
The Book That Was O.K........2001-12-14
I read the book America's Forgotten Army by Charles Whiting. It wasn't the best or the worst book I have read. In my opinion the book is for people who are really into World War II books. It gave a good deal of information about the U.S. Seventh Army, an army that helped win the war but never got the glory. It talks about the soldiers and commanders who fought bravely in the war.
I personally did not like the book because to me it was boring. I did not understand half of what the book was saying. I also forgot what I read just two pages ago. Some parts I did find interesting though. I'll let you just read the book for yourself. The book, in my opinion, is for advanced readers. If you are into World War II books though, then you might not want to miss this book.
Book Description
A #1 New York Times Bestseller
In 1965, 450 were dropped into the Ia Drang Valley. Immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers, they faced nearly certain destruction. How these men survived is a vivid portrait of war at its most devastating and inspiring.
Included in Core 6 only.
Customer Reviews:
Go get it.......2005-02-01
This book was outstanding it took a very large ordeal and shrunk it to the story of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry. And the personal accounts that these people had in the Ia Drang valley in Vietnam. This was one of the most significant events in America's history. There were some 450 men in this battalion; they were immediately surrounded by some 2000 Vietnamese soldiers that would only stop fighting when they were all dead. It told the story of the unselfishness that our American soldiers have for each other; probably one of the most touching events through out the book. These soldiers cared for each other all the way through the battle.
I recommend this book to people who like attention grabbing books because this was definitely one of them. Also if you like learning about Americas history this is the book for you it hits many points and makes you question what we did and why did we do it. I personally don't like to read but this book was well worth it and I did not want to put it down once I started reading it. So I do highly recommend this to everyone it's a great read full of action and now I want to go rent the movie to see all the action that I visualized while reading. So don't sit there and read anymore of this and go get the book what are you waiting for? Go get it now...
Will bring a new respect for the american soldier..........2004-02-14
This is a great book. It will put many things into prospective for you. I would definitely recommend this book, though at times it is hard to keep up with the store with so many different viewpoints by other soldiers. Over all this is an excellent book.
Books:
- Tides of War
- U.S. Army Ranger Handbook SH 21-76 (April 2000)
- U.S. Marine Corps Scout/Sniper Training Manual
- War Stories: Operation Iraqi Freedom (with DVD)
- Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook
- 1634: The Baltic War
- 1634: The Baltic War
- A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
- A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
- A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish
- History: Fiction or Science
- Ugly As Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Chang
- Agricultural Options: Trading, Risk Management, and Hedging
- Biology
- Interest Rate Models - Theory and Practice: With Smile, Inflation and Credit
- Dead North: An Alaska Mystery
- The Villas and Riads of Morocco
- Variations on a Theme Park: The New American City and the End of Public Space
- Methods In Aquatic Bacteriology
Greece
| Ancient
| History
| Subjects
| Books
The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient Greece
The Trojan War: A New History
Thermopylae: The Battle for the West
Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae
The Battle of Salamis: The Naval Encounter that Saved Greece -- and Western Civilization
