Military History Books

Book SynopsisThe Cold War marked a new era for America's military, one dominated by nuclear weapons and air power that seemed to diminish the need for conventional forces. This title chronicles the US Army's struggles with its identity, structure, and mission in the face of those challenges.Trade ReviewAn exceptional, in-depth analysis of the role played by the U.S. Army in American strategy during and immediately after the Cold War.... Indispensable for anyone attempting to understand that period or the Army's thinking in its current efforts to develop Future Combat Systems. Dale R. Herspring, author of Rumsfeld's Wars: The Arrogance of Power ""Few authors illuminate the details and interactions of strategy, organization, doctrine, and technology as well as Trauschweizer has done here."" Dave Hogan, author of Centuries of Service: The U.S. Army, 1775-2004 ""Fills a significant gap in the military history of the twentieth century and deserves the attention of soldiers, historians, and the general public."" Jonathan M. House, author of Combined Arms Warfare in the Twentieth Century

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDavid Glantz is the world’s top scholar of the Soviet-German War. This book is accessible to the general reader and indispensable to the specialist." —Journal of Military History"David Glantz is indisputably the West’s foremost expert on the subject." —The Atlantic"An important addition to the author’s other works on the Eastern Front in the Second World War." —H-Net Reviews"This book represents the most thorough and intensive examination of the state of the Red Army in 1941 yet to appear. It investigates every aspect of the Soviet military establishment, command, deployment, mobilization, reserves, the Soviet soldier himself, and above all, combat readiness, using Soviet and German archives. Glantz’s evidence is unchallengeable, his sources unimpeachable, his conclusion incontestable." —John Erickson, author of The Road to Stalingrad"Effectively refutes the charge—recently rehabilitated by Viktor Suvorov in Icebreaker—that Stalin was secretly planning an offensive war against Hitler during 1941. With his previous book When Titans Clashed and this latest contribution, David Glantz has established firmly his reputation as the preeminent historian of the Soviet Army." —Mark von Hagen, author of Soldiers in the Proletarian Dictatorship"An outstanding contribution and a must for any student of the history of the Red Army and the Soviet Union’s role in the Second World War." —Malcolm Mackintosh, author of Juggernaut: A History of Soviet Armed Forces

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Book SynopsisWhat was for the United States a struggle against creeping Communism in Southeast Asia was for the people of North Vietnam a “great patriotic war” that saw its eventual victory against a military Goliath. Victory in Vietnam is the People's Army of Vietnam's own account of two decades of struggle, now available for the first time in English.

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Book SynopsisA critical moment in the Civil War, the Battle of Shiloh has been the subject of many books. However, none has told the story of Shiloh as Timothy Smith does in this volume, the first comprehensive history of the two-day battle in April 1862 - a battle so fluid and confusing that its true nature has eluded a clear narrative telling until now.

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Book SynopsisAli Ahmad Jalali, a former interior minister of Afghanistan, taps a deep understanding of his country's distant and recent past to explore Afghanistan's military history during the last two hundred years. Jalali's account focuses primarily on the era of British conquest and Anglo-Afghan wars; the Soviet invasion; the civil war and the rise of the Taliban; and the subsequent US invasion.Trade ReviewJalali’s effective use of primary and secondary sources from a diverse range of participants in Afghanistan’s military history makes for a fascinating and important read. Utilizing Afghan, Indian, Pakistani, British, Soviet, and American accounts, the book comes closer than any other thus far in painting a complete picture of the turbulent history of this fascinating nation.""- Army History;""This magnificent achievement by Jalali should certainly become the new standard by which all other histories of conflict in the region are judged.""- Military Review;""Ali Ahmad Jalali has now written the most comprehensive English-language study of Afghan military history.""- Michigan War Studies Review;""Readable and will be a good source for those interested in the military history of Afghanistan.""- Choice;""As a survey of nineteenth and twentieth century Afghan military history by an experienced Afghan historian drawing on sources in several languages- those of Afghanistan, English, and Russian- this book is especially valuable.""- New York Military Affairs Symposium Review;""Professor Jalali's book will be the authoritative and standard work for scholars, soldiers, statesmen, and citizens alike. Well written, thoroughly researched in multiple relevant languages, and, presented as only this highly educated Afghan army colonel, one time freedom fighter, former Afghan Minister of the Interior, and scholar could do. This is the balanced history required for a world community struggling to bring a meaningful peace to this troubled land.""- Lester W. Grau, author of Operation Anaconda: America's First Major Battle in Afghanistan and The Soviet-Afghan War: How a Superpower Fought and Lost;""Professor Jalali's deeply researched, beautifully written, and humane book places today's headlines in the context of centuries, reminding the reader that every society's ways of warfare change with the challenges it faces and the resources of its leaders, society, and culture. Jalali takes us far beyond sound bites to place Afghanistan's wars in the long panorama of human history.""- Barnett R. Rubin, author of Afghanistan from the Cold War through the War on Terror;""A definitive history of Afghanistan depicting both insider and outsider perspectives. The author's evenhanded analytical approach provides a clear and balanced picture of momentous military events that shaped the future of Afghanistan and influenced major political developments in the region. With its professional focus and unparalleled access to primary sources Jalali offers a unique and unrivaled study of the Afghan ways of warfare and lessons learned in the context of military history in general.""- General Abdul Rahim Wardak, Afghanistan Minister of Defense (2004-2012);""To understand Afghanistan today and in the future requires an acute understanding of the country's past. While this truism applies to every country and people, nowhere is it truer than in Afghanistan. Ali's monumental work provides necessary context and essential new dimensions for that understanding at a time when precious few in the West (if not the world as a whole) possess it.""- David M. Glantz, author of The Stalingrad Trilogy;""A must read for anyone seriously interested in Afghanistan.""--Zalmay Khalilzad, Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan and author of The Envoy: From Kabul to the White House;""Combining careful scholarship, a deep knowledge of Afghan society and world history, and decades of top level military and political experience in his native Afghanistan, Jalali's study is a masterpiece. In lively detail he shows how both external and internal struggles have shaped the state's ability to provide good governance at home, and implies that security and development must always go hand in hand in the future. This magnificent book will henceforth be the essential reading for anyone interested in the fate of Afghanistan.""- S. Frederick Starr, chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program;""A Military History of Afghanistan is a unique work in scope, learning, and sources. The development of Afghanistan's military is completely interwoven with the development of the Afghan state and provides a fascinating perspective through which to review and relearn Afghan history. The breadth of the Persian language as well as English language sources combined with the author's personal involvement with much of the recent history makes the work uniquely valuable.""- Ambassador Ronald E. Neumann (ret.), President of the American Academy of Diplomacy, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, and, author of The Other War: Winning and Losing in Afghanistan

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Book SynopsisMuch that has been written about the Tet Offensive has been misleading. Edwin Moïse shows that the Communist campaign shocked the American public not because the American media exaggerated its success, but because it was a bigger campaign - larger in scale, much longer in duration, and resulting in more American casualties - than most authors have acknowledged.Trade ReviewEdwin Moise reminds us anew in The Myths of Tet why he is so highly regarded as a scholar of the Vietnam War. Moise gathers together the primary arguments and disputes that have raged over the 1968 Tet Offensive, teases out the evidence about each, and confronts all of them directly. His arguments are powerful and this book is a must read for everyone interested in the Vietnam War."" - John Prados, author of Vietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945–1975 ""The product of prodigious research using both American and Vietnamese sources, Professor Moise’s book clearly and in extraordinary detail exposes some of the most widely-accepted myths about what was arguably the seminal event of the Vietnam War—the 1968 Tet Offensive. This balanced and voluminously-sourced volume provides convincing evidence that the communist Tet Offensive was neither the superbly coordinated strategic surprise that some have claimed, nor was it the total and abject defeat of the Viet Cong that is so often described by others. Professor Moise’s book describes how and why wildly over-optimistic assessments of the situation by leaders on both sides, American and North Vietnamese, often in the face of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, led to chaos, confusion, and the loss of so many lives on both sides."" - Merle Pribbenow, translator of Victory in Vietnam: The Official History of the People’s Army of Vietnam, 1954–1975

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewGlantz brings to life a crucial period on the Eastern Front often overshadowed by the more famous battles of Stalingrad and Kursk. . . . of tremendous value to historians of World War II.""- Armor Magazine

