War and defence operations Books
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Walking Gallipoli
Book SynopsisAn unseen selection of rare photographs and primary sources from the campaign. This is the essential travelling companion to walking the Gallipoli battlefields.
£14.39
Simon & Schuster Ltd A Prayer for Gallipoli: The Great War Diaries of
Book SynopsisMany chaplains were not permitted to go near the Front in the First World War - others insisted on doing so, like Kenneth Best in the Gallipoli Campaign. Best had no military training before the war but he felt that he could only fulfil his pastoral role by getting close to the front line and working with the troops under fire. Best was attached to the 42nd East Lancastrians - the first Territorial Army Division to serve overseas in the conflict, so arguably the least experienced in the ways of war. In his diary we follow his progress through his initial training in Egypt and on to his arrival in Gallipoli in May 1915. Gallipoli has become notorious, even by the standards of the First World War. After a naval campaign to open up a supply route to Russia through Turkey failed, some 480,000 Allied troops were drawn into a land invasion in which hundreds of thousands were injured or killed. In his diary, Best records his efforts to encourage frightened men before they go over the top, to comfort the wounded and, when the fighting stops, to bury the dead. His empathy for the troops is matched by a forthright disgust for their leaders, few of whom share his insight into the horrific realities of trench warfare.
£7.19
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Montgomery's Rhine River Crossing: Operation
Book SynopsisAfter the Normandy break-out, the Allies' headlong dash east came to a halt in the autumn with the ill-fated MARKET GARDEN operation and over-extended supply lines short of the Rhineland. After repulsing the Nazis' daring Ardennes offensive, Montgomery's and Bradley's Army Groups cleared the Reichwald and Rhineland and closed on the Rhine. With both sides aware of the strategic significance of this physical barrier the stakes could not have been higher. Eisenhower's plan involved a vast airborne assault by General Ridgway's XV11 Airborne Corps (codename VARSITY) and the simultaneously coordinated river crossing by Monty's 21 Army Group codename PLUNDER with Dempsey's British Second Army and General William H. Simpson's US Ninth Army. This superbly illustrated and researched book describes the March 1945 assault crossing involving naval amphibious craft, the air and artillery bombardment and diversionary attack by the British 1st Commando brigade at Wesel. In concert with VARSITY and PLUNDER, Patton's US Third Army Group crossed further south. As a result of this triumph of strategic planning and tactical execution, the fate of Hitler's Thousand Year Reich' was finally sealed.
£14.39
Schiffer Publishing Ltd Tac Recon
Book SynopsisThis book examines the American Air Force aircrews who flew tactical reconnaissance combat missions from World War I to the Gulf War. The book employs primary-source interviews, unit histories, mission documents, declassified operational studies, and photos to tell their stories. In the first half of the 20th century, they flew armed and defended themselves against enemy aircraft. In the latter half of the 20th century, they flew unarmed and unafraid against MiG fighters and some of the most intense antiaircraft defenses in history. Many returned with photographs that helped pave the way for bombing assessments and army ground operations. Others never returned, and some have never been found. The author personally interviewed reconnaissance pilots who flew in WWII, Korea, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Vietnam in order to place the reader into the cockpit. Aviation buffs and general readers alike will find this a riveting story of grit and courage.
