Customer Reviews:
HANGING.......2006-11-03
Great Book....slow starter...leaves you hanging at the end. To bad we have so litle from appian...
Rome Rising.......2006-08-24
Our times can be best understood from those that have come prior. Reading Polybius's The Rise of the Roman Empire is one of the good historical sources to assist in this process. A Greek statesman, who saw the rise of Roman first hand and wrote about it.
Greece was waning in 200 BC and Roman was rising and the Mediterranean gained a new empires. His book is more a personal overview and historical discussion of the events in tune to Tocqueville's Democracy in America, but less a study like the brilliant Capitalism and Civilization in the 15th to 18th Century by Braudel. If you like reading the Roman histories from Livy, this will give you an understanding of the early part of the history, while still a republic. Learn about the effect of Hannibal and the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC.
It is just sad that a lot of his other writings have been lost to us.
Good read.......2005-11-03
As stated by previous reviewer Polybius treatment of the encounter between the Roman Commander Regulus and the Spartan General Xanthippus (leading the Carthaginians), and the "lessons learned" from their encounter justifies buying this book.You can still learn from others mistakes.
Worth the price for a single lesson of history.......2003-07-29
Polybius treatment of the encounter between the Roman Commander Regulus and the Spartan General Xanthippus (leading the Carthaginians), and the "lessons learned" from their encounter justifies buying this book. The rest is gravy.
Sadly, Penguin has abridged Polybius in this edition.......2003-05-25
It is unfortunate that, despite the fact that some of Polybius's Histories have been lost over time, Penguin made the decision to cut out even more from the text that has luckily survived down to us through the ages. To make matters worse, the introduction doesn't really state clearly what exactly has been cut.
Next time I want to read one of the classics, I'll go immediately to Loeb. It's worth the extra cash. Anyone want my Penguin copy?
Book Description
An impressive new historian of Roman warfare--highly praised by John Keegan--has written a thoroughly engrossing account of the greatest conflict of antiquity. It will grab the attention of military buffs and general readers alike. The struggle for supremacy between Rome and Carthage encompassed the First (264-241 B.C.) and Second (149-146 B.C.) Punic Wars; both sides suffered casualties exceeding that of any war fought before the modern era. Its outcome had far-reaching consequences for the Western world, too, as it led to the ascendancy of Rome. In grand narrative style, follow the fighting on land and sea; the terrible pitched battles; and such generals as Hannibal, Fabius Maximus, and Scipio Aemilianus, who finally drove Carthage into the ground. A Main Selection of the History Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful general history of the Punic wars........2007-01-06
This is a highly readable and thoughtful work of history which combines scholarship and prudent historical judgement with a well written narrative that tells the fascinating story of the Punic wars. It would be a very good introduction as well as being a good additional source of additional in sight for those more conversant in history.
This book deserves to be reprinted.
THAT WHOLE ELEPHANTS IN THE ALPS DEAL:.......2006-01-17
Adrian Goldsworthy is a highly-regarded young British historian and, on the basis of his immensely readable Punic Wars, it's easy to see why. The book more than lives up to its glowing cover blurb from the great military historian John Keegan and, in fact, reminds one of his own work as Mr. Goldsworthy renders what might be confusing battle scenes with admirable clarity. Equally impressive is the way he sifts the ancient sources, highlighting long-running controversies, and explains why he makes choices among them. The focus is heavily on the actual fighting, so you'll have to look elsewhere for a thorough treatment of the politics behind it all, but he succeeds brilliantly at depicting the warfare between Rome and Carthage.
Also useful are the Preface and conclusion in which Mr. Goldsworthy explains why we should still be interested in this history. He begins by noting that when he would mention the topic on which he was writing to people they'd murmur something about the Alps but that would about exhaust their knowledge. This is undoubtedly true for almost all of us, but astonishing given how central Greek and Roman language, history, and culture were to the educations of our forebears. To have forgotten these things as a society is to have weakened one of the pillars on which they built our civilization. And if it seems unimportant to some, Mr. Goldsworthy ends by suggesting just one of the ways in which the Roman victory in the Punic Wars matters utterly to us today. it made possible the Roman Empire and within that Empire the eventual penetration of Christianity to the ends of Europe. We still live in the world these wars made possible. It's not asking much that we recall them and when a historian as deft as this comes along, it's even pleasurable to do so.
Rome vs Carthage: Eyes on the Prize.......2005-11-09
Toward the end of his fascinating history of the Punic Wars, author Adrian Goldsworthy speculates that one of the reasons for Carthage's fall is that the African empire was too exclusively mercantile in its mindset. Somehow, the notion that they could grow their empire through a consistent plan of conquest never quite took root in their minds. Carthage could boast one of the greatest generals in all of history in Hannibal Barca; yet they let his campaign in Italy fizzle from lack of follow-through.
If Carthage represented a failure of the imagination, Rome always seemed to have their eyes on the prize. Even after Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and the slaughter at Cannae, Rome simply refused to treat with Hannibal. Moreover, they did not make the mistake of limiting their focus to Italy alone: They continued to fight in Spain, Cisalpine Gaul, and even Illyria and Greece. Once they had developed a powerful general in Scipio Africanus, they successfully invaded the Carthaginian mainland while Hannibal was bottled up in the toe of Italy.
Hannibal could destroy Rome's armies in the fields, but he was never strong enough to take Rome itself. Under the intelligent, if at times arthritic, generalship of Fabius Cunctator, Rome managed to avoid fighting pitched battles with Hannibal's army for over 12 years while at the same time keeping him bottled up away from the vicinity of Rome. More seriously, Hannibal failed to persuade any major Italian cities -- with the sole exception of Capua -- to throw in their lot with Carthage. From the outset, his battle plan was to live off the land; but to defeat Rome, he also had to woo the land to his side.
It is a great pity that there exist no histories of the wars from the Carthaginian side. Polybius and Livy produced very readable pro-Roman histories. It is somewhat ironic that the Phoenicians invented our alphabet, but their great colony at Carthage seemed to be averse to using it.
Goldsworthy did a good job of marshalling his sources in the endnotes, yet keeping scholarly "intrusions" into the text at a minimum. My only complaint is that the maps in my Cassell hardbound edition are poorly drawn, riddled with errors, and insufficient. It would have been useful, for instance, to have maps of the territories that Hannibal controlled at different times. Many cities mentioned in the text appear on none of the maps. Also, it would have been useful to do a better job of distinguishing all the Hamilcars, Hannibals, Gisgos, Hannos, Magos, and Hasdrubals from one another. Look at the index, and see what I mean.