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Book SynopsisMidway through 1942, Japanese and Allied forces found themselves fighting on two fronts - in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. These concurrent campaigns proved a critical turning point in the war being waged in the Pacific. Key to this shift was the Allies seizing of the strategic initiative - a concept that Sean Judge examines in this book, particularly in the context of the Pacific War.Trade ReviewThe Turn of the Tide in the Pacific War is a valuable addition to the literature on strategy. The chapters on intelligence organizations in both the Japanese and US militaries are particularly useful in understanding Judge’s explication of the concept of strategic initiative. Judge argues that strategic initiative is a concept that needs more formal study, and his case study here highlights how such a process can be accomplished while at the same time providing a gripping campaign analysis."" - John T. Kuehn, professor of military history, Army Command and General Staff College""This insightful study shows how the tide really turned in the Japanese-American Pacific War. Reinforcing the role of contingency in shaping outcomes in the conflict that are too often seen as preordained, Judge reveals the combination of strategy and serendipity that allowed the Americans to finally seize the initiative that would lead to eventual victory."" - Conrad C. Crane, author of American Airpower Strategy in World War II: Bombs, Cities, Civilians, and Oil""Sean M. Judge’s The Turn of the Tide in the Pacific War sheds much-needed light on two important issues. He first provides analytical clarity concerning the much bandied-about concept of ‘strategic initiative.’ Then he puts it to good use by demonstrating how the campaigns for New Guinea and Guadalcanal were mutually supporting and turned the tide against the Japanese military. Judge’s work demands a wide readership."" - Kevin C. Holzimmer, author of General Walter Krueger: Unsung Hero of the Pacific War

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Book SynopsisWar breeds myths, especially those made up by the vanquished to explain their loss. Occasionally the myths of the defeated centre on prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIAs). Traumatic Defeat takes a close, comparative look at two cases of this kind of mythmaking - in West Germany in the wake of World War II and in the US after the Vietnam War.Trade ReviewThis bold and exciting book gives us an entirely new view of the myth that Vietnam retained large numbers of American POWs after the war. By comparing this myth with a similar myth in Germany after World War II, Gallagher provides important insights into the significance of these postwar myths, which claim that many missing soldiers are still being held by an enemy nation in secret prison camps."" - H. Bruce Franklin, author of Vietnam and Other American Fantasies""This intriguing study examines the development of the public myth that thousands of German war prisoners were held by the Russian government in secret camps during World War II, a myth promoted by war fever, anticommunist ideology, and Germany's need to picture its missing prisoners as victims rather than war criminals. The Soviet-German model is compared with the more contemporary public myth of unreturned American POWs following America’s lengthy involvement in the Vietnam War, providing an important contribution to our understanding of postwar trauma and public grief."" - Arnold Krammer, author of Nazi Prisoners of War in America

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewImpressively documented with primary source material, this book is a significant addition to the historiography of the Medal of Honor and how and to whom it has been awarded. The author helps the reader understand how the award nomination and selection process has changed over time and why some acts are recognized as worthy and why some others are not. Highly recommended."" - James H. Willbanks, author of Abandoning Vietnam: How America Left and South Vietnam Lost Its War ""Dwight Mears’s strength is objectivity combined with solid scholarship. His treatment of the Medal of Honor involves not only stirring events but the often blatantly political process, affording military students a rare look at America’s most prestigious decoration."" - Barrett Tillman, author of Enterprise: America’s Fightingest Ship and the Men Who Helped Win World War IITable of Contents Preface Introduction Part One: Legal and Policy History 1. From the Revolution through the Civil War: Background and Inception 2. Filling the Army's Policy Vacuum: 1876-1897 3. The Spanish-American War, Veracruz, and Navy Officers: 1898-1915 4. The Purge of 1917: The army Rewrites Its Award History 5. World War I: The Birth of the Pyramid of Honor 6. The Interwar Period: A Bifurcated Medal of Honor and New Decorations 7. World War II: Growing Pains and the End of Noncombat Awards 8. The Korean and Vietnam Wars: New Combat Thresholds 9. Post-Vietnam: Modern Concern over the Decline in Award Frequency Part Two: Exceptions to the Rule: Legislative Administrative, and Judicial Relief 10. Early bills of Relief and Extralegislative Awards 11. Modern Bills of Relief: 10 U.S.C. §1130 12. Administrative Remedies Boards for Correction 13. Administrative Restorations: Mary Walker and William Cody 14. Judicial Remedies: The Administrative Procedure Act 15. Correction of Discrimination or Impropriety Conclusions Appendix: Summary of Medal of Honor Legislation (Excluding Bills of Relief) Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisCarl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) is best known for his masterpiece of military theory On War, yet that work formed only the first three of ten volumes of his published writings. Among these historical works, perhaps the most important is Napoleon's 1796 Italian Campaign, which covers a crucial period in the French Revolutionary Wars.Trade ReviewClausewitz’s account of Napoleon’s 1796 Italian campaign is a historical study of strategy, written in the late 1820s with the intent of solving ‘strategic questions’ in the author’s quest for a coherent theory of war. This new scholarly edition, carefully translated and edited by Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle, provides historians and students of strategy with a valuable tool to better understand On War."" - Anders Palmgren, director of the Joint Advanced Command and Staff Course, Swedish Defence University""History was the principal medium used by Carl von Clausewitz as he developed the ideas that he expressed in On War. He wrote much more of history than he did theory, and yet his historical writings have struggled to find an English-language audience. This translation of Clausewitz’s history of the 1796 Italian campaign, Napoleon’s first triumph and therefore much studied by his admirers, is to be warmly welcomed."" - Hew Strachan, author of Clausewitz’s On War: A Biography""The continued relevance of Clausewitz’s theories is well known; what is less understood is the historical studies that led him to these ideas. Never before translated into English, this book makes readily accessible Clausewitz’s analysis of one of history’s greatest minds through Napoleon’s formative campaign. Joining well-known translations of Clausewitz’s histories of the 1812 invasion of Russian and the 1815 Waterloo campaigns, Napoleon’s 1796 Italian Campaign illustrates Clausewitz’s development of some of his most critical concepts for the first time in English."" - Mark T. Gerges, associate professor of Military History, US Army Command and General Staff College

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Book SynopsisLeonidas Polk was one of the more notable, yet controversial, generals of the US Civil War. Recognising his indispensable familiarity with the Mississippi Valley, Confederate president Jefferson Davis commissioned his elevation to a high military position regardless of his lack of prior combat experience.Trade ReviewThere are those who have maintained that General Leonidas Polk did more to bring about Confederate defeat than any other single man. Certainly he stood at the center of the toxic command culture of the Army of Tennessee from 1862 until his death. We have long needed a modern biography of this contradictory man, and Hudson Horn has delivered that and more. His research is stunning in its breadth, and his treatment of Polk is reasoned, mature, and balanced. This is the best Confederate military biography of recent years."" - William C. Davis, author of Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee—The War They Fought, the Peace They Forged""A long-overdue reevaluation of the Civil War's most recognizable soldier-cleric. Huston Horn's meticulous research and balanced presentation reveal the complexities, strengths, and weaknesses of Leonidas Polk: churchman, plantation farmer, Southern nationalist, and soldier. Horn's study does much to dispel the almost caricatured image of Polk that frequently appears in modern Civil War history."" - Sam Davis Elliott, author of Soldier of Tennessee: General Alexander P. Stewart and the Civil War in the West

