Bartlett, W.B. God Wills It!: An Illustrated History of the Crusades. Sutton Publ. 1999
Bartlett, Wayne. An Ungodly War: The Sack of Constantinople and the Fourth Crusade. Sutton Publ. 2000 [". . . a very entertaining and well written popular account of the Fourth Crusade . . . it succeeds in placing the Crusades into its context in the twelfth century and elucidates clearly the complex narrative of events which led to the fall of Constantinople. It does so in a light and eminently readable style." -- John France.]
Bell, Graham. Yorkshire Battlefields: A Guide to the Great Conflicts on Yorkshire Soil 937-1461. Wharncliffe Books (UK) 2001/Casemate (US) 2002 [This is a nicely-illustrated guide to the battles that bloodied Yorkshire soil. It also features a short tour guide to the battlefields and other military attractions for those who get a chance to visit the region. The area is best known for the Wars of the Roses, and the most famous battles would be that at Wakefield (1460) and Towton (1461).]
Bennett, Matthew, ed. Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare. Stackpole Books 2001 [This is a dictionary spanning 3,500 years with 2,500 entries. Contributors include some of the top ancient and medieval historians, e.g., Adrian Goldsworthy, Peter Connolly, John Gillingham, and Ian V. Hogg. The scope is worldwide and has hundreds of entries on Japan and China. Entries are cross-referenced, and the book has a seven-page select bibliography. It was originally published in 1998 in the UK with the title, The Hutchinson Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Warfare.]
Billings, Malcolm. The Crusades: Five Centuries of Holy Wars. Sterling 1996 [Originally published in 1987 as The Cross & the Crescent.]
Boardman, A.W. The Battle of Towton. Sutton Pub. 1996 [Originally published in 1994, Boardman offers a solid history of the decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses. On Palm Sunday, 1461, the armies of York and Lancaster fought what is considered the biggest, longest, and bloodiest battle on English soil. When the slaughter ended, the Lancaster army was no more, and a new dynasty was to ascend the English throne. Boardman goes beyond the battle itself, and discusses the origins of the Wars of the Roses, key battles preceeding Towton, the topography of the battlefield, combatants, and the aftermath of the battle.]
Bradbury, Jim. The Battle of Hastings. Sutton Publ. 1998
Burne, Lt.-Col. Alfred H. The Crécy War: A Military History of the Hundred Years War From 1337 to the Peace of Bretigny, 1360. [Wordsworth Military Library Series] Wordsworth Editions (UK)/Casemate Publ. (US) 1999 [This the first of two books on the Hundreds Years' War by the well-known British military historian. It was originally published in 1955. "A most important book -- a work of original research, written by a master of his subject. . . . A model of how history should be written, packed with accurate information and common sense." -- Sir Arthur Bryant.]
Burne, Lt.-Col. Alfred H. The Agincourt War: A Military History of the Latter Part of the Hundred Years War From 1369 to 1453. [Wordsworth Military Library Series] Wordsworth Editions (UK)/Casemate Publ. (US) 1999 [This the second of two books on the Hundreds Years' War by the well-known British military historian. It was originally published in 1956.]
Burns, Thomas S. Barbarians Within the Gates of Rome: A Study of Roman Military Policy and the Barbarians, Ca. 375-425 A.D. Indiana Univ. Pr. 1995
Chambers, James. The Devil's Horsemen: The Mongol Invasion of Europe. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. 2001 [This is a history of the Mongol army, its tactics, and its invasion of Europe in the thirteenth century under the leadership of Subedei Bahadur. Originally published in 1979, this edition has a new, short introduction by the author.]
Connolly, Peter. Greece and Rome at War. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998 ["For those who have little or no knowledge of the ancient world and its warfare, a great first book is the oversized, magnificently illustrated, Greece and Rome at War by Peter Connolly. This work, originally published in 1981, reappears with some new material on the manufacture and use of the period's weapons. The book leads with two chapters on Greece and Macedon, followed by four chapters on Rome plus three appendices. The text is clear and comprehensive, and the 38 maps and 350 full color photos and illustrations ensure that military concepts, battles, weaponry, legion organization, etc. are easily understood (Connolly is not only a historian but a highly respected artist)." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Cook, Harry. Samurai: The Story of a Warrior Tradition. Sterling Publ. Co. 1998 [Originally published in 1993, this book is a short history of the samurai from their origins up to the 20th-century where some of their traditions continue in the Japanese military and business. This is an oversized trade paper edition which is heavily illustrated with color and b&w illustrations, photographs, prints, and other artwork.]
Cromwell, Richard S. The Rise and Decline of the Late Roman Field Army. White Mane Publ. Co. 1998 ["[This book carries] the history of the Roman Army up to its end. [It asks one of the key questions] -- what was the significance of ConstantineÕs creation of a new military force, i.e., a permanent Roman field army making heavy use of Germans from east of the Rhine? Although this force was initially successful, later political uses of it led to the estrangement of the Roman citizenry from the military (and vice versa) and the empire's military and economic collapse." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Dodge, Theodore Ayrault. Alexander: A History of the Origin and Growth of the Art of War from the Earliest Times to the Battle of Ipsus, 301 BC, with a Detailed Account of the Campaigns of the Great Macedonian. Da Capo Pr. 1996 [Originally published in 1890. A hardcover edition, published by Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) in 1994, may still be available.]
Dodge, Theodore Ayrault. Caesar: A History of the Art of War Among the Romans Down to the End of the Roman Empire, with a Detailed Account of the Campaigns of Julius Caesar. Da Capo Pr. 1997 [Originally published in 1892. A hardcover edition, published by Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole Books (US) in 1996, may still be available.]
Dodge, Theodore Ayrault. Hannibal: A History of the Art of War Among the Carthaginians and Romans Down to the Battle of Pydna, 168 BC, With a Detailed Account of the Second Punic War. Da Capo Pr. 1995 [Originally published in 1891. The hardcover edition has gone out of print. Please check Alibris
for a copy.]
France, John. Victory in the East: A Military History of the First Crusade. Cambridge Univ. Pr. 1994 [orig. 1992.]
Fuller, J.F.C. The Generalship of Alexander the Great. Da Capo 1989 [orig. 1960.]
Fuller, J.F.C. The Generalship of Alexander the Great. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth Editions (UK) 1998/Combined Books (US) 1999 [orig. 1958.]