If you like this book, I recommend that you read the two great historical novels written about the period: Gustave Flaubert's Salammbo and Winifred Bryher's The Coin of Carthage.
Written wtih clarity.......2005-08-05
Punic Wars by Adrian Goldsworthy proves to be a well written and well researched book on the series of wars fought between the North African city of Carthage and the Roman Republic. This series of conflicts won by Rome, opened the way for decline of their Republican system and rise of Pax Romana of the Imperial period. While the author and some of the previous reviewers gaves hints that this wasn't a good thing, I thought as Cato did, that as long as Carthage exist as an economic and possible military rival, Rome can never gained total mastery of the region. Seeds of imperial Rome was planted during these wars although it took a while to bloom.
I was impressed by the author's analyical accessments of who,why and how certain events turned out the way they did. He made it very clear why Rome won and why Carthage lost and it just wasn't about numbers and resources. Rome thought in the concept of total war, Carthage thought in terms of limited war. This difference determined the outcome of the First and Second Punic Wars and deciding factor behind Carthage's destruction in the Third War. Unfinished business was probably in Cato's mind when he called for "Delenda est Carthago".
The author's book on the Punic Wars proves to be written with clarity and well grasp of the knowledge at hand. This make this book very ideal to read and understand, a hallmark of a very good military history book. Despite of the limited primary sources to these wars, the author does an excllent job in bringing out the conflicts while analysizing the source material itself.
I would say that the only real weakness of this book lies in the fact that there weren't enough maps for novice readers to followed the wars, campaigns and battles as described in the book. Maybe diagrams of different military systems used by the Romans and their enemies would be nice as well.
But overall, this book turned out to be one of the best books I ever read on the subject and come well recommended to anyone who have an interest in this period.
an odd assortment of lettuce.......2005-04-18
Yes! The Punic Wars is an excellent overview of this oddly interesting era in history. The writing style is excellent, Adrian keeps things clear. He picks and chooses what facts should or should not be put in the book, he does this well.......... reading Livy's account can leave your head spinning. This is possibly one of the most helpful books that I have ever read that has covered such a complicated, large (I'm talkin timeframe people when I say "large.") series of events.
Book Description
This beautifully written study is the most comprehensive study of Rome from 753 BC to 264 BC. It is an important synthesis of the many developments in research over the last couple of decades. It adheres closely to the available sources, dealing with economic, social, literary and religious history, as well as telling the story of internal politics and foreign policy. A major student text.
Customer Reviews:
Cornell invictus.......2007-08-13
This volume of the Routledge History of the Ancient World by Cornell is simply brillant. I read it three times and I will surely read it again. It provides a fascinating comparison between the myths and legends of archaic Rome and the reality that lies behind it. One of the most beautiful examples is the part when Cornell analyses the historic bases of a figure like the Roman king Servius Tullus. He cites a stunning piece of scholarship of the emperor Claudius where he explains to his fellow Romans that Servius Tullus was called by the Estruscan Macstarna (which may mean in Latin "Magister" signifying that he was the right hand of the king serving as a magister equitus at that time of his career), information that lets you "feel history" when Cornell then makes you look at a drawing of an Estruscan wall painting showing possibly this Macstarna involved in some action of killing enemies. Everytime when I read this passage of the book I get a chicken skin...to my mind the author really understands to tell a story out of some facts that may themselves be rather dry.
Excellent discussion of Early Rome.......2007-08-06
An informative and thorough discussion of the history of early Rome. "The Early History of Rome" provides an intense discussion of archaeological and legendary evidence and attempts, with great success, to separate actual history from the legends. A must have book for any student of Rome and of things Roman. A standing ovation to T.J. Cornell for an excellent study.
Don't walk run and buy this book!.......2006-03-21
This is one of the best books I have ever read. And I do not mean just books about ancient Rome or history books. I have read it three times and just for the kick of it. I am neuroscientist and not a classical scholar but I love history and this is history writing at its best: scholarly, fair, witty, and elegantly written (sometimes donwright dazzling). Cornell lets the readers into his secret cabinet and shows them the raw materials the professional historian works with. Amazingly, this does not detract from the magic of the "story" but makes it all the more enthralling. Don't walk run and buy this book!
Excellent background on the beginnings of Rome.......2005-05-18
A book that was much needed in the field. Scholarly but not overly pedantic and certainly not impenetrable.
The author relies much archeology and offers no easy solutions to theoretical problems.
The conclusions offered are in various shades of gray depending on the reliability and amount of evidence. However the reader should be aware that certain theories are being pushed here with which many might disagree.
Rome certainly did not come from a monolithic source and the author provides a survey of the many cultures that inhabited that peninsula as well as the outside civilizations that colonized it. However the book is not without certain controversies.
One of the author's great strengths in this book is his knowledge of current archaeological discoveries Etruria and in Latium as well as period of orientalization and early Iron Age. Thus, the book's greatest strength is its careful synthesis of historical and archaeological data for the period preceding the republic; and it is likewise excellent concerning Roman external affairs and conquest of Italy. Perhaps the books biggest weakness is its insufficiently critical treatment of the ancient literary sources .
The book's 15 chapters are methodically presented and are augmented with very helpful illustrations and tables. A brief overview of human culture in Italy from the Bronze Age to the early Iron Age. The author's treatment of the importance of ascribing cultural difference between inhumation and cremation I personally found somewhat controversial.
In this reviewers opinion he rightly dismisses some of the value of the written tradition of the formation of Rome.
Further controversy is raised in chapter four with the authors contention that the clan did not proceed the city-state and heroic graves but were enmeshed together. It does give one something to think about.
Yet another controversy offered in this book which personally I take issue with is the minimization of the influence of the Etruscans on Roman culture.
Actually there is quite a bit to chew on here yet I do not what to dissuade the reader form picking it up. Just be aware that there is a lot of theory in this book some of which many academics might take issue.
One thing the book successfully establishes is that by the beginning of the early third century B.C. Rome had acquired the political structure which laid the foundations for its later greatness.
One would hope the reader after being inspired by this volume would look into authors that offer equally compelling alternative theories.
Highly recommended.
First rate scholarly work.......2001-06-30
This is an excellent book that I think is primarily intended for a scholarly audience (experts in the field, professional historians and archaeologists, etc.) but is also very valuable to an interested amateur like myself.