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Book SynopsisExamining the information on enemy nations that was gathered, processed, and presented to leaders in the Nazi state, Robert Hutchinson's study reveals the consequences of the politicization of German intelligence during World War II - as well as the persistence of ingrained prejudices among the intelligence services' Cold War successors.Trade ReviewGerman Foreign Intelligence from Hitler's War to the Cold War is a very fine, deeply researched, nicely contextualized, and beautifully written piece of scholarship that evaluates the reporting of Nazi-era foreign intelligence agencies immediately before and during the early stages of World War II. Hutchinson shows how these reports—quite different from what intelligence practitioners claimed after the war—confirmed Hitler's political assessments and the Nazi Weltanschauung. He then carries the story into the postwar era and demonstrates how the continuity of people and ideas influenced West German and US intelligence efforts against the Soviet Union."" - Katrin Paehler, author of The Third Reich's Intelligence Services: The Career of Walter Schellenberg""German Foreign Intelligence from Hitler's War to the Cold War is extensively researched and well written. Robert Hutchinson demonstrates that Nazi ideology pervaded the German intelligence services and that their collective body of reports, rather than countering Hitler's beliefs in fact supported and perpetuated them. Moreover, this book connects the wartime work of these services with the extensive work that hundreds of these former Nazi personnel conducted for the United States, Britain, and West Germany in the decades after the war."" - Derek R. Mallett, author of Hitler's Generals in America: Nazi POWs and Allied Military Intelligence""German Foreign Intelligence from Hitler's War to the Cold War is a deeply researched and well-written investigation that illuminates a hitherto shadowy corner of intelligence history. It will be welcomed by students of World War II and the early Cold War."" - David Alvarez, coauthor of Spying through a Glass Darkly: American Espionage against the Soviet Union, 1945–1946""Hutchinson offers a well-researched, clearly written reassessment of German intelligence before, during, and after World War II. He depicts the rivalry and cross-currents covered in earlier studies but argues that many intelligence professionals suffered from ideological distortions that partly overlapped with Hitler's views. Rather than reject intelligence, Hitler picked out what he wanted or needed. Hutchinson adds a critical reassessment of Reinhard Gehlen and the Gehlen organization. This book should spark lively discussion."" - Richard Breitman, distinguished professor emeritus, American UniversityTable of Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction: The German Foreign Intelligence Services 1. Misunderstanding Great Britian, 1939-1942 2. Underestimating the Soviet Union, 1939-1942 3. Counting Out the United States, 1939-1941 4. German Intelligence and the Race War in the east, 1941-1943 5. General Gehlen's Intelligence Service, 1945-1971 6. History as Intelligence: Wehrmacht Officers and the US Army Historical Division, 1945-1956 Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOffers unique insight into the role of private actors in military conflicts and the reason they are increasingly deployed today. Along with an overview of mercenaries and privateers, Marque and Reprisal provides a comprehensive history of the ""marque and reprisal"" clause in the US Constitution, reminding us that it is not as arcane as it seems.Trade ReviewMarque and Reprisal is a work of first-rate scholarship and a very important addition to the study of war and national security programs as well as the effect of new wars on international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Moss gives the reader a firm grasp of the impact twenty-first-century privatization of war and the use of cyber weapons and other high-tech arms will have on fragile democracies."" - Howard Ball, author of Prosecuting War Crimes and Genocide: The Twentieth-Century Experience""Should the United States exercise control over war, or outsource that role to the private sector? Ken Moss, a preeminent national security expert, will inform and disturb you with this important and groundbreaking book."" - Lee H. Hamilton, distinguished scholar in the School of Global and International Studies and professor of practice in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.""American wars depend not only on US soldiers but also on large numbers of private contractors. This important study by Kenneth Moss explains that while many contractors are involved in noncombat roles (such as taking care of maintenance, preparing food, and operating technology systems), other contractors carry weapons and become engaged in military conflict, raising central questions of accountability and law."" - Louis Fisher, author of Supreme Court Expansion of Presidential Power: Unconstitutional Leanings

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Book SynopsisIn crisp prose and sharp detail Major Paul Darling offers a moment-by-moment account of a one-day mission to track down and kill Taliban insurgents in the Zabul Province of southeastern Afghanistan. A rare day-in-the-life narrative that is also a page-turner, his story captures the mundane realities of deployment.Trade ReviewWhat is it really like to fight on the ground in Afghanistan? In the tradition of David Halberstam's Vietnam War classic One Very Hot Day, Major Paul Darling takes you along on a perilous mission in treacherous Zabul Province. He's been there. He knows. When you read Taliban Safari, you'll know too."" - Daniel P. Bolger, US Army lieutenant general, retired, veteran of Afghanistan and author of Our Year of War: Two Brothers, Vietnam, and a Nation Divided and Why We Lost: A General's Inside Account of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars""I led a platoon in combat in a different war, in a different country. Yet I know this voice. It rings familiar and true. Major Darling appreciates the complexity of his situation but writes straightforwardly about it. He strikes a fine balance between an officer engaged in a mission, focused on the task at hand, and one reflecting on the experience. Taliban Safari tells us what it was like to be there coordinating a motley collection of soldiers and police as well as the moral calculus of the leader on the ground."" - Alex Vernon, author of Soldiers Once and Still: Ernest Hemingway, James Salter, and Tim O'Brien and coauthor of The Eyes of Orion: Five Tank Lieutenants in the Persian Gulf War""A gripping account of modern close combat in an ancient, far-off land. Paul Darling provides a gritty, close-up, and personal account of a day in the life of an infantry adviser to Afghan forces as they hunt and finally corner their Taliban foe. Provides the personal reality of modern counterinsurgency better than any other book out there."" - Lester W. Grau, author of Operation Anaconda: America's First Major Battle in Afghanistan and The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War

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Book SynopsisScholars hailing from four continents and representing six nations reinterpret the meaning of the coordinated, and devastating, attacks of December 7/8, 1941. Working from a variety of angles, they revise and expand, to an unprecedented extent, what we understand about these events.Trade ReviewInitial American reaction to the Pearl Harbor attack emphasized surprise and the failure of military intelligence. Pearl Harbor has become a symbol of American national unity in the face of external threat. The Japanese see the attack as the beginning of the end, the inescapable path toward atomic destruction and a new world order. Beyond Pearl Harbor reveals a world of different understandings beyond these. Chinese, Indonesian, Filipino, Australian, and transnational understandings point to a clash of empires rather than a binary national conflict. The authors bring to the foreground long-effaced narratives and suggest a much needed postcolonial perspective." - Michael Myers, author of The Pacific War and Contingent Victory: Why Japanese Defeat Was Not Inevitable"Bailey and Farber have gathered a collection of insightful, original essays that deepen and broaden our understanding of the impact of the Japanese attacks on December 7, 1941. Standard interpretations focus almost exclusively on the destruction at Pearl Harbor. Collectively these essays challenge that narrative and offer a refreshing new perspective that will change forever the way future historians think about that infamous day. This is a bold, imaginative, and absolutely essential book." - Steven M. Gillon, author of Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation into WarTable of Contents Introduction: December 7/8, 1941, Beth Bailey and David Farber Prologue, Beth Bailey 1. The Attack on Pearl Harbor . . . and Guam, Wake Island, Philippines, Thailand, Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong: December 7/8, the Pacific World, American Empire, and the American Political Imaginary, Beth Bailey and David Farber 2. "American Lives": Pearl Harbor and the War in the US Empire, David Immerwahr 3. Japan and the Spirit of December 8," Jeremy A. Yellen 4. Popular Japanese Responses to the Pearl Harbor Attack: December 8, 1941 to January 8, 1942, Samuel Hideo Yamashita 5. Identities and Alliances: China's Place in the World after Pearl Harbor, 1941-1945, Rana Mitter 6. Worldly Medicine in Wartime China: An Exploration of Pearl Harbor's Unintended Consequences, Nicole Elizabeth Barne 7. Pearl Harbor and the Asian Cultural Turn, Ethan Mark 8. The Philippines and the Politics of Anticipation, Christopher Capozzola 9. Pearl Harbor and Australia's War in the Pacific, Kate Darian-Smith 10. Tolerance, Reconciliation, and Alliance of Hope: Pearl Harbor Narrativesin Japan, Yujin Yaguchi Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisIf you have heard of Charles A. Dana, it was probably from his classic Recollections of the Civil War (1898), which was ghostwritten by muckraker Ida Tarbell and riddled with errors. Lincoln's Informer at long last sets the record straight, giving Charles A. Dana his due in a story that rivals the best historical fiction.Trade ReviewLincoln's Informer is a genuine contribution to both Civil War studies and the history of nineteenth-century journalism. In the story of Charles A. Dana, Lincoln's Informer reclaims exciting and underreported aspects of American political, literary, and military history." - Harold Holzer, winner of the Gilder-Lehrman Lincoln Prize"This highly readable, thoroughly researched account of Charles A. Dana's role in the Civil War era is a welcome addition to the literature, for it sheds new light not only on Dana but also on such important players as Abraham Lincoln, U. S. Grant, and Horace Greeley." - Michael Burlingame, author of Abraham Lincoln: A Life"Brimming with fascinating details and drawing on an array of new sources, Lincoln's Informer provides the definitive portrait of newspaper editor Charles A. Dana's controversial career as an informant, investigator, and advisor for the War Department. Both on the field and in Washington, DC, Guarneri's cogent narrative reveals how Dana's reports on commanders, campaigns, and fraud not only earned the respect of President Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton but also impacted vital military and political policy." - Joan Waugh, coauthor of The American War: A History of the Civil War Era"Charles A. Dana, though little known today, was one of the major figures of the Civil War, an informant for Secretary of War Stanton and President Lincoln. Lincoln's Informer is well written and full of insights for all Civil War scholars and buffs." - John F. Marszalek, executive director and managing editor of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University