Fuller, J.F.C. Julius Caesar: Man, Soldier and Tyrant. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth Editions (UK)/Combined Books (US) 1998 [orig. 1965.]
Gabriel, Richard A. Great Captains of Antiquity. [Mordechai Gichon & David Jablonsky, forewords; Contributions in Military Studies, no. 204] Greenwood Pr. 2001 [Gabriel looks at six military leaders of the ancient world with an eye towards developing lessons for contemporary military and political leaders. The six are Thutmose III of Egypt, Sargon II of Assyria, Philip II of Macedon, Hannibal of Carthage, Scipio Africanus of Republican Rome, and Caesar Augustus of Imperial Rome. ". . . provides the modern officer with a penetrating insight into the character, psychology, and abilities of six of the greatest commanders in history. Gabriel writes history of the most valuable and pragmatic sort, history from which a new generation of combat commanders may learn much. This book is a valuable teaching tool for military coleges and will surely be widely read by serious students of military history." -- Col. Micha Popper, PhD., former Commandant, Israeli Defense Force Leadership School.]
new4.gifGaebel, Robert E. Cavalry Operations in the Ancient Greek World. Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 2002 [Gaebel takes a fresh look at cavalry operations in the ancient Greek world and finds that they played a larger role than previously thought. Beginning around 500 B.C., the author traces operational uses of cavalry through 150 B.C., the end of Greek and Macedonian independence. His coverage extends widely -- first with his background chapter which discusses the years 2000-500 B.C. (including the use of chariots); then while focusing on the key years of his study he even writes on the use of the horse in the eastern Mediterranean, the management of stables, and the care of the horses. He argues that Alexander used cavalry brilliantly, but that after Alexander cavalry seldom played a decisive role because of the symmetry of the armies and leadership of the Successors. Finally, Gaebel examines the influence of the Greeks on the Carthaginians, and Hannibal's decisive use of cavalry. "Gaebel succeeds in making a contribution to the crowded field of ancient cavalry studies. The references to modern military history and theory are enlivening and enlightening." -- Barry S. Strauss. "Gaebel has successfully charted an independent course that does not duplicate the work of others and has navigated the murky world of Hellenistic military history, displaying a high level of scholarship and using common sense at all times." -- Victor Davis Hanson.]
Gillingham, John. The Wars of the Roses: Peace and Conflict in the 15th Century. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book was originally published in 1981. "Incisively written and highly readable." -- Sunday Times. "Gillingham informs us about 15th century England with such verve, wit and intelligence that we are left dazzled and delighted." -- History.]
Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Punic Wars. Cassell (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book is a military history of the three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-241, 218-202, and 149-146BC). Although over 400 pages in length, it is intended more for the broader military market than for the academic specialists.]
Graff, David A. Medieval Chinese Warfare, 300-900. [Warfare and History Series] Routledge 2002 [To the best of my knowledge, this is the only book in English which covers military history in the medieval period in China. It is part of the series edited by Jeremy Black which fortunately provides coverage to regions and times of military history long overlooked. Graff starts with the collapse of the Western Jin dynasty as invaders from Inner Asia destroy the unified Imperial state begun more than 500 years earlier. The resulting chaos would endure for about two hundred years. Eventually, the Tang dynasty would emerge and its demise (AD 907) makes a convenient end to the medieval period. This book was published simultaneously in a hardcover edition.]
Gravett, Christopher. German Medieval Armies. [Men-At-Arms Series, no. 166] Osprey 1986
Gravett, Christopher. The Battle of Bosworth. [Graham Turner, illus.] Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This book examines the campaign and battle that effectively ended the War of the Roses and allowed the Tudor house to obtain the throne of England. It was originally published in 1999 as #66 in the Campaign Series and with the title, Bosworth 1485.]
Gravett, Christopher. German Medieval Armies 1000-1300. [Men-at-Arms Series, no. 310; Graham Turner, illus.] Osprey 1997
Griffith, Paddy. The Viking Art of War. Greenhill (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998 [orig. 1995.]
Haigh, Philip A. The Military Campaigns of the Wars of the Roses. Combined Books (US)/Sutton (UK) 1997 [orig. 1995. From 1455 to 1487 England witnessed a bloody series of engagements called the War of the Roses. The result of the war was the demise of the House of Lancaster, the rise of the House of York, and ultimately, the ascension of the House of Tudor to the English throne. In this new release, Haigh examines the 15 battles that comprised the War of the Roses. The focus is on the conduct of operations and the tactical issues relating to each battle. Haigh discusses the significance of each clash with a short epilogue at the end of the chapters. One big plus for this book is that almost every battle has a campaign map and three to four clearly drawn battle maps. A lifelong student of the Wars of the Roses, the author is an editor of the journal Battlefield and Chairman of the Yorkshire Battlefields Society. For a full-size jpg image of the dust jacket, click here.]
Hall, Bert S. Weapons and Warfare in Renaissance Europe. Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr. 1997 ["For a thorough discussion of the impact of gunpowder [on the chamging face of warfare], one can do no better than [this book]. Hall covers the introduction and growing use of gunpowder weapons in western European land warfare from roughly 1300 to 1600. His mining of sources is quite good and being a combination of military history and technology history one finds a number of interesting avenues explored by Hall, e.g., a chapter on the development of black powder and one covering what is (and is not) known about the weapons' ballistics. Hall shows the uneven, evolutionary nature of the changes wrought by the introduction of gunpowder weapons for tactics, for the size and structure of armies, and for the larger context of war over three centuries. One finds no decisive break or revolution, and the process of change for Hall is more complex and nuanced than that put forth by previous historians. And for those interested in the Military Revolution debate, Hall's book will prove very stimulating." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Hamilton, Bernard. The Crusades. [Sutton Pocket History Series] Sutton Publ. 1998 [If you know nothing about the Crusades this book is for you. In 100, quick-reading pages, Hamilton gives a balanced history of the Crusades. Nothing flashy here, but a good overview. The text is rounded out with a five-page chronology of dates, a map marked with 55 key sites, a three-page glossary, three-pages of recommended readings, and an index.]