Cornell goes through the early history of Rome and sets out what the evidence is and what we can reliably conclude from it. One of the best features of the book is his willingness, all too rare even among scholars, to recognize when the evidence is inconclusive and to admit that we have no way of knowing the answer to a particular question. He is also clear about the limitations of archaeological data, and recognizes the way it is often misused to support historical theses when, in fact, it is rather the histoprical ideas that allow for the interpretation of the archaeologucal data in the first place.
However, while Cornell is pretty good about presenting the narrative historical tradition, the book generally covers the history with fairly large brushstrokes and jumps from one large topic to another without trying to string together a coherent narrative. Because of this, this book is best used as a second reference on early Roman history. That is, it shouldn't be the first book you read on the topic. I think you'd be best served by first reading a good narrative history to provide the framework, and then read this work to fill in the details and show up any inaccuracies.
It is well written and suprisingly readable, not at all dry. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who has some knowledge of early Roman history but would like to learn more about the "state of the art" in that field.
Average customer rating:
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A Commentary on Livy, Books VI-X: Volume IV: Book X
S. P. Oakley
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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ASIN: 0199272565 |
Book Description
Livy's tenth book, an exciting climax to his first decade, narrates two political advances of 300 BC, the Lex Valeria de provocatione and the opening up of major priesthoods to plebeians; it also tells of the Spartan Cleonymus' landfall at the site that long afterwards would be Venice. Its main topic, however, is Roman warfare, above all the outbreak of the Third Samnite War and the decisive battle of Sentium in 295 BC. This new commentary, which completes Professor Oakley's exposition of Books VI-X, deals comprehensively with all aspects of Livy's work, including the literary structure of his narrative, the historical and topographical problems of the Samnite Wars, the poetical and archaic language sometimes affected by Livy, and the numerous textual problems posed by the extant manuscripts. An extensive section of addenda and corrigenda contains revisions to the preceding volumes.
Product Description
Rome's rise to empire is often said to have owed much to the efficiency and military skill of her armies and their technological superiority over barbarian enemies. But just how 'advanced' was Roman military equipment? What were its origins and how did it evolve? The authors of this book have gathered a wealth of evidence from all over the Roman Empire - excavated examples as well as pictorial and documentary sources - to present a picture of what range of equipment would be available at any given time, what it would look like and how it would function. They examine how certain pieces were adopted from Rome's enemies and adapted to particular conditions of warfare prevailing in different parts of the Empire. They also investigate in detail the technology of military equipment and the means by which it was produced, and discuss wider questions such as the status of the soldier in Roman society. Both the specially prepared illustrations and the text have been completely revised for the second edition of this detailed and authoritative handbook, bringing it up to date with the very latest research. It illustrates each element in the equipment of the Roman soldier, from his helmet to his boots, his insignia, his tools and his weapons. This book will appeal to archaeologists, ancient and military historians as well as the generally informed and inquisitive reader.
Customer Reviews:
THE Book to have.......2007-04-04
I am a Roman era re-enactor and I absolutely loved this book! Not only did in inform me with details I didn't know, but also informed me with what was wrong with my impression.
This is a must have for any Roman era enthusiast!!
My Brother Liked It.......2007-01-10
My brother is a big history and punic wars buff, and he really enjoyed it. From what I looked at the illustrations were amazing and the book seemed well written.
THE definitive work on Roman military equipment.......2006-09-08
I have both the first and the current editions of this utterly invaluable book. It is undoubtedly the best and most detailed discussion of Roman military equipment available and it is a "must read" for anyone interested in the subject, be he or she an historian, re-enactor, artist or whatever. I would give this book six stars, but there are only five available.
Book Description
On 2 August 216BC, Hannibal won his greatest victory in the plain north of the small, hilltop town of Cannae in southern Italy. By the end of the day his outnumbered mercenaries had enveloped and massacred the greater part of the largest army Rome had ever fielded, turning this into one of the bloodiest battles ever fought, rivalling even the industrialised slaughter of the twentieth century AD. For the Romans Cannae became the yardstick by which other defeats were measured, never surpassed and only once or twice equalled in the next six centuries. Cannae remains one of the most famous battles ever fought, frequently alluded to in modern military writing, and Hannibal's tactics are still taught in the military academies where today's officers are trained. This volume is a brand new look at the battle, and explains clearly and concisely exactly how it was that Hannibal achieved his historic victory.
Customer Reviews:
Good study of a legendary battle.......2005-04-29
As Adrian Goldsworthy states in the introduction to this book, reconstructing the battles of the ancient world is far more challenging than those of more recent times. The sources left to us of events are few and contradictory, often written to glorify particular individuals or illustrate key traits rather than to give precise details.
Faced with such obstacles, Goldsworthy has done an impressive job of reconstructing the battle of Cannae for the reader. Using the works of ancient authors and archaeological findings, he illuminates the details of a legendary clash of the ancient world, making educated inferences where the evidence fails him. More than just an account of the maneuvers of the day of the battle, Goldsworthy provides the background to the Second Punic War, descriptions of the two armies, and an explanation for why Hannibal's great victory on the battlefield did not lead to Carthage's triumph in their war against Rome. Well illustrated and generously supported with clear maps that are easy to understand, this is a good introduction for readers seeking to learn about this legendary battle.
Excellent Chronicle of Famous Battle.......2003-03-03
Cannae by Adrian Goldsworthy is an excellent chronicle of one of histories most famous battles. In 216 B.C. a Carthaginian Army led by Hannibal annihilated a Roman Army of more than twice its size. The tactics that Hannibal utilized, what has been called a double envelopment, have been studied for the past centuries and were the basis for the German plan for the invasion of France in 1914 as well as Schwarzkopf's Desert Storm.
Goldsworthy, who has also written a superior history of the Punic Wars, does a remarkable job of taking a battle that occurred over two thousand years ago and making it come alive. He goes to great lengths to not only explain the thinking of the major players, but remarkedly brings to the pages the experience of the common soldier. This is especially true as it relates to the sheer physical endurance that was required to slaughter the tens of thousands of Roman soldiers that were killed by Hannibal's Army. This is not to say that Goldsworthy ignores the major players. His discussion of the tactics of Hannibal and the lengths that Hannibal went to in order to make the victory more certain are a lesson for any leader.
Where the book excels is in its discussion of the Roman Armies and explaining why they were so unsuccessful. The traditional thought is that the the Roman Army was simply out generaled by one of histories greatest military leaders. However, as Goldsworthy points out, the Roman Army that met Hannibal was one that had been depleted of its veteran soldiers by successive defeats by Hannibal and was made up mostly of new recruits. Even so, Hannibal's victory was not a forgone conclusion and had not Hannibal's center held out as long as it did Hannibal's defeat would have followed. It was only the firmness of the center that allowed the wings to turn and arrack the Roman flanks and the cavalry to attack the Roman rear. With Hannibal in command of the center, the Carthaginian victory had as much to do with the excellent subordinate commanders that were part of Hannibal's Army.