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Book SynopsisIn December 1917, nine months after the disintegration of the Russian monarchy, the army officer corps, one of the dynasty's prime pillars, finally fell - a collapse that, in light of World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution, historians often treat as inevitable. Roger Reese contests this assumption in this fascinating book.Trade ReviewReese’s comprehensive social history takes readers beyond the battlefield to examine living conditions, military education, and officer-soldier relations in the late Imperial Russian Army. He argues that the officer corps’ incompetence, abusive behavior, and reactionary attitudes eventually drove the soldiery to revolt. Thorough, critical, and well written, The Imperial Russian Army in Peace, War, and Revolution, 1856–1917 challenges numerous myths and presents a provocative new explanation for Russia’s collapse in 1917." - Paul Robinson, author of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich: Supreme Commander of the Russian Army

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Book SynopsisTells the story of the forgotten airmen, the RAF special service officers who, embedded among local populations and indigenous tribes, collected vital intelligence, developed targets, directed air strikes when necessary, and, perhaps most important, provided personal assessments of airpower's qualitative effects against primarily guerrilla forces.Trade ReviewThis is a unique and insightful study that cleverly illuminates the historical role of Royal Air Force special service officers: courageous, highly trained men posted to remote and out-of-the-way locations who acted as the conduits for communication and insight between the colonial administration and the tribesmen and who delivered appropriate and timely actionable intelligence. Newton uncovers the little-known nonlethal aspects of air control and its growing sophistication in understanding the nature of the environment. This is an excellent, well-timed, and authoritative book with clear contemporary utility." - Major General Doctor Andrew M. Roe, chief executive, Defence Academy, and commandant, Joint Services Command and Staff College, United Kingdom"Rick Newton's The RAF and Tribal Control is a meticulously researched, fresh analysis of RAF 'air control' operations in the Middle East during the interwar years. He ably shows that air control meant far more than bombing or strafing; indeed, the intent of the operations was to prevent conflict and assure law and order. The key to success was a thorough understanding of the needs and emotions of the local populace--a crucial factor that many of those calling for an 'airpower solution' to today's conflicts against irregular forces often neglect. Newton's book is a must for anyone who wants to know how air power can best be used to persuade or coerce." - Mark Clodfelter, National War College professor of strategy and author of The Limits of Air Power: The American Bombing of North Vietnam"The RAF and Tribal Control treads new ground in several important ways. Richard Newton links together the Subjects of airpower, irregular warfare, and coercion through his focused exploration of the British use of air instruments in Mesopotamia, the Transjordan, and Aden. More importantly he sheds light on the often overlooked dimension of airpower and the personnel advising airpower’s use. Newton assesses with a critical and objective eye, through official reports and personal papers, the successes and failures of British Special Service officers for reasons their modern successors, combat aviation advisors, and special tactics officers are only too familiar." - James D. Kiras, professor, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell Air Force Base

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Book SynopsisRichard B. Harwell Award. Although often counted among the Union's top five generals, George Henry Thomas has still not received his due. Brian Wills now provides a new and more complete look at the life of a man known to history as ""The Rock of Chickamauga"".Trade ReviewAt long last, here is the definitive biography of George Henry Thomas. . . . An exciting, stirring, splendid achievement." - Emory M. Thomas, author of Robert E. Lee"A superbly crafted 'inside' story of an outstanding American and a true hero in overcoming his life's many political adversities." - Wiley Sword, author of The Confederacy’s Last Hurrah"This is Wills at his best. . . . A major contribution to our understanding of Northern victory in the western theater." - Larry J. Daniel, author of The Days of Glory"Will stand as the basic source on the 'Rock of Chickamauga' for years to come." - James I. Robertson, Jr., author of Stonewall JacksonTable of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction: Embattled Virginian 1. Young George (1816-1840) 2. First Duties (1840-1845) 3. "Under Fire"'' in Mexico and Virginia (1845-1848) 4. New Frontiers (1848-1854) 5. The West Beckons (1854-1860) 6. Duty Calls (1860-1861) 7. Keeping the Blue in the Bluegrass (August 1861 - January 1862) 8. A Difficult Interlude (February 1862 - January 1863) 9. "The Rock of Chickamauga" (February - October 1863) 10. Redemption at Missionary Ridge (October 1863 - January 1864) 12. Biding Time in Tennessee (September - December 1864) 14. A Different Kind of War (January - May 1865) 15. An Exasperating Peace (May 1865 - December 1866) 16. Final Stages (1867 - 1868) 17. Thomas's Last Battles (1869-1870) Epilogue: What History Has Done Appendix A. Military Milestones and Principal Responsibilities Appendix B. J. Thomas's Postwar Divisions and Departments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIt was the third week of May 1863, and after seven months and six attempts, Ulysses S. Grant was finally at the doorstep of Vicksburg. What followed was one of the most important operations of the Civil War. The Union Assaults at Vicksburg is the first comprehensive account of this quick attempt to capture Vicksburg.Trade ReviewTim Smith has done it again. His book on U. S. Grant's first attack on Vicksburg is another tour de force. There is no other historian who knows Civil War battles better than Smith, especially the conflict at Vicksburg. Civil War scholars and buffs are in for yet another excellent Timothy B. Smith battle account and can only await further books on this key battle." - John F. Marszalek, Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History and executive director and managing editor, Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, Mississippi State University"Tim Smith has written an excellent and highly objective work about Grant's controversial assaults on Vicksburg's fortifications - assaults that the general himself said he 'always regretted.' In this detailed work, Dr. Smith discusses both Union and Confederate leaders, their strategies, and their tactics. The book features a synopsis of events preceding the Vicksburg Campaign, covers the campaign, chronicles the assaults, and concludes with firsthand accounts from the noncombatants in Vicksburg. In short, this valuable work provides something for everyone." - Brig. Gen. (Ret.) J. Parker Hills, coauthor of Receding Tide: Vicksburg and Gettysburg - The Campaigns That Changed the Civil War"With the release of The Union Assaults at Vicksburg: Grant Attacks Pemberton, May 17-22, 1863, Smith soars to a level few historians have achieved. Hands down this is Tim Smith at his finest, and this work will find its rightful place alongside those of Vicksburg legends Ed Bearss, Warren Grabau, and Michael Ballard. Noted for his exhaustive research and the quality of his scholarship, Smith scoured archives across the nation to ferret out heretofore unknown or little-used resources to tell the story of the Union assaults against Vicksburg as experienced by the soldiers who battled their way onto the exterior slopes and into the ditches fronting the city's formidable defenses as clearly, vividly, and passionately as if he had been among the assaulting troops. It is as captivating as it is enjoyable to read." - Terrence J. Winschel, historian (ret.), Vicksburg National Military Park, and author of Triumph and Defeat: The Vicksburg Campaign, Vols. 1-2