Hammond, N.G.L. The Genius of Alexander the Great. Univ. of North Carolina Pr. 1998 [Written by a leading historian of Macedonia, the author makes the case that Alexander really did deserve the title "Great." "[A] cleary written book, the distillation of a life's work." -- Bernard Knox, Los Angeles Times Book Review. "Brings the kind of expertise needed to unravel the truths about a figure of legendary grandeur and accomplishment." -- Washington Post Book World. "A brilliant account. . . . This is a classic study of one of history's great figures by the scholar who knows the most about him." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review). "The articulate fashion in which Hammond guides the reader through Alexander's life is outstanding." -- Library Journal. Originally published in 1997, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Hammond, N.G.L. Philip of Macedon. Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr. 1994
Hassig, Ross. AAztec Warfare: Imperial Expansion and Political Control. [The Civilization of the American Indian Series, v. 188] Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 1995 [orig. 1988.]
Healy, Mark. The Ancient Assyrians. [Angus McBride, illus.] Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This book was originally published in 1991 as part of the Osprey Elite Series, #39.]
Healy, Mark. The Battle of Cannae: Hannibal's Greatest Victory. Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This is a well-illustrated study of one of the great battles of antiquity, and the campaign leading up to it. The book also has a short section with historic site visitor information useful for battlefield tourists, plus one on wargaming Cannae. It was originally published in 1994 as #36 in the Osprey Campaign Series with the title, Cannae 216 BC.]
Healy, Mark. The Warrior Pharaoh: Ramses II and the Battle of Qadesh. Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This book was originally published in 1993 as #22 in the Osprey Campaign Series with the title, Qadesh 1300BC. It also includes a guide to wargaming Qadesh by Ken Antcliff.]
Herzog, Chaim & Mordechai Gichon. Battles of the Bible. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2002 [This is a fascinating look at the Bible and the military stories it tells. The authors, who themselves saw military service in and around Israel, not only recount the battles and campaigns, they look at the strategy and tactics of the armies and their leaders. (Herzog was also the former President of Israel.) This book was first published in 1978. A fully revised hardcover edition, complete with new maps and illustrations came out in 1997. This is the trade paper edition of that 1997 work. It now contains 53 photographs, 45 drawings, and 38 maps and diagrams. ". . . a fascinating and valuable work, not only for its exacting scrutiny of biblical accounts, but also for its insight into their wider and continuing relevance. [It] is an importance contribution to Old Testament studies, biblical archaeology, and military history." -- Midwest Book Review.]
Hodgkin, Thomas. Huns, Vandals and the Fall of the Roman Empire. Greenhill/Stackpole Books 1996 [orig. 1880.]
Hooper, Nicholas & Mathew Bennett. The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: The Middle Ages, 768-1487. Cambridge University Press 1996
Hyland, Ann. The Medieval Warhorse: From Byzantium to he Crusades. [Michael Prestwich, foreword] Combined Books (US)/Sutton (UK) 1996 [orig. 1994.]
Hyland, Ann. The Warhorse, 1250-1600. Sutton Publ. 1998 [This is a wide-ranging examination of the vital role of the warhouse in combat around the globe. Hyland, who has written a number of books on the use of cavalry and the role of the horse throughout history, here discusses the breeding, training, equipment and use of the warhorse in (and/or by) England, the Hundred Years War, Eastern Europe, Russia, the Mongols, Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, India, the Moghul Empire, and the Europeans throughout the Americas. Numerous useful illustrations assist the text.]
James, Peter & Nick Thorpe. Ancient Inventions. Ballantine Books 1995 [This book comes recommended by another reviewer. Although not a military history per se, he feels that it will help shed some light on the ancient era, which in turn will prove useful to those studing that period of warfare.]
Jimenez, Ramon L. Caesar Against the Celts. Sarpedon 1996 [A well-rounded examination of one of history's great captains. Although the focus of the book is Julius Caesar's Gallic campaigns, one must credit Jimenez for providing a clear portrait of the man and his opponents in such a way as to make the military dimension of his life more intelligible. For example, the author discusses Caesar's early years, and his political life. He also examines Gallic society and culture, and he concludes with a look at British writings on Caesar. Military history neophytes will find this background material extremely helpful for understanding Caesar's conquests. (The only significant deficiency in this otherwise fine account is the maps.) I also applaud Jimenez's candor. First, he tells the reader what is speculation in his account and discusses some of the contending opinions. Second, he is quick to point out Caesar's failings -- not just as a military commander -- but as a human being. Caesar was a brutal man, and his legionnaires were often ordered to commit the most horrific atrocities (such as massacring tens of thousands of innocents) just to satisfy his whims. An example of Jimenez's ability to provide a balanced account of his subject can be found in this segment of one paragraph, "No one in his time, and perhaps no general of the ancient world, equaled his brilliance on the battlefield. What he lacked, he concealed; what he had he used superbly. His acute sense of timing, and the startling speed of his movements, repeatedly surprised his opponents and turned a likely defeat into a crushing victory. But it was this same celeritas -- swiftness -- and the lack of adequate planning that were his weaknesses. The desperate situations in which he frequently found himself were often the result of impulsive attacks, poor preparation or insufficient attention to supply lines. That he escaped so many of them was due as much to fortuna than to his genius for improvisation [sic] (p. 211)." Only a handful of hardcover copies are still available. For a nice large GIF image of the dust jacket, click here.]
Kaufmann, J.E. & H.W. Kaufmann. The Medieval Fortress: Castles, Forts and Walled Cities of the Middle Ages. [Robert M. Jurga, illus.] Da Capo 2001 [Publisher supplied info: Fortifications specialists J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann and technical artist Robert Jurga (authors of the acclaimed Fortress Europe: European Fortifications of World War II) have once again combined European sources and personal observations to present a unique portrait of military architecture. They reveal how the medieval fortress combined both Roman and barbarian features, with some influences from as far away as China. Detailed coverage is given to castles in the British Isles, France, Germany, Moorish Spain, and as far east as Poland and Russia, as well as Muslim and Crusader castles in the Middle East. The [book] covers the origin and evolution of the castles and other walled defenses, their major components, and the reasons for their eventual decline, which was not solely due to the introduction of gunpowder. Also receiving extensive coverage are the weapons and equipment of garrisons and besieging troops. Over 100 photographs and 400 extraordinarily detailed technical drawings accompany the main text, which also takes an in-depth look at representative castles of each major type.]
Keeley, Lawrence H. War Before Civilization. Oxford Univ. Pr. 1997 ["Offering a devastating rebuttal to the comfortable myth that prehistoric warfare was rare, harmless, and unimportant, Lawrence H. Keeley's groundbreaking War Before Civilization debunks the notion that warfare was introduced to primitive societies through contact with civilization." -- Ingram.]
