Book Synopsis

"An exciting biography of one of history's greatest commanders...a thrilling page-turner" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about the brilliant Carthaginian general who successfully crossed the Alps with his war elephants and brought Rome to its knees, and who is still regarded today as one of the greatest military strategists in history.

Hannibal Barca of Carthage, born 247 BC, was one of the great generals of the ancient world. His father, Hamilcar, imposed Carthaginian rule over much of present-day Spain. After Hamilcar led the Carthaginian forces against Rome in the First Punic War, Hannibal followed in his father's footsteps.

From the time he was a teenager, Hannibal fought against Rome. He is famed for leading Carthage's army across North Africa, into Spain, along the Mediterranean coast, and then crossing the Alps with his army and war elephants--a legendary feat in military campaigns. Hannibal won victories in northern Italy by outmaneuvering his Roman adversaries and defeated a larger Roman army at the battle of Cannae in 216 BC. Unable to force Rome to capitulate, however, he was eventually forced to leave Italy and return to Carthage when a savvy Roman general named Scipio invaded North Africa. Hannibal and Scipio fought an epic battle at Zama, which Hannibal lost. Many Carthaginians blamed Hannibal, who was exiled until his death.

Hannibal is still regarded as a military genius. Napoleon, George Patton, and Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. are only some of the generals who studied and admired him. His strategy and tactics are still taught in military academies. "With wonderful energy...archeologist and historian Patrick Hunt distills his survey of literature about the Second Punic War into a brightly dramatic story that covers virtually every anecdote connected with Hannibal" (The Christian Science Monitor).

Review Quotes

"Hannibal, thoroughly researched and written in an engaging style, tells the story of this remarkable military strategist. Over the past 25 years, Patrick Hunt has walked every battlefield and trekked over 30 of the probable Alps passes that Hannibal may have used. . . . The reader is treated to a 'you are there, ' action-packed historical adventure."--Major General Robert B. Ostenberg, U.S. Army (Ret.)

"Hannibal relates the famous general's story with wonderful energy. . . . Archeologist and historian Patrick Hunt distills his survey of literature about the Second Punic War into a brightly dramatic story that covers virtually every anecdote connected with Hannibal."-- "The Christian Science Monitor"

"An exciting biography of one of history's greatest commanders. . . . A thrilling page-turner about one of history's most brilliant strategists and tacticians." -- "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"

"From opening anecdote to closing argument, Hunt's biography engages fully with both Hannibal the legend and Hannibal the man--telling us what can and should be known about the man while acknowledging the ambiguities and contradictions of the legend. Was Hannibal a military genius or a lucky gambler, a self-propelled comet or the instrument of fate, a figure of terror or of pathos? All of these, and much more."--Steven Saylor, author of the New York Times bestseller Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome

"Patrick Hunt is one of the world's greatest experts on Hannibal. He brings that magnificent commander to life, with verve and in detail, in this wonderful book. Hannibal is must reading for all students of military history."--Barry Strauss, Cornell University, author of The Death of Caesar: The Story of History's Most Famous Assassination

"Patrick Hunt's Hannibal is a rare combination of impeccable scholarship and good writing. Knowing what the author knows, this biography could have been 900 pages long; instead it hits the scales at below 300, the perfect fighting weight for one of history's most lethal combatants." --Robert L. O'Connell, author of The Ghosts of Cannae

"The book is particularly illuminating in discussing Hannibal's famous crossing of the Alps in 218 B.C. . . . Hunt excels in his descriptions of battles."--Thomas E. Ricks "The New York Times Book Review"