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Book SynopsisWhy does the American Civil War still speak to us so powerfully? Many of the questions at the heart of the conflict are also central to the very idea of America - and that many of them remain unresolved. This book offers the opportunity to pursue these questions from a new, critical perspective.Trade ReviewIn our day, when political polarization reigns supreme, what could be timelier than a collection that explores the political and constitutional dilemmas confronted by our Civil War forebears? These essays provide rich historical insights with provocative contemporary implications." - Timothy S. Huebner, author of Liberty and Union: The Civil War Era and American Constitutionalism"The Civil War raised fundamental issues about our constitutional order, issues that still resonate today. Levine, Merrill, and Stoner have assembled a stellar cast of scholars to revisit the thought of the Civil War era and address broader issues, including the ability of the Constitution to function in a polarized political community and produce justice in a multiracial society. These essays have much to teach us not only about the Civil War era but also about our present predicaments." - Daniel Farber, author of Lincoln's ConstitutionTable of Contents Preface Introduction: the civil War as a Regime Question, Thomas W. Merrill, Alan Levine, and James R. Stoner, Jr. Part I: The Problem 1. The Later Jefferson and the Problem of Natural Rights, Thomas W. Merrill 2. Slavery and the US Supreme Court, Keith E. Whittington 3. Antebellum Natural Rights Liberalism, Daniel S. Malachuk 4. Scientific Racism in Antebellum America, Alan Levine 5. From Calhoun to Secession, James H. Read Part II: Hard Choices 6. Lincoln and "the Public Estimate of the Negro": From Anti-Amalgamation to Antislavery, Diana J. Schaub 7. Why Did Lincoln Go to War?, Steven B. Smith 8. The Lincolnian Constitution, Caleb Verbois 9. To Preserve, Protect, and Defend: The Emancipation Proclamation, W. B. Allen 10. The Case of the Confederate Constitution, James R. Stoner, Jr. Part III: Pyrrhic Victories? 11. Completing the Constitution: the Reconstruction Amendments, Michael Zuckert 12. The Politics of Reconstruction and the Problem of Self-Government, Philip B. Lyons 13. "A School for the Moral Education of the Nation": Frederick Douglass on the Meaning of the Civil War, Peter C. Myers 14. The South and American Constitutionalism after the Civil War, Johnathan O'Neill List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisFocusing on 1972, Darrel Whitcomb combines stories of soldiers cut off from their units, advisors trapped with allied forces, and airmen downed in enemy territory, with the narratives of the US Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, contract pilots, and special operations teams ready to conduct rescues in Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam, and South Vietnam.Trade ReviewThis book does an outstanding job in addressing the search and rescue (SAR) efforts of the US Air Force and US Navy during the last year of the war in which US forces were still engaged in combat. This was a period that has not been covered extensively in other histories of the war, and the author puts the SAR story in the larger context of what was happening on the ground, particularly during the 1972 North Vietnamese Easter Offensive. Impressively documented, this book is strongly recommended." —James H. Willbanks, professor emeritus, US Army Command and General Staff College, Vietnam veteran, and author of Abandoning Vietnam"American combat pilots live with the possibility of being shot down over enemy territory, but this comes with the understanding that every possible attempt will be made to secure their rescue. In Moral Imperative: 1972, Combat Rescue, and the End of America's War in Vietnam, Darrel Whitcomb deftly demonstrates the ends to which rescue crews were willing to go to save a downed airman or aviator. Whitcomb shows the almost daily struggle of the men who flew the Sandys, Jolly Greens, Big Mothers, and a host of others who were willing to put it all on the line to bring their comrades out of harm's way. Whitcomb has written the definitive work on search and rescue during the Vietnam War. Moral Imperative is comprehensive and well researched but also an amazing tale of gallantry and sacrifice." —Brian Laslie, author of The Air Force Way of War: U.S. Tactics and Training after Vietnam"Only one who was there could ever have captured the epic story of rescue operations in Vietnam as Darrel Whitcomb has done. It is a story of technology and organization, but mostly a story of courage and unflinching commitment to duty. In presenting this comprehensive account of rescue operations at the height of Nixon's war, Whitcomb has added immensely to our understanding of the air war, both north and south, and of those who fought it." —Stephen P. Randolph, Rokke-Fox Chair, Center for Character and Leadership Development, US Air Force Academy"Combat rescue is combat! Darrel Whitcomb proves that in describing combat rescue during the final full year of the war in Southeast Asia, arguably the high-water mark of the one hundred years of combat rescue. If you ever wanted to know more about the exhilarations and heartbreaks of combat rescue, this is the read for you. None better." —Thomas Phillips, coauthor of Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue"A meticulously researched and eye-opening account of brothers in arms. Whitcomb unearths fascinating stories of downed airmen and the men who went after them against steep odds. An inspiring read." —Stephan Talty, author of Saving Bravo: The Greatest Rescue Mission in Navy SEAL History

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Book SynopsisExamining the long-standing issue of the limits of political dissent in wartime, the book asks the critical historical question of what reasonable lengths a legitimate government can go to in order to protect itself and its citizens from threats, whether external or internal.

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Book SynopsisMoving from strategy to battle scene to analysis, this first English translation of volume five of Clausewitz's collected works nimbly conveys the character of Clausewitz's writing in all its registers: the brisk, often powerful description of events as they unfolded and the critical reflections on strategic theory and its implications.Trade ReviewCarl von Clausewitz's The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland deserves attention not only because it is one of the last texts he wrote. Careful readers would not fail to recognize why this largely overlooked campaign preoccupied Clausewitz's mind in the late 1820s. None of the adversaries could claim a commander of Napoleon's caliber, thus providing a more balanced view about the changes the French Revolution had ushered in in the military realm. The campaign revealed the difficulties of coalition warfare, a subject Clausewitz mulled over in the late 1820s. Fought within a fraught domestic and international context, the campaign's leadership and direction frequently changed. For many of the participants, this remained mainly a war with limited objectives. In other words, throughout The 1799 Campaign, Clausewitz explored issues he had encountered while writing On War but was yet to capture on its pages comprehensively. Murray and Pringle's translation is exceptional; it remains faithful to the original while offering its readers elegant and accessible prose." —Vanya Eftimova Bellinger, author of Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman behind the Making of On War "Carl von Clausewitz--the name evokes the masterpiece of military theory, but much of the great Prussian theorist's voluminous legacy remains unknown to the wider public. This includes Clausewitz's insightful analysis of crucial campaigns of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle have done a masterful job in rectifying this problem. They have already translated Clausewitz's book on Napoleon's 1796 Italian Campaign, and now regale us with a new and exciting edition of the eminent military thinker's analysis of the 1799 campaigns in Italy and Switzerland. This is a highly welcome and thought-provoking addition to Clausewitzian studies. The translation is brilliantly executed, with copious footnotes and annotations by the erudite editors. This book should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in the French Revolutionary Wars or who wants to understand how history, strategy, and politics interact under wartime conditions. Highly recommended!" —Alexander Mikaberidze, author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History

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Book SynopsisCovers the period of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and focuses on the Second Coalition's campaign in Italy and their victories under Suvorov's dynamic leadership that carried the tide of battle up against the French frontier. This first English translation of volume 5 of Clausewitz's collected works conveys the character of Clausewitz's writing in all its registers.Trade ReviewCarl von Clausewitz's The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland deserves attention not only because it is one of the last texts he wrote. Careful readers would not fail to recognize why this largely overlooked campaign preoccupied Clausewitz's mind in the late 1820s. None of the adversaries could claim a commander of Napoleon's caliber, thus providing a more balanced view about the changes the French Revolution had ushered in in the military realm. The campaign revealed the difficulties of coalition warfare, a subject Clausewitz mulled over in the late 1820s. Fought within a fraught domestic and international context, the campaign's leadership and direction frequently changed. For many of the participants, this remained mainly a war with limited objectives. In other words, throughout The 1799 Campaign, Clausewitz explored issues he had encountered while writing On War but was yet to capture on its pages comprehensively. Murray and Pringle's translation is exceptional; it remains faithful to the original while offering its readers elegant and accessible prose."—Vanya Eftimova Bellinger, author of Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman behind the Making of On War"Carl von Clausewitz—the name evokes the masterpiece of military theory, but much of the great Prussian theorist's voluminous legacy remains unknown to the wider public. This includes Clausewitz's insightful analysis of crucial campaigns of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle have done a masterful job in rectifying this problem. They have already translated Clausewitz's book on Napoleon's 1796 Italian Campaign, and now regale us with a new and exciting edition of the eminent military thinker's analysis of the 1799 campaigns in Italy and Switzerland. This is a highly welcome and thought-provoking addition to Clausewitzian studies. The translation is brilliantly executed, with copious footnotes and annotations by the erudite editors. This book should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in the French Revolutionary Wars or who wants to understand how history, strategy, and politics interact under wartime conditions. Highly recommended!"—Alexander Mikaberidze, author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History

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Book SynopsisMoving from strategy to battle scene to analysis, this first English translation of volume six of Carl von Clausewitz's collected works nimbly conveys the character of Clausewitz's writing in all its registers: the brisk, often powerful description of events as they unfolded and the critical reflections on strategic theory and its implications.Trade ReviewCarl von Clausewitz's The 1799 Campaign in Italy and Switzerland deserves attention not only because it is one of the last texts he wrote. Careful readers would not fail to recognize why this largely overlooked campaign preoccupied Clausewitz's mind in the late 1820s. None of the adversaries could claim a commander of Napoleon's caliber, thus providing a more balanced view about the changes the French Revolution had ushered in in the military realm. The campaign revealed the difficulties of coalition warfare, a subject Clausewitz mulled over in the late 1820s. Fought within a fraught domestic and international context, the campaign's leadership and direction frequently changed. For many of the participants, this remained mainly a war with limited objectives. In other words, throughout The 1799 Campaign, Clausewitz explored issues he had encountered while writing On War but was yet to capture on its pages comprehensively. Murray and Pringle's translation is exceptional; it remains faithful to the original while offering its readers elegant and accessible prose." - Vanya Eftimova Bellinger, author of Marie von Clausewitz: The Woman behind the Making of On War"Carl von Clausewitz-the name evokes the masterpiece of military theory, but much of the great Prussian theorist's voluminous legacy remains unknown to the wider public. This includes Clausewitz's insightful analysis of crucial campaigns of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Nicholas Murray and Christopher Pringle have done a masterful job in rectifying this problem. They have already translated Clausewitz's book on Napoleon's 1796 Italian Campaign, and now regale us with a new and exciting edition of the eminent military thinker's analysis of the 1799 campaigns in Italy and Switzerland. This is a highly welcome and thought-provoking addition to Clausewitzian studies. The translation is brilliantly executed, with copious footnotes and annotations by the erudite editors. This book should be on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in the French Revolutionary Wars or who wants to understand how history, strategy, and politics interact under wartime conditions. Highly recommended!" - Alexander Mikaberidze, author of The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History