Cannae is similar to the Ospery Campaign Series, in organization, with an explanation of the leaders, the armies and the actual campaign. However, it is more expensive and includes more in its pages. The maps are one of the strongest parts of the book and make it easy to understand the ebb and flow of the battle.
All in all, the book is a more than worth while read. However, if one wants to know more, I would suggest Goldsworthy "The Punic Wars."
A Detailed Look at a Classic Battle.......2002-11-15
Despite having been fought over 22 centuries ago, Cannae is still widely regarded as the most classic example of a battle of annihilation in military history. Several ancient historians - principally Polybius and Livy - addressed the battle in their time and several modern historians have attempted to tackle this subject, which is obscured by lack of documentation. Adrian Goldsworthy, an English scholar of ancient warfare, uses the methodology employed by John Keegan in the Face of Battle to attempt to unravel the details of the great Roman defeat at Cannae. Readers may not always agree with the author's interpretations, but he does succeed in bringing the battle to life and this volume is further proof of the high quality of Cassel's new Field of Battle series.
Cannae consists of five sections that cover the background to the Second Punic War, the opposing armies, the campaign of 216 BC, the Battle of Cannae and its aftermath. Certainly the best thing about Goldsworthy's Cannae is it's very high graphic quality. The fifteen full-color battle maps included in the volume are excellent and fully support the campaign narrative. Goldsworthy also includes two appendices with data on opposing strengths and casualties in the battle, a glossary and footnotes (but no bibliography).
The Roman Army that marched to disaster at Cannae was the largest ever deployed on a single battlefield by Rome. However, Goldsworthy notes the inherent weaknesses in this huge army, beginning with a divided command structure and inadequately trained legions. As Goldsworthy notes, the legionaries that were hastily mobilized in the summer of 216 BC lacked the training and discipline of later Roman armies, and their commanders lacked experience. Thus, Hannibal's professional army had a distinct qualitative edge over the larger Roman army. At Cannae, Hannibal's troops were capable of tactical flexibility and agility, but the Romans could only employ unimaginative brute-force linear tactics. On the other hand, Goldsworthy notes that the Roman Republic had enormous manpower reserves for an ancient state - about 700,000 males - and could better sustain combat losses. Another interesting feature that Goldsworthy highlights is the participation of the Roman elite in the campaign; between 25 and 30% of Rome's senators were killed or captured in the battle.
Goldsworthy's account is most interesting because he tries to analyze the campaign and battle in much greater detail that heretofore attempted. He rejects the popular notion that the Roman decision to seek battle at Cannae was foolhardy, since there is no evidence that the alternative "Fabian strategy" was capable of achieving victory. The Roman leadership knew that the only needed to win a single major victory over Hannibal to end the Carthaginian invasion and then went about amassing the means to achieve their ends. The Roman commanders were wary of Hannibal's tactical skill and they approached his army cautiously in the days before the battle, but once they decided to attack, they attempted to use constrictive terrain to minimize the Carthaginian advantage in cavalry. The Roman battle plan was simple but effective, and had a reasonable chance for success. However, the Roman cavalry collapsed far more quickly than expected and the Roman plan began to disintegrate. Although the Romans succeeded in breaking the Carthaginian center, the Roman infantry lacked the agility to deal with threats from their exposed flanks. Once surrounded, the Roman army was slowly hacked to death, making 2 August 216 BC one of the bloodiest days in military history.
One of the more interesting parts of the book is the aftermath section, where Goldsworthy addresses Hannibal's failure to exploit his victory and march on Rome. Goldsworthy notes Hannibal's "cultural assumption" that Cannae was a significant enough victory to bring Rome to terms, and therefore it was unnecessary to march upon the capital to deliver a coup de grace. This set of circumstances might remind readers of the situation facing General Schwarzkopf in 1991, when he decided not to march on the Iraqi capital after achieving a similarly one-sided battlefield triumph. Obviously, some things about warfare don't change over the centuries.
My only problem with Goldsworthy's methodology is the use of modern-day combat research to advance some of his pet theories. In particular, the use of Marshall's now-discredited statistics on combat participation to explain legionary tactics at Cannae is ludicrous; nowhere does the author mention that Marshall's analysis of American rifle squads in the Korean War was in no way comparable to Roman tactics 2,000 years before. For example, Marshall's famous statistic that only 17% of US infantrymen fired their weapon in combat is irrelevant to the Roman legionary who was in full sight of his enemy. A Roman legionary who would not fight could not run, hide or remain passive under such circumstances. Goldsworthy also fails to take into account the fact that the Roman soldiers had a great motivation to fight - after witnessing two years of enemy depredations in their native land - they were fighting on their own soil to drive out an invader. At Cannae, the Romans did not fail for lack of means or willpower, they failed due to lack of adequate training and experience. Yet defeat provided a catalyst for a Roman military revival and in the end, Hannibal's tactical masterpiece was for naught.
Book Description
The Punic Wars triggered an era of astonishing human misfortune. Resulting from a mighty power struggle between the military confederation of Rome and the trading empire of Carthage between 264--241 B.C., 218--201 B.C., and 149--146 b.c., the wars were fought over a period of 118 years. Massive man-made devastation on both sides left RB.C.ome’s population radically depleted and Carthage razed and erased from the map.
Sir Nigel Bagnall brings his military experience and a modern professional eye to bear in analyzing the Punic Wars here. He marshals classic military strategists such as Livy, Polybius, and Diodorus to plot the wars’ campaigns in Spain, Africa, Sicily, and the Peloponnese, and follows Hannibal’s daring but unsuccessful strike into the heart of Italy.
But Bagnall goes beyond military strategy to discuss the force, structures, and politics of Rome and Carthage at their heights. And he contrasts their conduct of battle at strategic, operational, and tactical levels to show how they were governed by the same military principles used by nations today. His thought-provoking final chapter relates these wars’ lessons to modern times in an impressive argument for adapting the experience of the past to the needs of the future. While the history of the Punic Wars dates back over 2000 years, Bagnall’s comprehensive account demonstrates that this ancient conflict is remarkable both for its scope and its contemporary relevance.
Customer Reviews:
Good but needs editing.......2006-08-24
I liked Bagnall's book, but they could've edited the thing a little better. I found lots of places where a comma was needed for clarity. Perhaps it's his style.
