Hannibal's War - by J F Lazenby (Paperback)

About the Book

In Hannibal's War, J.F. Lazenby provides the first scholarly account in English since 1886 solely devoted to the Second Punic War--what some have called the first "world war" for mastery of the Mediterranean world. By closely examining the accounts of Livy and Polybius, supplemented with the fruits of modern research, Lazenby provides a detailed military history of the entire war as it was fought in Italy, Spain, Greece, and North Africa.

Book Synopsis

Hannibal is acknowledged as one of history's greatest generals, and his crossing of the Alps--complete with elephants--to make war against Rome on its home soil is legendary. But even Hannibal met his match in Scipio, and ultimately Carthage was defeated by the rising power of Rome. In Hannibal's War, J. F. Lazenby provides the first scholarly account in English since 1886 solely devoted to the Second Punic War, which some have called the first "world war" for mastery of the Mediterranean world. By closely examining the accounts of Livy and Polybius, supplemented with the fruits of modern research, Lazenby provides a detailed military history of the entire war as it was fought in Italy, Spain, Greece, and North Africa. This edition includes a new preface covering recent research on Hannibal's war against Rome.

From the Back Cover

Hannibal is acknowledged to be one of history's greatest generals, and his crossing of the Alps - complete with elephants - to make war against Rome on its home soil is legendary. But even Hannibal met his match in Scipio, and ultimately Carthage was defeated by the rising power of Rome. In Hannibal's War, J. F. Lazenby provides the first scholarly account in English since 1886 solely devoted to the Second Punic War - what some have called the first "world war" for mastery of the Mediterranean world. By closely examining the accounts of Livy and Polybius, supplemented with the fruits of modern research, Lazenby provides a detailed military history of the entire war as it was fought in Italy, Spain, Greece, and North Africa. This edition includes a new preface covering recent research on Hannibal's war against Rome.

Review Quotes

"Hannibal's talents at the level of theater strategy are well proven by his swift movement from Spain all the way to Italy; his mastery of the operational art of war is revealed by the regularity with which he outmaneuvered Roman armies that tried to intercept him; and his tactical brilliance was demonstrated in virtually every battle with Roman forces. . . . There is now no better account of a slice of history that continues to fascinate."--Edward N. Luttwak, American Historical Review

"Scipio won . . . not because he was a better general, but because he had a better army."--Times Literary Supplement