Keppie, Lawrence. The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire. Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 1998 ["For a more focussed work on the early growth of the Roman Army and the development of its institutions and traditions, I recommend [this book]. . . . [A] revised and updated work (it first appeared in 1984), Keppie begins his discussion with the little village on the Tiber that warred against neighboring villages in Latium with Rome's first military structure -- the legio (levy) of 3,000 men. His account continues up to the mid-first century AD, at which point Rome has become an imperial state with a vast empire and many legions. Useful appendices (especially on the history of individual legions), plus a nice assortment of b&w photos, maps, and illustrations also grace this work." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Kern, Paul Bentley. Ancient Siege Warfare. Indiana Univ. Pr. 1999
Lazenby, J.F. Hannibal's War: A Military History of the Second Punic War. Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 1998 ["One of the best accounts of the Second Punic War is [this work]. Originally published in 1978, this edition offers a new preface examining recent research on the war. Useful appendices, a chronological outline, and twenty-one maps make this an indispensable book for historians of ancient warfare." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Le Bohec, Yann. The Imperial Roman Army. Routledge 2000 [This is a wide-ranging look at the development of the Roman army between the Republic and Late Empire. The 10 chapters are divided into three sections. The first section looks at the organization of the Roman army, the men, and their recruitment. The second section of the book examines the activities of the army, more specifically the training, tactics, and strategy. The book's latter section considers the role of the army in the Empire, i.e., its political, economic, and cultural impact, and how it fit into Roman society. "The author is to be congratulated upon the amount of information contained in this survey." -- History Teaching Review Year Book. "This attempt to write a new text book for the Roman army should be applauded." -- The Classical Review. This book was first published in 1989 with the title L'Armée Romaine, sous le Haut-Empire, and first translated into English in 1994 by B.T. Batsford Ltd.]
Levathes, Louise. When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-1433. Oxford Univ. Pr. 1996 [orig. 1994.]
Lister, R. P. Genghis Khan. Cooper Square Pr. 2000 [This book was originally published in 1969. "The Man of the Millennium [is] someone who made the world smaller, who moved people and technology across the surface of the Earth, who advanced man's dominion over a big planet. . . . As an apostle of the extremes of the last thousand years, there exists no better candidate than Genghis Khan, who embodied the half-civilized, half-savaged duality of the human race." -- The Washington Post. "Vivid, perceptive, honest toward the past -- a precious virtue -- and absorbinly interesting!" -- Mary Renault.]
MacDowall, Simon. Germanic Warrior: 236-568 AD. [Warrior Series, no. 17; Angus McBride, illus.] Osprey 1996 [Also available from Amazon.com.]
MacDowall, Simon. Late Roman Cavalryman, 236-565 AD. [Warrior Series, no. 15; Christa Hook, illus.] Osprey/Stackpole 1995
Marshall, Christopher. Warfare in the Latin East, 1192-1291. Cambridge Univ. Pr. 1994 [orig. 1992.]
Morris, J.E. The Welsh Wars of Edward I. [Michael Prestwich, new foreword] Sutton Publ. 1998 [This is one of the most significant books published on English medieval warfare, originally appearing in 1901. Morris' book recounts Edward I's campaigns in Wales between 1277 and 1283, and his suppression of the rebellions during the 1280s and 1290s. Not just a conventional military history, Morris examines the armies which made the conquests possible. More than most of his contemporaries, Morris also shows an appreciation for logistical issues, and makes the connection between military matters and the political developments of the period. Argues Prestwich, "The book is as fresh today as when it first appeared in 1901, and in many respects needs no corrections or additions." "This is the most important and by far the most original contribution to our knowledge of the most critical period of medieval English military history that has been made for many a long day." -- T.F. Tout, English Historical Review (1902). The hardcover edition, published in 1996, may still be available.]
Newark, Tim. Warlords: Ancient-Celtic-Medieval. Arms and Armour/Sterling 1997 [orig. 3 books: The Barbarians (1985); Celtic Warriors (1986); Medieval Warlords (1987).]
Newby, P. H. Saladin in His Time. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [Newby describes Saladin as a skillful diplomat who backed his diplomacy with the quick and determined use of force. This book was originally published in 1983. "[This] is a minor masterpiece, the kind of book that forces the reader to look at familiar events in a new and clarifying way." -- Library Review.]
Nicolle, David. Age of Charlemagne. Men at Arms Series, no. 150] Osprey/Stackpole 1984
Nicolle, David. Attila and the Huns. [Angus McBride, illus.] Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This book was originally published in 1990 as part of the Osprey Elite Series, #30.]
Nicolle, David. French Medieval Armies 1000-1300. [Men-at-Arms, no. 231; Angus McBride, illus.] Osprey 1991
Nicolle, David. Medieval Warfare Source Book, vol. I: Warfare in Western Christendom. Arms and Armour Pr. 1995/Sterling 1996
Oakeshott, Ewart & R. Ewart Oakeshott. Knight and His Horse, Second Edition. Publishers' Group West 1998
Oakeshott, Ewart. Records of the Medieval Sword. Boydell & Brewer 1998 [I have not seen this book, but Amazon.com shows two very positive reviews for it.]
Oakeshott, R. Ewart. The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry. Dover Pubns. 1996
Oakeshott, R. Ewart. Knight and His Weapons, Second Edition. [Ewart Oakeshott, illus.] Dufour Editions [No publishing date given.]
Oakeshott, R. Ewart & Ewart Oakeshott. Knight in Battle, Second Edition. Dufour Editions [No publishing date given.]
Oldenbourg, Zoe. The Crusades. [Anne Carter, trans.] Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [This is a massive history (650 pages) of the three first Crusades, and Frankish Syria and the kingdom of Jerusalem up to the time of its conquest by Saladin. It was originally published in France in 1965 and was translated by Anne Carter.]
Oldenbourg, Zoé. Massacre at Montségur: A History of the Albigensian Crusade. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [In 1208 Pope Innocent III called for a crusade against one of the preeminent princes of the time, Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse. Thus began the Albigensian Crusade which culminated in the slaughter of the Cathers at the mountain fortress of Montségur (1244). This book was originally published in 1959 with the title, Le Bucher de Montségur. "There is never a dull page . . . a classic study of one of the darkest episodes in the Middle Ages, and can scarcely be praised enough." -- Frank McLynn, Glasgow Herald.]