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Book SynopsisBy 1943, the war was lost, and most German officers knew it. What kept the German army going in an increasingly hopeless situation? Robert Citino, the world's leading scholar on the subject, posits a straightforward solution: Bewegungskrieg, the way of war cultivated by the Germans over the course of history.Trade ReviewAn account and analysis of German military operations in the last year of World War II that is sure to enlighten anyone who wants some insight into the way that war ended and how the German military tried to cope with a multi-front conflict. Balanced and thoughtful reviews of plans and events on both sides of the fronts, careful utilization of an enormous literature, and shrewd judgments characterize a book that will receive and merit attention for many years." —Gerhard L. Weinberg, author of A World at Arms: A Global History of World War II "Written with his customary verve and lively prose, Citino also displays his typically penetrating insight, formidable research, and depth of knowledge in describing German operations in the often overlooked last year and a half of the war. He shows a keen understanding of the German dilemma, a propensity for sharp observations, and, as always, a knack for challenging conventional wisdom. This is a compelling and thought-provoking book brimming with insight that forces the reader to reflect on the personalities and operations —both a product of a distinctive military culture —that continued to fuel the Nazi war machine until the bitter end of this most destructive war. A worthy successor to his earlier works on the Wehrmacht." —Stephen G. Fritz, author of Ostkrieg: Hitler's War of Extermination in the East "Citino combines accuracy, balance, and brilliant writing. Along with Death of the Wehrmacht: The German Campaigns of 1942 and The Wehrmacht Retreats: Fighting a Lost War, 1943, this book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the Wehrmacht." —Geoffrey Megargee, author of Inside Hitler's High Command"The key question of The Wehrmacht's Last Stand: what kept the German armed forces fighting a hopeless war? Citino describes a synergy of leadership, ideology and method enabling reconfiguration from an offensive institution based on economy of force to an instrument of defense sustained by desperation. Comprehensive and persuasive, this capstone of Citino's series on the German way of war merits wide circulation and careful consideration." —Dennis Showalter, author of Hitler's Panzers: The Lightning Attacks That Revolutionized WarfareTable of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. In the Cauldron: The Battle of the Korsun Pocket 2. In the Mountains: The Battle for Italy 3. On the Beach: Normandy and Beyond 4. In the Middle: The Smashing of the Central Front 5. In the West: The Campaign in France 6. On the Run: The East 7. On the Run: The West 8. The Last Battle 9. Five Minutes Past Midnight 10. The Last Stand Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn 1945, the Indian British XIV Army inflicted on the Imperial Japanese Army in Burma the worst defeat in its history. This volume offers a full account of this brilliant and original operational maneuver, utilizing a full range of materials, from personal accounts to archival holdings - including the bits the official historians left out.Trade ReviewA much-needed study of the Burma campaign in 1945 by the two foremost historians in the field. Not only do they chart the transformation of the Indian Army but also they relay the story of the forgotten African soldiers fighting in Burma. The authors demonstrate that it was largely due to the contribution of these troops that the Imperial Japanese Army was defeated by 1945. The book is extremely engaging and eloquent: an essential text for anyone studying the campaign. Its accessible prose makes it such a pleasure to read-it therefore deserves a much wider readership than just historians." - Alan Jeffreys, author of Approach to Battle: Training the Indian Army during the Second World War"There is a stage in every topic when it becomes possible to produce a study that will be 'the' book everyone interested in the matter should read. That time has come, and The 1945 Burma Campaign and the Transformation of the British Indian Army is 'the' book. Callahan and Marston explain how and why the liberation of Burma in 1945 was the peak of military excellence for Allied combined-arms campaigns during the Second World War." - Brian P. Farrell, professor of history, National University of Singapore, and author of The Defence and Fall of Singapore

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Book SynopsisExplores the vital role that prisoners of war play in American warfare and reveals the cultural contexts of warfare, the shaping of military policies, the process of state-building, the impacts upon the economy and environment of the conflict zone, their special place in propaganda, and the importance of public history in shaping national memory.Trade ReviewThis book is a masterpiece of contemporary scholarship. It does what Daniel Krebs and Lorien Foote say it is intended to do: examine the less-traveled roads with new understandings/visions of the American POW experience. No one can ask for more than that. I recommend it for every collection of American POW history." - Robert C. Doyle, author of Voices from Captivity: Interpreting the American POW Narrative"Useful Captives, in clear and convincing fashion, demonstrates how prisoners of war have impacted the cultural, political, and tactical dimensions of American military conflicts. Ranging from the colonial era to the War on Terror, the contributors have produced one of the most important studies on war captives in decades." - Glenn Robins, author of The Longest Rescue: The Life and Legacy of Vietnam POW William A. Robinson

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Book SynopsisTells the story not only of the six years of negotiation and the peace process that transformed a country, its secret contacts, its international implications, and difficulties and achievements but also of the two previous decades in which Colombia oscillated between warlike confrontation and negotiated solution.Trade ReviewThe peace process that was the central policy of Juan Manuel Santos's two terms as president of Colombia finally reached an accord that ended the fifty-years conflict with the FARC, Latin America's oldest and largest guerrilla group. Making peace is never swift, simple, complete, or uncontroversial, and the necessary compromises were only reached in the face of many setbacks, fierce criticism, and opposition. The agreement was nonetheless a historic achievement, and it embodies a general recognition that the country's future is not going to be decided by the violent politics of armed struggle. President Santos's account of the negotiations-frank, detailed, and generous to those who assisted inside and outside Colombia-has important lessons for peacemakers everywhere." - Malcolm Deas, St. Antony's College, Oxford University"Santos was able to see-to have the imagination and the vision to see-that this was the moment when you could pivot to peace. This was someone who was completely sincere in his genuine desire to change the lives of the people and to bring peace where before conflict had been the norm for thousands and thousands of people suffering. This was a really tough thing to do. This was frankly tougher than Northern Ireland, tougher I think than any conflict I have been involved in, and I would put the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the same bracket. To have taken it this far is an extraordinary achievement. I'd say to the people of Colombia: just remember the darkest days of this conflict and what that was like. Debate, by all means, the right way to go forward but don't let this slip back. That would be a big mistake." - Tony Blair"Making peace after a long and bloody conflict is not a work for the faint-hearted, and you can't expect to be appreciated in the short run. You should do it if you believe it is the best way to give your kids and grandkids a better future. I think Santos wanted to give all Colombians different sorts of choices, and I think he was willing at the end to risk his standing in the short run to enhance Colombians' standing and quality of life in the long term. Slowly but surely, a more peaceful and more normal life has returned, making it possible for people to develop the natural resources of the country." - Bill Clinton"With the finalizing of a peace agreement between Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the longest-running war in the Western Hemisphere is coming to an end. We have witnessed, once again, that a sustained commitment to diplomacy and reconciliation can overcome even the most entrenched conflicts. This accord is a tribute to the hard work and cooperation of countless Colombian leaders and citizens-across parties and administrations-who painstakingly laid the groundwork for this milestone. I especially want to commend President Juan Manuel Santos for his courageous leadership during four years of difficult negotiations. I think this is an achievement of historic proportions. It ultimately will be good for the region as well as the people of Colombia. It took a lot of courage and a lot of hard work by a lot of people. And we are very proud to have played a modest part in helping the dialogue go forward." - Barack Obama

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Book SynopsisTells the story of how, in Hall v. Decuir, the post-Civil War US Supreme Court took its first step toward perpetuating the subjugation of the non-White population of the United States by actively preventing a Southern state from prohibiting segregation on a riverboat in the coasting trade on the Mississippi River.Trade ReviewRacism in the United States dismantled the Civil War's legal achievements and built the world of continuing and expanding racialized segregation, deprivations, and indignities-but how did this come to pass? It took the particularly effective combination of White resentment, judicial activism, legal abstractions, and political backlash to strip free people of color of rights, wealth, and status as shown in this detailed yet vivid and accessible account by Jack Beermann. Thanks to this book, the little-remembered Supreme Court rejection of state antidiscrimination laws and the valiant but unsuccessful efforts of Josephine Decuir and her lawyers take their rightful place in the crucial reckoning with vigorous federal destruction of equal treatment in the United States. Read this book to understand how 'technicalities' of inheritance law practice, the 'dormant Commerce Clause,' and Southern transportation policies mixed with White status desires to block equal treatment laws and create the 'separate but equal' regime." - Martha Minow, 300th Anniversary University Professor and former dean of Harvard Law School and author of In Brown's Wake: Legacies of America's Constitutional Landmark"It's about time the much-neglected US Supreme Court ruling Hall v. Decuir (1878) received serious book-length attention, for this 'long-forgotten' decision is more than an ironic milestone on the road to Plessy. In Jack Beermann's telling, it is no less a poignant turning point in the decisive marginalization of nineteenth-century Louisiana's mixed-race community. We owe him a huge debt for wresting this maddeningly tragic story from history's hidden shadows." - Lawrence N. Powell, professor emeritus of history, Tulane University, and author of The Accidental City: Improvising New Orleans