Bad History.......2006-06-06
This is one of the worst attempts at writing a historical account of a major episode I have ever encounted. Bagnall was clearly a novice at this sort of thing and it shows throughout the book. There are numerous glaring errors in detail, such as misidentifying key figures, misplacing sites and dates of events, and an almost incredible lack of sensible analysis of the reasons or importance of events. The reviewer who referred to Bagnall as a (Hannibal) hero worshipper was quite correct - Bagnall is one of those Hannibal apoligists who finds it necessary to glorfy a loser at all costs, including the cost of truth. The comments of another reviewer concerning Scipio, the true victor of the second punic war, are as misguided as Bagnall's dismal attempt to write history. For the reader interested in this history, please read Goldsworthy, Hart, or Scullard - these are ligitimate historians!
A British Historian Recaptures a Pivotal Chapter in Roman History.......2005-09-18
~The Punic Wars : Rome, Carthage, and the Struggle for the Mediterranean~ is some really bold historical prose capturing one of the most resounding conflicts in antiquity between the Carthaginians and the Romans, which were a series of three wars between 264 B.C. and 146 B.C. For the first time in United States, Thomas Duanne books has brought British historian Nigel Bagnall's epic history to print in 2005. The Punic Wars forever changed the destiny of Rome and marked their unfettered ascent to becoming an imperial power to be reckoned with. These two Mediterranean peoples stood in enmity one against the other, and their climatic struggle would set the balance of power in favor of Rome for the ages. In the third century before Christ, the great naval power in the world was not Rome but Carthage. The Carthaginians were descendants of the seafaring Semitic race the Phoenicians and their campaign of colonization inevitably brought them into a clash of arms with the Romans who had imperial ambitions of their own. As the Romans solidified their control over the Italian peninsula, Carthage extended their control over North Africa's entire arable coastline. Likewise, when Carthage expanded its colonies to Spain, Sardinia, and Sicily-they sparked a clash with the Romans. Treaties were broken and honor was at stake. The Romans took over Sicily seeking a buffer zone to minimize hit-and-run naval raids on the Italic peninsula. Hamilcar Barca and Hasdrubal sought to create a Carthaginian bastion on the Iberian (i.e. Spain) and its ancillary islands. What is more, the bold gambit of Hannibal is brought to life, as his ambition in Iberia is recaptured with amazing detail. The author meticulously documents Hannibal's painstaking and arduous transalpine march as his men struggled to brave the elements of Gaul, as well as the climatic battle with the Romans. The late British historian and former soldier Nigel Bagnall captures the epic clash of personalities with amazing detail. With the decimation of Carthage's Navy, an account of Rome's brutul subjugation of Carthage and her colonies is captured with astonishing detail. Cato's merciless quip "delenda est Carthago" ("Carthage must be destroyed") surmised the belligerent Roman policy toward their Mediterranean neighbors towards the south. Carthage itself would be utterly vanquished and plowed over with pillars of salt. Bagnall gives life to the ancient historical accounts in a keen narrative history. This book is powerful and yet easy to read. All things considered, it is a really good laymen's history of a pivotal war in the annals of history. Bagnall is possessed of a profound historical acumen that makes this particular book come to life. Though, a cursory understanding of Roman history is probably prerequisite for readers.
Hero worship and biased........2005-09-08
This is a well researched and written book, so why the 2 stars? Simply put this book is written by another white man who writes in a fashion that clearly shows his distaste for his own race and civilization, a trend that is all too common in this pathetic era of self-doubt and media induced frenzies of political correctness.
Here are a few examples: when the Romans commit some form of atrocity such as the sacking of allied cities to Carthage it is described as blood lust and wickedness, whereas if it is done by the Carthaginians it was done out of tactical necessity and no malice was involved...give me a break. The sacking of Roman cities described by the author's idol Hannibal, are always glossed over but the author never misses a chance to characterize Roman sackings as acts of folly and blood lust. Not to mention that the author gleefully tries to remind everyone that the Romans used slaves while he never states the fact that the Carthaginians also used slaves as well. The message is clear : white man bad...ethnic good.
Furthermore during the first Punic War the Roman navy suffered greatly from storms that destroyed their fleet on several occasions. This also happened to the Carthaginians during the Second War. The author states that for the Carthaginians this was ill luck and unfortunate, but for the Romans he states that it was incompetence. This is just one of the examples of double standards he applies to his much loved Carthaginians. The author is clearly one who wants to break with the image that Romans were mighty warriors (after all they conquered a vast empire) and he wants to install a revisionist notion that the Romans were in no way superior to other soldiers as was stated in previous historical works.
The author does, on the other hand, repeatedly drool over the supposed incredible prowess of the Numidian cavalry. The author gives an impression that the Numidians are the ultimate warriors. If that were so then how come they did not carve out a vast empire of their own? At the end of the Third Punic War the Numidians did have a small kingdom on the North coast of Africa that was united under one King. When this king died his kingdom fragmented when his sons fought one another to control it. The author somehow manages to try and blame the Romans (evil white men after all) for this because they were in negotiations with one of the sons for an alliance. Wouldn't it be the Numidians fault if they were fighting amongst one another instead of cooperating? How was this the Romans fault? The author could just not resist blaming the white man I guess.
These are only a few examples of the author's ethnic worshipping...there at many other examples throughout the book. If the Romans truly were as ungifted as the author tries to have us imagine then they would never have gone down in history as a great empire.
If you can't get enough of ethnic hero worship and have low self esteem then by all means get this book. Otherwise get another version of the Punic Wars.
Splendid History Applicable to Today .......2005-08-15
The late Field Marshall Sir Nigel Bagnall has done something in this book that is unique in my reading experience.
First, this book is a history of the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage. It is a military history, written from the standpoint of a senior military officer who is able to see and understand what the military of both sides were doing.
Second, this book goes beyond the military history of the two countries to explain the internal workings, the culture, the commercial activities of the two countries. He is then able to relate these points to the overall battle.
Third, the reason to study history is to be able to relate what happened to what is happening now. And he is able to relate these wars from so long ago to the conflict between the Soviet Union and the West.
Fourth, at the beginning of wars, the finding of competant generals has been a problem. This was true in the Punic wars. This was certainly true in the American Civil War (witness the number of generals Lincoln put in charge of the Army of the Potomac). And it was true at the start of World War II on the part of both the British and the Americans. In the short wars of the future, this cannot be allowed to happen.
Splendid history with direct applicability to modern times.