Oman, Sir Charles. A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages, Volume One: 378-1278AD. Greenhill Books (UK) 1998/Stackpole Books (US) 1999 [Sir Charles Oman was one Britain's leading historians of medieval, early modern, and Napoleonic warfare. Greenhill Books has done us a valuable service in reprinting his work, including bringing out some of it in less expensive trade paper editions like this one and the following volume. The first volume, based on an 1885 essay, was published in 1898, and substantially revised for publication in 1924, when the second volume was released. Volume One covers the transition of warfare from Roman to medieval forms, the early Middle Ages, Charlemagne, the Vikings, the Magyars, the Byzantines, the Crusades, Hastings, the rise of the longbow, arms and armor, siege warfare and more up to the Battle of Marchfeld (1278). The second volume picks up on the theme of arms, fortifications and siegecraft, then goes through the developments in the British Isles, followed by France and Spain. Oman then turns to gunpowder and cannons, after which he discusses the Swiss, the Italian Condottieri, Eastern Europe and the Tartars, Ottoman Turks and Hussites. Finally he returns to developments in Western Europe, including the Wars of the Roses, followed by a concluding chapter. As these brief highlights may indicate, this is not a complete history of the battles and wars of the Middle Ages. Rather this is a treatise on the art of war and its varied and changing nature over differing lands and times. Oman deals with the characteristic strategies, tactics, and military organizations for the various periods and he supports his discussion with numerous accounts of "typical" battles and campaigns. And Oman is more than a solid scholar -- he is an engaging writer. I very much enjoy reading his works and these two volumes, despite their combined length of around 1,000 pages, are much quicker reads than you might guess.]
Oman, Sir Charles. A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages, Volume Two: 1278-1485AD. Greenhill Books (UK) 1998/Stackpole Books (US) 1999 [Originally published in 1924. See comments following Volume One above.]
Oman, Charles W. Art of War in the Middle Ages, A.D. 378-1515. Cornell Univ. Pr. 1960
Partington, J.R. A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder. Johns Hopkins University Pr. 1999 ["For those desiring a very detailed, technical discussion of incendiary weapons, Greek Fire and the development of gunpowder, I would steer you to [this book], originally published in 1960. Partington was a leading British chemist and this book is stronger and weaker as a result. His background gives him excellent insights into the development of these 'chemical' weapons, but the book is often difficult to read due to his technical writing. Quite honestly, knowing Latin, Greek, French, German, and chemistry would prove most useful in reading this book. Partington covers a number of topics beyond those mentioned above, such as key writers and treatises on chemical explosives (including mythical, e.g., Black Berthold), chapters on gunpowder and firearms in Moslem lands, in India, and in China, and one on saltpeter. Now this is not a synthesis history, so if you keep this and the above caveats in mind, youÕll better understand what to expect of this heavily referenced book, i.e., it is a book that provides historical and technical insights into different aspects of chemical explosives over the last 600 years. This new edition comes with a useful and critical introduction by Bert S. Hall, whose own work we featured in [a previous issue]." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Peddie, John. Conquest: The Roman Invasion of Britain. St. Martin's Pr. 1997 [Originally published in 1987 as Invasion: The Roman Conquest of Britain, this is a history of the third Roman invasion of Britain, which took place during the reign of the Emperor Claudius (A.D. 43). Little of this campaign was recorded by ancient historians, so Peddie made brilliant use of his archaeological research to fill in the gaps. The reader is offered a clearer picture of the military operations in Britain, and a fascinating discussion of how political, geographic, and logistical considerations affected the choice of options available to Aulus Plautius, the invasion commander. Detailed attention is given to the operations of II Legion Augusta, and Caratacus' guerrilla campaign in southwest Britain. Peddie includes 70 illustrations and three appendices (one of which is a nice analysis of Roman logistical matters).]
Peddie, John. Hannibal's War. [Richard Holmes, foreword] Sutton Pub. 1997 ["A solid Roman historian mentioned before in this [magazine] column, John Peddie, contributes an oversized, beautifully illustrated, hardcover history with the unoriginal name, Hannibal's War. Peddie provides an interesting military analysis of Hannibal at war, and his second appendix on the value of war elephants (or lack thereof) is noteworthy, all-the-more-so given Peddie's experience with such creatures in Burma in WW II." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Peddie, John. The Roman War Machine. Combined Books (US)/Sutton (UK) 1996 ["Speaking of logistics, Peddie's [book] examines elements of success often overlooked in many military histories, e.g, supply trains and baggage, marching-camp techniques (troops on campaign constructed a defended camp at their resting place each night), supporting arms, waterborne operations, siege warfare, Roman generalship, and command and control." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. This book was originally published in 1994.]
Prawer, Joshua. The Crusaders' Kingdom: European Colonialism in the Middle Ages. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book is a comprehensive exploration of every aspect of crusader society in the Holy Land. The author focuses especially on the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem. It was originally published in 1972.]
Prevas, John. Hannibal Crosses the Alps: The Enigma Re-Examined. Sarpedon 1998 [". . . the author takes on the debate of Hannibal's route to Italy and makes the minority case for Hannibal's alpine passage at the Col de la Traversette. He argues well, especially given his use of classical sources and the first-hand experience he obtained on his own alpine treks (he illustrates the book with his color photographs of the treacherous route)." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine.]
Prevas, John. Xenophon's March: Into the Lair of the Persian Lion. Da Capo Pr. 2002 [Prevas retraces the route Xenophon and the "Ten Thousand" used in their retreat from the heart of Persia in the face of overwhelming odds. The author, a classics scholar, brings to life Xenophon's Anabasis as he analyzes the battles, the turmoil in the Greek camp, and the terrain and other hardships on the march homeward.]