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Book SynopsisThe Civil War was fundamentally a matter of Americans killing Americans. This undeniable reality is what Jonathan Steplyk explores in Fighting Means Killing, the first book-length study of Union and Confederate soldiers' attitudes toward, and experiences of, killing in the Civil War.Trade ReviewNumerous books on the Civil War deal in part with the idea of killing in combat, but none make it a central theme and certainly none make it the entire subject. Jonathan M. Steplyk's Fighting Means Killing: Civil War Soldiers and the Nature of Combat is thus a unique addition to our understanding of the war. Blending an impressive argument about soldiers' lack of aversion to killing with what historians have found about the nature of killing in other wars, Steplyk offers an engrossing and convincing look into one of the Civil War's more grisly issues." - Timothy B. Smith, author of Shiloh: Conquer or Perish and Grant Invades Tennessee: The 1862 Battles for Forts Henry and Donelson"Americans of the nineteenth century were all too aware of death, even violent death at the hands of each other. But nothing prepared the nation for the scale of military killing generated by the Civil War. Nor will we, who have learned to sentimentalize that conflict so much, be prepared for the profile of slaughter laid out so skillfully by Jonathan Steplyk. This book presents the horrific edge of killing in the most sobering detail, from Elmer Ellsworth to Ft. Pillow. It is a story of good deaths and bad, of blind bloodlust and instinctive repugnance, of bayonets and musket stocks, of closed eyes and open wounds-which is to say, an all-too-human story. I have never seen the Civil War's 'face of battle' appear in uglier or clearer form." - Allen C. Guelzo, Henry R. Luce III Professor of the Civil War Era and director of the Civil War Era Studies Program, Gettysburg College"The Civil War was the deadliest conflict in American history, but many soldiers had to overcome religious or moral scruples against killing. How did they do it? There is no simple or single answer to this question. Jonathan Steplyk's answers, grounded in thorough research and incisive analysis, offer new perspectives on the motives of Civil War soldiers." - James M. McPherson, author of The War That Forged a Nation: Why the Civil War Still Matters"Steplyk is the first Civil War historian to write a book that directly considers the uncomfortable truth that the war's soldiers were willing killers. By analyzing why, how, and when soldiers killed (and did not kill), this thought-provoking and important work of cultural and military history takes readers to the epicenter of combat and to the heart of the soldier." - Lorien Foote, author of The Yankee Plague: Escaped Union Prisoners and the Collapse of the Confederacy

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Book SynopsisTells the story of the roles played by American and Vietnamese citizens in their postwar quest for peace. Hang Thi Thu Le-Tormala deepens our understanding of the Vietnam War and its aftermath by taking examining postwar Vietnam and offering a fresh analysis of the effects of the war and what postwar reconstruction meant for ordinary citizens.Trade ReviewPostwar Journeys fills a significant gap in the literature regarding post-Vietnam War efforts at creating peace and normal relations between the United States and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam by examining nonstate groups and people and demonstrating how they influenced their governments' policies. Employing a framework of transnationalism, Le-Tormala skillfully weaves together powerful stories with international politics to demonstrate how 'hidden historical actors' were able to make two hostile governments in Washington, DC, and Hanoi engage with each other to solve problems that were being ignored. There is no comparable study that has the breadth and depth in examining the efforts of veterans, peace groups, and individuals that ultimately helped forge peace between the United States and Vietnam." - David F. Schmitz, Robert Allen Skotheim Chair of History, Whitman College, and author of Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War: The End of the American Century "Much has been written about the normalization of US-Vietnamese relations in the 1990s. Far less attention has been given to the decades of grassroots peace efforts that led to and followed that normalization. Hang Thi Thu Le-Tormala has now beautifully excavated this history. Through poignant stories and incisive analysis, Postwar Journeys provides a much-needed examination of the ongoing importance of people-to-people diplomacy." - Scott Laderman, author of Tours of Vietnam: War, Travel Guides, and Memory and The 'Silent Majority' Speech: Richard Nixon, the Vietnam War, and the Origins of the New Right"Postwar Journeys is an impressive study that details the transnational interactions between ordinary Vietnamese and American citizens who helped reshape the struggle for peace and reconciliation after the end of what the Vietnamese call the 'American War.' Addressing the efforts of Vietnamese refugees, Amerasian children of American GIs, American and Vietnamese veterans and their families, relatives of fallen soldiers on both sides, and other citizens who experienced the war in one way or the other, the author examines the journeys of individuals from varied political, cultural, and social backgrounds. In doing so, this book bridges a gap in the scholarship that often overlooks the role of individual citizens on both sides in the postwar effort that led to reconciliation between the former foes. Far-ranging in scope and impressively researched, this book is a valuable addition to the ever-growing historiography of the war." - James H. Willbanks, professor emeritus of military history, US Command and General Staff College, and author of Abandoning Vietnam: How America Left and South Vietnam Lost Its War

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Book SynopsisOffers a long perspective and draws on recently opened records to provide an in-depth analysis of the approaches taken by the Clinton and Bush administrations toward terrorism in general and Al-Qaeda in particular. The book also delivers arresting new details on the four 9/11 hijackings and the collapse of the Twin Towers.Trade ReviewAfter two decades, the dust of 9/11 has settled sufficiently to permit a clear-eyed historical assessment. The Day That Shook America chillingly lays out the reasons why the government agencies responsible for protecting the nation failed catastrophically, and weighs the lasting consequences." - Donald A. Ritchie, US Senate historian emeritus and author of Electing FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932"The Day That Shook America is a chilling account of missed opportunities and overlooked clues that led to the horrors of 9/11. J. Samuel Walker evokes both the folly and the heroism of that day, while at the same time detailing the petty bureaucratic turf battles that crippled the nation’s response to Al-Qaeda. Walker’s judicious account of this horrific event does not preclude him from indicting those he believes might have prevented this ‘day of agony.’" - Stephen F. Knott, author of The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"To read this powerful account of 9/11 is to feel wrenching sadness combined with deep anger: sadness in recalling the terrible toll of lives taken that day, and anger both at those who perpetrated the attack and at the senior US officials who failed to avert it despite the warning signs that were flashing red." - Andrew Bacevich, author of After the Apocalypse: America’s Role in a World Transformed"In this evocative and succinct history, J. Samuel Walker incisively analyzes the efforts to hunt down Osama bin Laden before 9/11 and assesses the actions of the Bush administration in its aftermath. Vividly describing the seizures of the planes by Al-Qaeda terrorists, Walker also eloquently narrates the gruesome circumstances of those entrapped in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. On the twentieth anniversary of that tragic day, we are fortunate to have this well-researched, thoughtful book." - Melvyn P. Leffler, Edward Stettinius Professor of History Emeritus, University of Virginia

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Book SynopsisCovers the military history of a region encompassing Afghanistan, Central and South Asia, and West Asia, over some 2,500 years. This is the first comprehensive study in any language published on the millennia-long competition for domination and influence in one of the key regions of the Eurasian continent.Trade ReviewAli Ahmed Jalali has produced the first military history of ancient, medieval, and early modern Afghanistan on a scale commensurate with the subject. This work will be invaluable to military historians and area specialists; it combines sound scholarship and accurate translations from the full range of sources." - Jeremy Black, author of Military Strategy: A Global History

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Book SynopsisSuperbly researched and impeccably told, Hitler's Generals on Trial addresses fundamental questions concerning the meaning of justice after atrocity and genocide, the moral imperative of punishment for these crimes, the link between justice and memory, and the relevance of the Nuremberg trials for transitional justice processes today.Trade ReviewA thoughtful and sobering work. HÉbert delivers a complicated story with clarity and balance: a story of noble ideals that fell short in practice, of national selfdelusion and political compromise, of revealed truths that took generations to sink in, and of legal innovations that still affect us today." - Geoffrey P. Megargee, author of Inside Hitler’s High Command"HÉbert tells a cautionary tale of direct relevance to the work of international prosecutors and does a fine job of highlighting the conflict between justice and politics in moments of democratic transition." - Lawrence Douglas, author of The Memory of Judgment: Making Law and History in the Trials of the Holocaust