Book Description
"An intensely interesting book." --Spectator Scipio Africanus (236183 b.c.) was one of the most exciting and dynamic leaders in history. As commander, he never lost a battle. Yet it is his adversary, Hannibal, who has lived on in public memory.
As B.H. Liddell Hart writes, "Scipio's battles are richer in stratagems and ruses--many still feasible today--than those of any other commander in history." Any military enthusiast or historian will find this to be an absorbing, gripping portrait.
Customer Reviews:
A Great General Gets His Due.......2006-10-31
We've all heard of Hannibal and of the man who finally defeated the invader of Rome (on his own turf). But who does history remember? It certainly isn't the victorious general who *NEVER* lost a battle. While Hannibal might not have lost a battle until Zama, he simply wasn't able to finish the Romans off. This was simply due to the fact he wasn't equal to Scipio when it came to siege warfare. The author finally gives Scipio a book worthy to his name. What struck me the most about Scipio was the way he was treated by politicians back in Rome. One would think that the Senate would have done everything possible to ensure that Scipio was victorious and save Rome. However petty rivalries and jealousy were yet other obstacles to be overcome. History repeating itself. The man himself was not only a brilliant general but a very humble man who always put the republic needs above his own. Even though in the end he died in exile, on charges of bribery bought about by his enemies. Rome later cleared his name but the man who saved them from Hannibal, brought Spain, Carthage, Numidia, Sicily and Greece into the empire was treated no better than a common thief. History does indeed repeat itself.
Innovative Commander........2006-04-09
First, the authors initial premise that the victor does not always get the credit is sadly true. Which dispells many myths revisionists have been spewing for decades. Aspiring leaders could learn much from this and the authors other books. Here he has created a great story outlining the exploits of one of the worlds most underated generals. Dare I say hardly known? Chapters 10 and 11 is where the true nature of the subject comes to life. In three dynamic years he crushed Carthaginian Spain, then launched his daring attack on Carthage. He details how Scipio's depth of thinking was far beyond most one-dimensional doctrines of his day. Without him Rome and the European Civilization that we so often take for granted, may have ended as part of a huge North African Empire. We owe the subject and the author a debt of gratitude.
Excellent and Interest premise for book.......2005-09-29
The author starts off with an interesting premise - that the victor doesn't always get the credit due his achievements. He mentions Hannibal's fame over his superior on the battlefield - Scipio. Other examples are Wellington over Napoleon and Grant over Lee.
A very interesting biography overall with a concentration on his wartime accomplishments, this book is a good read for those interested in military history and the politic intrigue that plague successful military leaders. Recommended reading!
Great work.......2005-02-25
I do not give 5 star ratings on much of anything that I review, this was an exception. I had barely heard of this great general before and now I know much more about him. That is what a historical book should do, but this one was also a joy to read and went too fast. For every statement about Scipio there is explination and justification. I'm sure he was a much more complicated man than even this book can go into, more's the pity, but a great general he was....possibly the greatest.
A must buy to the military reader and should be required reading for not only historians, and soldiers, but heads of state as well.
Greater Than Napoleon!.......2004-09-04
"So general is the recognition of Hannibal's genius in this battle art that he is commonly termed the supreme tactician of history. Yet in ruse and strategem the record of Scipio's battles is even richer (p.253)."
Author Basil H. Liddell Hart has created a wonderful story outlining the history and exploits of possibly the greatest general of any military force, Scipio Africanus.
Publius Cornelius Scipio was born in Rome in 235 B.C.; his first recorded taste of warfare was at the battle of the Ticinus, where Hannibal first clashed with the Romans after his famous passage through the Alps with his elephants, and in which Scipio's father was the commander. Here the 17 year old Scipio saved his father's life, and only two years later, the year of the Romans' disastrous defeat at Cannae, he was already the equivalent of a Colonel. In 210 B.C. the dynamic and charasmatic young Scipio was put in supreme command; Ticinus and Cannae were the only scenes of failure Scipio witnessed, for in command he never lost a battle. In three years he destroyed Carthaginian power in Spain and on his return to Italy pressed for a direct attack on Carthage. Made consul, he took his forces to Africa where he destroyed the forces of Carthage's great ally, Syphax. Two years later he clashed with Hannibal himself, annihilating his army in the decisive battle of Zama. For his triumph of arms, which finally broke Carthaginian power, he was awarded the title of "Africanus."
At 280 pages, this text is very entertaining and easy to read and understand. Without footnotes and only a short bibliography, the book is still a watershed of ancient military insight from the military historian master himself, B.H. Liddell Hart. I rate this text as five stars! Superb!
Book Description
First time in paperback: A lively reconstruction of one of the most daring maneuvers in military history.
When he left his Spanish base one spring day in 218 B.C. with his 100,000-man army of mercenaries, officers, and elephants, Hannibal was launching not just the main offensive of the Second Punic War but also one of the great military journeys in ancient history. His masterful advance through rough terrain and fierce Celtic tribes proved his worth as a leader, but it was his extraordinary passage through the Alps-still considered treacherous even by modern climbers-that made him a legend. John Prevas combines rigorous research of ancient sources with his own excursions through the icy peaks to bring to life this awesome trek, solving the centuries-old question of Hannibal's exact route and shedding fresh light on the cultures of Rome and Carthage along the way. Here is the finest kind of history, sure to appeal to readers of Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire: alive with grand strategy, the clash of empires, fabulous courage, and the towering figure of Hannibal Barca.
Customer Reviews:
An Exploration Of Hannibal's Route.......2006-06-26
In "Hannibal Crosses the Alps" John Prevas focuses on what the title suggests, which is the actual crossing of the Alps by Hannibal and his mercenary army. Three of the seven chapters deal with the crossing of the Alps, while the other chapters cover the prior history between Rome and Carthage, Hannibal's rise to power, the ancient sources from which we know this history, and the rest of Hannibal's campaign in Italy after his crossing. There is also an Epilogue in which he discusses what happened to Hannibal, and what happened between Rome and Carthage through the Third Punic War.
John Prevas traveled repeatedly through the Alps seeing for himself the terrain of the many possible routes that Hannibal may have taken in his search for the correct route. The route he pieces together he supports with as much evidence as he can, using the ancient sources as well as the visual information that he was able to gather on his trips. While his case is strong and very persuasive, he does temper his argument with the acknowledgement that as of yet there isn't any physical evidence in the form of remains as of yet to turn conjecture into fact.
While overall I enjoyed this book, there are definitely some weaknesses which could have easily been addressed but sadly were not. First of all, for a work which focuses so much on the routes traveled, there are surprisingly few maps to help the reader visualize things. You may want to arm yourself with an atlas of the ancient world, or even perhaps other books about Hannibal which do contain more maps to help compensate for this lack. In addition, while I do like his writing style, there are places where he repeats himself as well as contradict himself.