Regan, Geoffrey. Lionhearts: Richard I, Saladin, and the Era of the Third Crusade. Walker and Co. 1999 ["The English military historian, Geoffrey Regan, has written a parallel biography of two of warfare's noted contemporaries. . . . Although I can recommend this work as a history of these warriors, I can only do so with two caveats. First, the book drags at the beginning as Regan meticulously describes every one of their family members that ever helped them (a minority), or that ever caused them grief (a majority -- Richard Dawson would have an endless supply of 'Family Feuds' with their relatives). Secondly, Regan has some opinions that I cannot only not subscribe to (even given the nature of the twelfth century), but find totally abhorrent, e.g., 'In the context of the kind of war Richard was conducting, an amphibious operation 2,000 miles from home, Richard's decision to massacre his prisoners, though eternally controversial, was a military one, requiring the greatest moral courage.' That's not moral courage, that's what we wisely now call 'war crimes.' So read this book for the facts, not as a moral primer."" -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine. "Geoffrey Regan has not only taken a complex piece of history and presented it as the gripping story of two very interesting characters, he has also presented the competition between these leaders as a cracking good story." -- Military History. "Regan consistently conveys the spirit and rhythem of life during a brutal but captivating age." -- Booklist.]
Rice, E.E. Alexander the Great. [Pocket Biographies Series] Sutton 1997 [A short biography of Alexander, it is particularly useful for those who have little or no knowledge of the great Macedonian's life.]
Rogers, R. Latin Siege Warfare in the Twelfth Century. [Oxford Historical Monographs] Oxford Univ. Pr. 1997
Ronay, Gabriel. The Tartar Khan's Englishman. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [Having stumbled across a thirteenth-century monastic chronicle mentioning a mysterious envoy of Batu Khan (grandson of Genghis Kahn), Roany has pieced together a biography of this envoy. The envoy discussed by the chronicler was the chief diplomat of the Khan and he was captured with Tartar officers in the siege of Wiener Neustadt (Austria) in 1243. And as Roany explains, the envoy/interpreter/spy who proceeded the conquering armies of the Khan as they drove west was an Englishman. Who this Englishman was is a mystery that Ronay appears to have solved. This book was originally publsihed in 1978. "A splendid biography . . . it is gripping reading." -- Economist. "It is a rare chance to uncover such a goldmine. . . . It is a book more thrilling than any historical novel." -- Country Life. "No writer of historical fiction or Hollywood extravaganza could invent action half as exciting as are the rare adventures and painful peregrinations of this remarkable thirteenth-century Englishman." -- The Times.]
Rowse, A.L. Bosworth Field and the Wars of the Roses. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth Editions (UK) 1998/Combined Books (US) 1999 [Originally published in 1966, this study looks at the battle which ended the Wars of the Roses, and helped in the transition of medieval England to Tudor England. "The mastery of narrative and humane judgement keep us reading to the end. What in other hands has often been an intolerably tangled narrative never loses its thread." -- David Knowles, The Spectator.]
Runciman, Steven. The Fall of Constantinople, 1453. Cambridge Univ. Pr. 1990
Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades, vol. I: The First Crusade and the Foundation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Cambridge Univ. Pr. 1996 [orig. 1951.]
Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades, vol. II: The Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Frankish East, 1100-1187. Cambridge Univ. Pr. 1996 [orig. 1951.]
Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades, vol. III: The Kingdom of Acre and the Later Crusades. Cambridge Univ. Pr. 1996 [orig. 1951.]
Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades. Cambridge Univ. Pr. 1996 [orig. 1951. NOTE: This is the above three classic books in one set.]
Santosuosso, Antonio. Storming the Heavens: Soldiers, Emperors, and Civilians in the Roman Empire. Westview Pr. 2001 [Publisher supplied info: An entertaining look into a little-known crisis in the ranks of the Roman army in the late third century, B.C., when soldiers became the Empire's own worst enemy, pillaging citizens and creating social turmoil. . . . [Santosuosso] looks at this dramatic history from a variety of angles. What changed most radically, Santosuosso argues, was the behavior of soldiers in the Roman armies. The troops became the enemies within, their pillage and slaughter of fellow citizens indiscriminate, their loyalty not to the Republic but to their leaders, as long as they were ample providers of booty. "In this well-crafted historical study, Antonio Santosuosso shows that the structure of the Roman military itself was a cause of strife and disorder. In the early Roman republic, military service was deemed a privilege reserved for members of the propertied elite, whose interests were considered to be close to those of the state. As Rome's empire grew . . . its armies increasingly had to rely on a different kind of soldier . . . whose loyalties to faraway Rome were less constant and who saw military service as one of the few means to advance themselves. . . . As historian Santosuosso shows, armies at the edges of the empire instead gave their allegiance to their commanders, who harbored imperial ambitions of their own--and who, from time to time, turned their armies around and marched on the capital to claim the throne for themselves. . . . [I]n fact throughout the third century A.D. an emperor was likely to have come to power through a coup d'Žtat, and to end his days as the victim of assassination. Students of military history and Roman history alike will find much of value in Santosuosso's survey." -- Gregory McNamee, Amazon.com. "In a fascinating sequel to his Soldiers, Citizens, and the Symbols of War from Classical Greece to Republican Rome, Santosuosso traces the rise and fall of the Roman Empire via the rise and fall of the Roman army. In the middle of the second century [BC], the army, which until then had come from the ranks of land-owning citizens, was thrown open to all citizens. Numerous social and civil wars occurred in the latter half of the second century and into the first century [BC] over questions of Roman citizenship and slavery, the most famous being the slave revolt of the gladiator Spartacus. . . . The Roman army . . . began a slow devolution into a rapacious group of pillagers and still later into an army that served the needs and desires of the emperor rather than the empire. . . . By the time of the late Roman Empire (roughly 450-476 [AD]), however, the army was in such political, social and military disarray that the barbarians poured in over the porous Roman borders and brought the empire to its knees. Santosuosso's crackling prose and lively narrative provide illuminating glimpses into this history." -- Publishers Weekly.]
Sekunda, Nick & John Warry. Alexander the Great: His Armies and Campaigns, 334-323 BC. Osprey Military (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998 [Using a larger format than Osprey's standard series of military books (in terms of page count, overall dimensions remain the same), this work provides a solid, nicely illustrated look at the army of Alexander and the campaigns it waged.]
Sekunda, Nick. The Spartan Army. [Elite Series, no. 66] Osprey Publ. (UK)/Stackpole (US) 1998
Severin, Tim. Crusader: By Horse to Jerusalem. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book recounts the 2,500 mile trek of the author as he retraces the steps of Duke Godfrey de Bouillon on the First Crusade. The route went from Belgium through Germany, Austria, Hungary, (then) Yugolsvia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, and finally ended in Jerusalem. Using the same breed of horse as Godfrey, an Ardennes Heavy Horse, Severin's eight-and-a-half-month journey provides insights into the routes taken and methods used to keep man and beast traveling to the Holy City almost 900 years previously. This book was originally published in 1989.]