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Book SynopsisOffers a new way to understand military-media relations during World War II. The press and public opinion shaped not only how the conflict was seen but also how it was fought. Alexander Lovelace demonstrates that the US military repeatedly discovered that the best effects resulted from accurate news stories.Table of Contents Series Editor's Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Prologue: The Media and Total War 1. "You Shoot Bullets with Your Typewriters 2. "I Shall Return" 3. "Pitiless Publicity" 4. "War in a Museum" 5. The Liberation of France 6. The Press of Prestige Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOver the course of World War II, guerrillas from across the Philippines opposed Imperial Japan’s occupation of the archipelago. By examining the motivations, capabilities, and operations of the guerrillas, James Villanueva argues that the guerrillas were effective because Japanese punitive measures pushed the population to support the guerrillas.Trade Review"As the American military returns to a focus on large-scale combat operations after two decades of irregular warfare, James Villanueva has created a revealing study about a successful application of compound warfare, where guerrilla forces made major contributions to a conventional campaign. He provides a valuable reminder that war often involves a combination of both approaches."—Conrad C. Crane, author of Cassandra in Oz: Counterinsurgency and Future War"James A. Villanueva tosses out Hollywood myths and digs into a rich array of untapped sources to examine a critical moment in World War II. More so than any previous scholar, Villanueva puts the experience of Filipino guerrillas at the center of his story. Based on intense research in previously untapped sources, Awaiting MacArthur’s Return is a work that will endure for decades."—Christopher Capozzola, professor of history at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and author of Bound by War: How the United States and the Philippines Built America's First Pacific CenturyTable of Contents List of Maps and Tables List of Abbreviations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The Beginning of Resistance: Blackout and Establishment of Guerrilla Groups in the Philippines 2. The Allied Intelligence Bureau and the Philippine Regional Section 3. "Quarreling among Themselves": SWPA and Guerrilla Conflicts 4. Setbacks and Successes: The Guerrillas from 1943 to 1944 5. Guerrilla Logistics and Administration 6. Guerillas Rising: The Guerrillas during the Liberation of the Philippines Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBy taking a closer look at what we thought we knew, William Shkurti persuasively demonstrates how combat units still in harm’s way adapted to the challenges before them and soldiered on in a war everyone else wanted to be over. In doing so, he also suggests a context to better understand the challenges that may lie ahead.Table of Contents List of Figures and Tables Preface List of Abbreviations Part One: The Siege 1. Winding Down 2. Proud Americans 3. Sappers in the Wire 4. Bad Omen 5. Sky Troopers 6. ARNVs, BUFFS, and Other Friends 7. Incoming 8. Confusion on the Ground 9. Welcome to Prime Time 10. Under New Management 11. Leave No One Behind 12. Whiskey and Kool-Aid Part Two: The Soldiers 13. The Grunts 14. Artillery and Other Combat Support Troops 15. Beyond Pace 16. Soldiering On in MR I 17. REMFs, Fraggers, Dopers, Slackers and Other Losers 18. Follow Me 19. A Thousand Calley's? Part Three: The Press 20. Boyle vs. the Powers That Be 21. The Press and the White House 22. The Press and the M-Word Part Four: The Bigger Picture 23. South Vietnamese Allies 24. North Vietnamese Allies 25. Vietnamese Verdun 26. Pace as History 27. Lessons Learned? 28. Conclusions: A Difficult End to a Long War Epilogue Appendix A: Order of Battle MR III--U.S. Forces, Fall 1971 Appendix B: Order of Battle MR III--North and South Vietnamese Forces Appendix C: Inspector General's Report, October 11, 1971 Appendix D: Fact Sheet, Fire Support Base Pace Incident, October 22, 1971 Appendix E: Letter from Senator Kennedy to SP4 Al Grana, October 18, 1971 Appendix F: Letter from MG Donnelly Bolton to SP4 John P. White Appendix G: Valorous Unit Award for Extraordinary Heroism to the 2/32d Field Artillery and Attached Units, July 3, 1972 Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the first shot fired by his grandfather on a jungle trail in 1903 to the day his father captured plans for the Chinese invasion of South Korea, William Crawford Woods’s family has fought in nearly every American war of the twentieth century. Drawing on letters, journals, official records, and other artifacts, Woods has revived their stories.Trade Review"Stand in the Fire is masterfully written, gripping from beginning to end, and deeply moving. Since the book deals with family history, it could easily have become sentimental and self-indulgent. It never does, however, thanks to the verve and elegance of Woods’s prose and his ability to present his grandfather, uncle, and father as real and engaging characters. In this regard, his decision to use fictional scenes in the service of nonfiction—a la Norman Mailer and Truman Capote, among others—proves an inspired choice and one that enlivens the manuscript in countless ways."—Steven Trout, author of The Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Angel Fire: War, Remembrance, and an American Tragedy"William Woods’s Stand in the Fire serves best as a magnificently written time capsule of a different America. In this historically based work of creative nonfiction, Woods tells the stories of his forefathers: men who served in times of war, their transformation in donning the uniform, and their incomplete return to civility—if they were fortunate enough to return at all. The reader will rightly marvel at this family’s experiences. Ultimately, Woods subtly demands the reader consider whether the society that created millions of such families, and such men, still exists; or if it should at all."—Paul Darling, author of Taliban Safari: One Day in the Surkhagan Valley"A most personable kind of history guided by the spirit of deep curiosity. Woods’s voice is measured and engaging, full of sentiment without being sentimental, and aptly critical without being dismissive. We are doubly lucky that his family saved so much in attic trunks and that it fell into Woods’s hands. His enviable talent brings these stories, and this slice of American history, to life."—Alex Vernon, author of most succinctly bred and Hemingway’s Second War: Bearing Witness to the Spanish Civil WarTable of Contents List of Illustrations Preparing the Battlespace A House Older Than Canada, a Skirmish on the Trail “The Army Is No Place for a Soldier Captain Louis Crawford Goes Looking for a Wa The Final Seal Colonel William Crawford and the Battle for the Philippines Waiting for the Storm Major A. R. Woods and the World of the Secret War After Action Report Rumors and Random Intelligence Notes and Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisIn this first of three planned volumes for the University Press of Kansas’s Constitutional Thinking series, Mark Graber aims to restore to contemporary memory the Fourteenth Amendment drafted by those Republican and Unionist members of Congress who supported congressional reconstruction.Trade ReviewIn meticulous detail Mark Graber shows how in the run-up to the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment congressional Republicans shaped the provisions eventually written into that provision with an eye to ensuring control of the government by unionists, which is to say Republicans. He reorients our understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment away from the rights it undoubtedly guarantees to the political effects its framers sought to achieve, among which were unionist control of state governments so that rights could be protected. Though today we do not pay much attention to the sections of the Fourteenth Amendment its framers cared most about, Graber’s arguments tell us a great deal about how we should understand what constitutions actually do." - Mark Tushnet, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law emeritus, Harvard Law School, and author of The Constitution of the United States of America: A Contextual Analysis"Mark Graber has opened our eyes not only to a lost history of the Fourteenth Amendment, but also to its Framers’ central purpose. They sought to create the conditions for a democratic politics that would protect and empower people, both Black and white, who had remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War. This brilliant book, part of a projected multi-volume series, teaches that the way we shape our political institutions is every bit as important as abstract guarantees of constitutional rights." - Jack M. Balkin, Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment, Yale Law SchoolTable of Contents Text of Amendment XIV (1868) Series Foreword Acknowledgments A Preface to the Forgotten Fourteenth Amendment Series Introduction: Three Republican Soloists and the Republican Chorus 1. The Exclusion Debate 2. The Problem of Rebel Rule 3. Protecting and Empowering the Loyal 4. Guarantees 5. To Colorado and Beyond Conclusion: Rebels, Loyalists, and Racial Equality Appendixes Table A.1: House Votes on the Fourteenth Amendment, the Exclusion Resolution, and Statehood for Colorado and Nebraska Table A.2: Senate Votes on the Fourteenth Amendment, the Exclusion Resolution, and Statehood for Colorado and Nebraska Table A.3: References to “:Rebel” and “Loyal” in the House of Representatives Table A.4: References to “Rebel” and “Loyal” in the Senate Table A.5: References Paired with “Rebel” in the Thirty-Ninth Congress, First Session: All Table A.6: References Paired with “Rebel” in the Thirty-Ninth Congress, First Session: Opponents of the Fourteenth Amendment Table A.7: Conditions for Readmission of Former Confederate States: Members of Congress Table A.8: Conditions of Readmission of Former Confederate States: Petitions Calendar of the Thirty-Ninth Congress, First Session Notes Index

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