In an example of repetition and contradiction, he says more than once that none of the elephants perished on the march through the Alps, but he also says more than once that the finding of elephant remains would help determine the route. Clearly there cannot be remains if no elephants were lost. He also contradicts himself with regards to the climate where he first states that there is no significant difference in the snow levels in the Alps from Hannibal's time to ours (this is in support of his argument that the pass which Hannibal took must have been at a higher elevation than those usually selected by historians), and then later he talks about the receding ice and thawing out of areas which may help find supporting evidence.
I enjoyed reading this book; however, I don't think this would be the first book I would read on Hannibal or the Punic Wars. With some minor updates and rewrites this book could easily be four stars, but for now I can only give it three.
My Introduction to Hannibal.......2006-04-03
Although an avid reader, I seemed to have avoided this period in history in general and Hannibal in specific. I came to the subject with a very sparse knowledge of Hannibal and went away with an improved understanding, not only of Hannibal, but also of the political/cultural make up of this period in history. Of particular interest, and well expounded in the book, is how Rome and Carthage related and how ultimately Rome won out.
I saw Professor Prevas speaking on C-SPAN in early February 2006 about his book on Alexander the Great (Envy of the Gods) and found his lecture to be very intriguing. As a result I picked up this book as well as his others. I also highly recommend his book about Xenophon's march of the Greek 10,000. All three are easy reads and very interesting.
Solid intro to Hannibal's Journey.......2005-04-21
I recommend this book for anyone looking for an easy-to-read and yet informative introduction to Hannibal. The author focusses on one of Hannibal's most famous exploits - the crossing of the Alps. It's good material and looking at it closely definitely has rewards. I don't come away from the whole discussion of just which pass Hannibal used with definite opinions, but what's interesting is the process of comparing and contrasting the different passes and asking questions.
The book does manage to be about more than just the Alps crossing. It places the conflict, says something about Carthage and Rome, and gives a quick synopsis of how the war played out. Someone who knows a lot about Hannibal will learn a thing or two here. Readers not familiar with the subject could do worse than starting with this book. It should wet your interest and convince anyone that Hannibal is one of the greatest military minds to have walked the earth. Give it a try.
If you want more... For an indepth look at the war I suggest Nigel Bagnall's The Punic Wars, and for a great novel about it all check out David Durham's Pride of Carthage.
A 2200 Year Old Historical Odyssey.......2005-04-03
After reading David Anthony Durham's vivid novel "Pride of Carthage", a good follow-up for the reader interested in learning more about Hannibal and the Second Punic War is John Prevas' "Hannibal Crosses the Alps". Prevas has made the journey himself many times, so he is able to give accurate site reports of the various routes Hannibal is speculated to have taken over the Alps. Hannibal traveled with an army of tens of thousands of soldiers and as many as 37 war elephants. As Prevas makes his case for a crossing at Col de la Traversette, the reader is held in awe of Hannibal's tenacity and daring.
"Hannibal Crosses the Alps" is just the right size for the reader looking for a good snapshot of the Second Punic War: the book is not too short, but neither does it drown in detail. There is a good chronology in the front, some maps and photos, an extensive bibliography, and an index. More remarkable, though, is Prevas' case for Hannibal's route. The actual route has been lost to history, but Prevas has hiked though the region, and he painstakingly compares the natural features he observed to those recorded in Polybius and Livy. His conclusions are hard to refute, and baring future archeological finds, I believe his conclusions are very sound. His book will also help the reader of Durham's novel fit what is known into Durham's fictional account.
Convincing evidence.......2002-08-12
John Prevas has done some very fine research here and should be commended for giving so much evidence to his theory on the path that Hannibal took over the Alps. However, he continuously repeats himself many times in the book and this made it sometimes difficult to get through. All in all a very convincing theory of Hannibals pass over the Alps. Until a body or some other hard physical evidence is found that proves without a doubt where Hannibal actually crossed the Alps, I will stick with Mr. Prevas and his theory. Highly recommend the book for students of military history who do not want a whole lot of excitement with their reading, you will not find much action here. If you want action, read Caesers Commentaries. I give 4 stars for the amount of time and personal sacrifice that Mr. Prevas put into the work by going to the locations through a number of years of research and on site camping, must have been exciting to be where Hannibal had been.
Not a bad book but often times dry and unexciting.
Book Description
This epic retelling of the legendary Carthaginian military leader’s assault on the Roman empire begins in Ancient Spain, where Hannibal Barca sets out with tens of thousands of soldiers and 30 elephants. After conquering the Roman city of Saguntum, Hannibal wages his campaign through the outposts of the empire, shrewdly befriending peoples disillusioned by Rome and, with dazzling tactics, outwitting the opponents who believe the land route he has chosen is impossible. Yet Hannibal’s armies must take brutal losses as they pass through the Pyrenees mountains, forge the Rhone river, and make a winter crossing of the Alps before descending to the great tests at Cannae and Rome itself.
David Anthony Durham draws a brilliant and complex Hannibal out of the scant historical record–sharp, sure-footed, as nimble among rivals as on the battlefield, yet one who misses his family and longs to see his son grow to manhood. Whether portraying the deliberations of a general or the calculations of a common soldier, vast multilayered scenes of battle or moments of introspection when loss seems imminent, Durham brings history alive.
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Praise for Pride of Carthage
“An extraordinary achievement: Durham puts flesh on the bones of Carthage in a way that no novelist has done since Flaubert wrote Salammbo.”
—Tom Holland, author of Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic
“Pride of Carthage is that rare and wonderful thing: an historical novel that’s not only deeply evocative of time and place, character and situation, but is also lyrically written, compellingly composed. I savored each page while ever more breathless as the story unfolded. Durham has broken the mold of historical fiction and created a masterpiece.”
—Jeffrey Lent, author of In the Fall and Lost Nation
“Durham leaps continents and centuries to tell the epic story of Hannibal and his march on Rome in this heady, richly textured novel. . . . The novel’s grand sweep is balanced by intimate portraits of Hannibal, his family, his allies and his enemies. . . . Durham weaves abundant psychological, military, and political detail into this vivid account of one of the most romanticized periods of history.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Durham has reimagined this vanished world in stunningly precise detail, and his lucid explanations of the give-and-take of military decision-making help the reader through some dauntingly complicated material. Nor is this novel merely a pageant: the author vividly portrays both Hannibal’s driven resolve and Scipio’s ruthless efficiency, as well as the conflicted emotions that rule several powerfully realized secondary figures. . . . One of the best of the current crop of historical novels, and a career-making march forward for Durham.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Customer Reviews:
Baloney!!!.......2007-09-24
As a student of history, there are very few things that I find more annoying than the deliberate distortion of history on the part of any author. This book falls in the same bracket as the movie "300" does, fatally distorted fiction, which is the worse kind of fiction because it will be accepted as fact, and for that Mr. Durham should ashamed.