Seymour, William. Battles in Britain and their Political Background 1066-1746. [Wordsworth Military Library] Wordsworth Editions (UK) 1997/Combined Books (US) 1998 [This nicely illustrated book combines two previous books, Battles in Britain and their Political Background, Volume I: 1066-1547 and Battles in Britain and their Political Background, Volume II: 1642-1746. The battles/campaigns featured are: Fulford and Stamford Bridge, 20 & 25 September 1066; Hastings, 14 October 1066; Lewes, 14 May 1264; the Evesham Campaign, June-August 1265; Stiring Bridge and Falkirk, 11 September 1297 & 22 July 1298; Bannockburn, 23-24 June 1314; a general survey of the Wars of the Roses, 1455-1471; Second Battle of St. Albans, 17 February 1461; Towton, 29 March 1461; Barnet, 14 April 1471; Tewkesbury, 4 May 1471; Bosworth Field, 22 August 1485; Flodden, 9 September 1513; Pinkie Cleuch, 10 September 1547; the First Civil War (the protagonists, their arms, armies, and armaments, 1642-1646; Edgehill, 23 October 1642; First Battle of Newbury, 20 September 1643; Cheriton, 29 March 1644; Marston Moor, 2 July 1644; Naseby, 14 June, 1645; Montrose's battles, May-August 1645; Charles II's Civil War 1650-51; Sedgemoor, 6 July 1685; the First Jacobite Rising, 1715-19; and the Second Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-46.]
Shadrake, Dan & Susanna. Barbarian Warriors: Saxons, Vikings, Normans. [Brassey's History of Uniforms Series; Richard Hook, color plates] Batsford Brassey (UK)/1997 (US)
Simkins, Michael. Legions of the North. [Ronald Embleton, illus.] Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This is a new edition of Osprey Men-at-Arms #93. It was originally published in 1979 with the title, The Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine.]
Sire, H.J.A. The Knights of Malta. Yale Univ. Pr. 1996 [A beautifully illustrated, oversized trade paperback book that chroncles the history of the Knights up to the present day. It was originally published in 1994.]
Smail, R.C. Crusading Warfare, 1097-1193, Second Edition. [Christopher Marshall, intro.] Cambridge Univ. Pr. 1995 [orig. 1956.]
Snodgrass, A.M. Arms and Armor of the Greeks. Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr. 1999 [As archaeologist A.M. Snodgrass noted back in 1967, "the state of the evidence for Greek arms and armour is so fragmentary, and its meaning at times so ambiguous, that no book has. . . been attempted on the whole subject before." So Snodgrass undertook to piece the puzzle together in this book, which has just been reissued after thirty-two years. He covers the periods of Greek history from the Mycenaean era through the campaigns of Alexander the Great. He does an amazing job of providing insights into Greek arms and armor, and the role they played in ancient military history. As far as I know, this is the best book on what is an inherently difficult topic to write about. He has sixty useful illustrations and photographs, and this edition has a new afterword which discusses the significant finds and best writings to appear over the past three decades. This book is a "must" for the ancient military historian. More on this book can be found in our Paper Wars magazine review in Issue #32.]
Starr, Chester G. The Influence of Seapower on Ancient History. Oxford Univ. Pr. 1989
Stein, Aurel. On Alexander's Track to the Indus: Personal Narrative of Explorations on the North-West Frontier of India. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [Stein, a Hungarian archaeologist who worked for the British in India, undertook a series of expeditions along the whole of the North-West frontier in the early years of the 20th century. First published in 1929, this book recounts his expeditions, and the dangers and hardships along the way, as he followed in the footsteps of Alexander the Great during his successful invasion of the region. "Gripping. Stein has a claim to be called the greatest archaeologist-explorer of all: read this and you'll see why." -- Michael Wood.]
Strassler, Robert B, ed. The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War. [Victor Davis Hanson, intro.] Free Pr. 1998 [One of the oldest (and arguably finest) works of history, The Peloponnesian War has been a favorite for all students of military, political, diplomatic, and philosophical matters. One finds in this work lessons on human nature, politics, and international relations that are as valid today as they were over 2,000 years ago. Yet, for those not well versed in Greek history and geography, key elements of Thucydides account are often not fully appreciated. Strassler corrects that problem and makes the work fully accessible to all. First he uses a solid English translation (by Richard Crawley). Then he has placed over 100 maps throughout the text (in addition to other illustrations). Running headers on every page display the the date and location of the narrative. There are marginal summaries of the text of each chapter, and regional and chronological outlines of the events by book and chapter. After Thucydides' text, Strassler adds an epilogue, a calendar of the theater of operations, and eleven appendices by various experts. For example, there are appendices on Athenian government, Spartan instruction, the Persians, religious festivals, trireme warfare and an appendix by Victor Davis Hanson on land warfare (Hanson also contributes the book's introduction). The appendices are followed by a glossary, two bibliographies, and an index. If you have never read Thucydides, now is the time to correct the ommission. And no edition of The Peloponnesian War is better suited to make the experience of reading this classic as interesting and insightful as Strassler's. Originally published by the Free Press in 1996, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Sumner, Graham. Roman Army: Wars of the Empire. [Brassey's History of Uniforms Series] Brassey's 1997 [This oversized hardcover is heavily illustrated with color and b&w photographs and illustrations of Roman arms and armor. Coverage spans one end of the empire to the other beginning with the creation of the Empire under Augustus to the civil wars and barbarian invasions of the third century. This work features color plates by Graham Turner.]
Talhoffer, Hans. Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Illustrated Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat. [Mark Rector, ed. & trans.; John Clements, foreword] Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This book just arrived, so it will be a few days before I can post more comments on it. The book is a copy of Talhoffer's 1467 Fechtbuch, a fighting or fencing manual (but this much more than the swordplay one associates with more modern fencing). It has all the original illustrations, plus all of the text is translated into English by Mark Rector. The original text, in Swabian, is in the Appendix. For the German-speaker this part is fun to read, about half of the sentences are comprehensible (often the whole sentence), and it is interesting to contrast this with the way we now speak German. Publisher supplied info: This brilliant and attractive new book makes one of the most influential fencing manuals of the middle ages available in English for the first time. The authentic fifteenth-century techniques of master-of-arms Hans Talhoffer are illustrated in detail, presenting not only a unique historic record but also a visual guide for modern practitioners. This unparalleled guide to medieval combat, illustrated with 268 contemporary images, provides a glimpse of real people fighting with skill, sophistication and ruthlessness. Mark Rector, the editor and translator of this work, is an actor, playwright, stage combatant and fight choreographer. He is a founder of the Chicago Swordplay Guild and Associate Director of Swordplay Symposium International.]