The first fallacy that Mr. Durham foists on his readers is that Hannibal was a black African, and that so was Carthage. Hannibal was not black; he was an ethnic Phoenician which means that he was very likely of Semitic origin, for Mr. Durham to characterize Hannibal Barca as black is ridiculous, and even though Carthage was in North Africa, it was hardly a black African nation, as it was Phoenician in origin and nature.
Additionally let's be clear, the Carthaginians were hardly innocent victims. They went to war with Rome over the prize plum of Greek Sicily and both countries went through machinations to rival anything in the modern world. By all rights, the Carthaginians should have won the First Punic War; they lost because the Romans re-wrote the rules of ancient naval warfare thus eliminating their biggest advantage.
Hannibal himself was ultimately defeated due to numerous reasons, but some of the most salient are the fact that the Carthaginians were overly dependent on mercenaries because they did not want to send their own sons and daughters to war, because when Rome decided to take the war to Africa the Carthaginian leadership panicked and recalled Hannibal home, and ultimately because Publius Cornelius Scipio was a better general than Hannibal.
What ultimately happened to Carthage was not terribly unusual in the ancient world, although their treatment by the Romans was. What very likely doomed the Carthaginians was that they refused to stay down when beaten, and in the end Hannibal's success on the battlefield very likely did more to seal the fate of Carthage than anything else I can personally think of.
In the end, what happened to Hannibal was not a black and white thing; whatever other foibles the ancient Romans may have had racially based bigotry did not seem to be one of them, and like the victors in almost every age before or since, they re-wrote the facts to suit their own needs. Even so, the Romans themselves may have done more to ensure the immortality of Hannibal, as for hundreds of years Roman mothers admonished their children to behave themselves, or Hannibal would get them!
Very enjoyable read and a window into ancient life.......2007-08-30
I chose to read this book in August during my summer downtime and was pleasantly surprised - it was a great break from my usual business-related reading, and it exceeded my expectations on several levels:
1 - While the primary perspective in this novel is that of Hannibal & Carthage, Durham does a fine job providing a window into the lifestyles and minds of ancient Romans as well. This provides a great deal of balance and perspective.
2 - I agree with other reviewers that historical timelines, events, and characters have been compressed and that it's very difficult at times to tell what is historical fact and what is fiction. But so what? This is an imaginative work of historical fiction, and it should be approached that way. If you want to learn the nitty gritty of the 2nd Punic Wars, supplement your reading with Polybius and Livy.
But if you want to feel what it was like to march across the alps, or imagine what it was like to be in the midst of a battle involving tens of thousands of soldiers hacking at one another with spears, shields, and swords...if you want to transport yourself to ancient, exotic landscapes in Iberia, Gaul, and Italy, then by all means read this book!
3 - Multidimensional perspective: this is not a "then Hannibal did this, then Hannibal did that" kind of book. You get a 360 degree view of the period, from the level of ordinary soldier to top commander, from slave to aristocrat/royalty. If you enjoy delving into history, you will learn much from all of these perspectives and, hopefully, your imagination will be lit as much as mine was.
4 - Military tactics and landscapes: Durham does a fine, fine job in describing Hannibal's battles upon the landscape of the Italian boot. I have personally visited historic battle locations like Trasimeno, and I've travelled throughout the rest of Italy as well. His descriptions are dead-on, and a quick check in any military history will show that his evocative, highly-detailed battle sequences match historical fact as well.
Again, if you're a fan of ancient history, enjoy learning about different cultures and are interested in military history as well, then odds are you'll enjoy this novel as much as I did. Happy reading!
DISAPPOINTED!.......2007-08-25
Historical fiction and good fantasy have always appealed to me. I expected to like very much Durham's attempt to tell the Second Punic War from Hannibal's perspective. However, half way through I am wondering whether to finish the book. The writing is wooden (was there no serious editing?), the telling of this marvelous historical story is tedious, and Durham seems not to understand or care that people of that age were not identical with those of today. After a while, this reader felt he was reading a third rate, rather badly written fantasy tale, which merely borrows the names of great historical figures and peoples the ancient world with sensitive moderns. According to Durham, no European soldiers can match Hannibal's African, Libyan etc. infantry and cavalry, whom he seems to regard as black or at least very dark skinned people. Perhaps they will conquer the world with their prowess in another of Durham's "historical" novels. He emphasizes his book is a novel and a fiction, as though this excuses him from accuracy and care. I have rarely been as disappointed in a book.
An Exciting Adventure.......2007-02-12
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I have to say that the author has created a very exciting, engaging, and entertaining novel. I have a great interest in ancient warfare and found this book to be an exceptional portrayal of the great general Hannibal. We must be reminded that this is historical fiction and not a college textbook, so obviously the author has used his own thoughts and imagination to help craft a story on a character that we know very little of, and it worked for me. Nothing in this book made me fall out of my chair for lack of historical accuracy. The battles are not quite as graphic as Pressfield's "Gates of Fire," but they are well done and very engaging. The only complaint I have is that it leaves us hanging on two of the major characters involved in the story at the end (we already know Hannibal's fate along with the city of Carthage). Obviously the author wants us to craft our own thoughts and opinions on good old Imco's fate and if he ever reunites with Aradna; maybe an idea for a future novel? At any rate, I highly recommend this book for those interested in good historical fiction and ancient warfare. I actually was sad for about a day or two after I finished this book because I just wanted the story to go on and on, I wanted more battles, more words from Hannibal, more on Imco, etc., which would have made this book about a 1000 pages long. ;)
wanted to like it, but..........2007-01-23
i really wanted to like this. i'm a big fan of things roman and thought it would be great to read about the second punic war from the other side. but this book is about as dry as a text book, and far less informative. the characters are stiff, unrealistic, cardboard heros. others who recommend this talk about epic, sweeping battle scenes. uh... no.
if you read this, not only will you have to slog through over 500 pages of awkward writing and ungainly characterization, but you will gain an innaccurate understanding of the events of this war. this book has little of what makes historical fiction worth while.
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