Tsouras, Peter G. Warlords of the Ancient Americas: Central America. Arms and Armour Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. (US) 1999 [Originally published 1996, this book may still be available in a hardcover edition.]
Turnbull, Stephen. Samurai Warfare. Arms and Armour Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 1997 [orig. 1996. [Turnbull begins his book with a look at the historical development of samurai warfare from its earliest manifestations to its pinnacle in the Sengoku Period in the 16th century. The second section of the book details samurai warfare by topic, e.g., battlefield techniques, organization and communication, the role of castles, specialized units, samurai naval warfare, etc. The last section provides selected case studies of battles and other developments from 1560-1650. Marvelous illustrations, many in color, complement the text in this oversized trade paper edition. The hardcover edition, published in 1996, is now out-of-print.]
Tyldesley, Joyce. Ramesses: Egypt's Greatest Pharaoh. Penguin Books 2001 [This is a biography of the great pharaoh, Ramesses II, who ruled Egypt for six decades. As a general he waged campaigns against the Hittites, Syrians, and the Sherden pirates. As king he was a great builder and provided Egypt with an era of peace and prosperity.This book was originally published in 2000. "Tyldesley is out to fill in the gap between Egyptologists' reserve, the excesses of tour guides and misinformed traditions, which in Ramesses's case are legion. Tyldesley has added a new, more human dimension. . . . her book should be required reading." -- Sunday Times. "A worthy successor to K.A. Kitchen's Pharaoh Triumphant." -- Good Book Guide.]
Urban, William. The Teutonic Knights: A Military History. Greenhill Books (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2003 [This book covers 500 years of the knights' history, 300 years of which saw their Order with a firm hold on the Baltic and northern Germany. Theirs was a crusading order, so they werer feared by their enemies but respected in medieval Christian civilization for their chivalric ways. Urban is a noted schoalr of medieval Baltic history and the author of Tannenberg and After: Lithuania, Poland and the Teutonic Order in Search of Immortality (Lithuanian Research and Studies Center 1999).]
Warry, John. Warfare in the Classical World Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 1995 [Superb coverage is given to ancient warfare in this new printing of Warry's book. An oversized trade paper edition of the 1980 Salamander release, this work makes extensive use of maps, diagrams, drawings, and photographs to support the very informative text. Uniforms, weapons, and naval vessels are well-illustrated, as are tactical diagrams and methods of combat. The 14 chapters cover key periods of warfare (and their prominent commanders) stretching from Homeric and Mycenaean warfare up to the barbarian invasions (roughly 2400 years).]
Warry, John. Warfare in the Classical World: War and the Ancient Civilizations of Greece and Rome. [Classic Conflicts Series] Salamander Books (UK)/Combined Books (US) 1998 [This takes the oversized hardcover book on ancient warfare from Salamander and puts it into a smaller trade paperback edition. It leaves the text, but removes all but eight pages of photographs. Unfortunately, this 302-page book has no maps, but it does have an index.]
Webster, Graham. The Imperial Roman Army of the First and Second Centuries A.D., Third Edition. [Hugh Elton, intro.] Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 1998 [orig. 1969. "Considered by many to be the best single work on the Roman military in the early Empire, this new edition features a useful introduction by Hugh Elton which surveys the recent scholarship on the army (since the last edition of 1985) in a manner that supplements the book's large bibliography. Webster begins with an introduction to the Roman army, followed by thematic chapters on the frontier systems (with forts, supply bases, and lines of communication), the composition of the army (with a short discussion on the navy), camps and forts, the army in the field, and the army in peaceful activities. The scope of this work includes sections on medial services, signaling, religion, and the civilizing influences of the army. The fine scholarship is matched by the physical quality of the book, i.e., an oversized trade paperback that opens completely without breaking the book's spine, and pages large enough to adequately accommodate the detailed maps and to allow for readable footnotes (yes, I like having the notes at the bottom of the page rather than always flipping to the back of the book)." -- Fritz Heinzen, Paper Wars magazine, issue #28.]
Wise, Terence. Armies of the Crusades. [Men-At-Arms Series, no. 75] Osprey/Stackpole 1978
Wise, Terence. The Wars of the Roses. [G.A. Embleton, illus.] Osprey (UK)/Stackpole (US) 2000 [This book was originally published in 1983 as #145 in the Osprey Men-at-Arms Series with the same title.]
Wood, Michael. In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great: A Journey from Greece to Asia. Univ. of California Pr. 1977 [Publisher supplied info: Between 334 and 324 B.C. the Macedonian Army, led by Alexander the Great, marched relentlessly across Asia. Historian Michael Wood actually retraced Alexander's 22,000-mile epic journey, and In an exciting blend of history, travel, and adventure, recounts the Macedonian conquest as recorded in many ancient documents. Ties-in to a BBC-PBS documentary series to be shown early in 1998. 56 full-color illus. 56 b&w illus. 8 maps.]
Zoch, Paul A. Ancient Rome: An Introductory History. Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 2000 [This book covers the history and mythology of Rome from its legendary beginnings with Aeneas up through the demise of the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 180). This is a basic, survey history that makes a good introduction for those new to Roman history. It tends to give more weight to the political and military aspects of these years. " . . . a concise, straightforward chronology of Roman history. . . . He effectively stresses both the political and the moral lessons we can learn from various episodes in Roman history, and he has a knack for breathing life into some of the more mundane topics in the classical period. . . . it will provide the general reader . . . with a basic knowledge of the key events, personalities, and forces that shaped the republic and the early empire." -- Jay Freeman, Booklist, August 19, 1998. "A story-filled narrative of ancient Rome, focusing on political and military history. . . . [A] good first book for readers wanting to make the acquaintance of these cultural ancestors." -- Houston Chronicle. Originally published by Oklahoma in 1998, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
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