£23.79
Vintage Publishing A History Of Warfare
Book SynopsisThe definitive history of warfare told by Britain's foremost military historian.John Keegan’s masterpiece is a work of breath-taking scope that not only chronicles the history of warfare, but unearths lessons on the nature of humanity. Stretching across centuries and continents, from the Empire of Babylon to the Somme, A History of Warfare studies civilisations, psychology, archaeology, genetics, history and strategy with an expert’s eye. John Keegan’s unmissable and epic journey through military history has been widely acclaimed and remains vital reading today.Trade ReviewJohn Keegan is at once the most readable and the most original of military historians... His book is a work of massive sweep...the most remarkable study of warfare that has yet been written. -- Michael Howard * New York Times Review of Books *Masterpiece...one of those rare books which could still be required reading in its field a hundred years from now. * The New Yorker *Our finest military historian has produced a book of breathtaking scope...A tour de force. -- Niall Ferguson * Daily Mail *The best book I read in 1993 was A History of Warfare...a dazzling display of historical pyrotechnics. -- Paul Johnson * Sunday Times, Books of the Year *Magnificent * Sunday Telegraph *
£17.09
John Wiley & Sons Diversion and Deception
Book SynopsisCombining military and deception histories - so often viewed in isolation - this book provides context for deceptions and adds a layer of knowledge regarding the planning of military operations. The result is a more complete and nuanced view of Allied operations than is to be found in most histories of World War II.
£18.86
Oxford University Press Culloden
Book SynopsisThe story of Culloden, one of the most important battles in Scottish history - how it was fought, how it has been remembered, and what it has come to mean.Trade ReviewUnlike too much writing on places of memory, this is fresh, concise, free from jargon and well informed about realities. * Jeremy Black, Books of the Year 2016, History Today *deep and thoughtful study * Michael Russell, MSP, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, Books of the Year 2016, Herald *an admirably balanced volume on Culloden which should be required reading for non-Scottish MPs * Keith Simpson, Iain Dale's blog *a fascinating read * Battlefield Trust *Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Conflicts and Armies: The Rising of 1745 3: Culloden Moor 4: Aftermath and Occupation 5: The Battle that Made Britain ? Historiography and Evidence in the case of Culloden 6: Culloden in British Memory: Objects, Artifacts and Representations of the Conflict
£12.34
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Early Roman Warfare: From the Regal Period to the
Book SynopsisWhile copious amounts have been written about the Roman army, most study has focussed on the later Republic or the Imperial period when the legionary system was already well-developed. Here Dr. Jeremy Armstrong traces the development of Rome's military might from its earliest discernible origins down to the First Punic War. He shows how her armies evolved from ad hoc forces of warriors organized along clan lines to the sophisticated organization of the legions that went on to dominate all of Italy. Reassessing both the literary sources and the latest archaeological evidence to provide a fresh analysis of Roman military organization, equipment, tactics, and strategy, he shows how Rome's military apparatus adapted to meet the changing strategic needs of new enemies and broader ambitions.
£14.99
Short Books Ltd D-Day Minute By Minute: One historic day,
Book SynopsisThe invasion has begun. In this gripping book, Jonathan Mayo gives a blow by blow account of the events of D-Day, revealing what happened to the people swept up in this crucial moment in history. From soldiers, French villagers and journalists, to schoolchildren and nurses, thousands were placed in extraordinary situations when the Allies landed in Normandy. This is their story.Trade ReviewStudded with extraordinary detail, this is the most joltingly vivid account ever written of the day the Allies gambled everything. * Daily Mail *The chaos, the horror and the bravery of the battlefield are all here… * Daily Express *An engrossing work... An accessible history that conveys the havoc and vast international spread of D-Day. * Kirkus Reviews US *Awesome... a completely comprehensive examination, an incredible amount of detail, a pleasure to read and learn from. * The Avid Reader *This is an outstanding book and should be required reading in High School history classes. * Battles and Book Reviews *This book creates a remarkably vivid picture of one of the most important days in modern history. * The Good Book Guide *
£11.69
HarperCollins India Balidan: Stories of India's Greatest Para Special
Book SynopsisFew possess greater courage, yet remain in oblivion, than the Indian Para Special Forces. To these brave officers, worthy owners of the Balidan badge, is entrusted the safety of the most perilous heights and the annihilation of the darkest underbellies of terrorism. The legacy of these warriors is shrouded in mystery and legend. So secretive are their missions that little is known about them beyond code names like Dagger, Ghost, Viper or Desert Scorpio.In this remarkable collection of tales of valour beyond measure, Swapnil Pandey lifts the curtain on some of the greatest Special Forces officers and introduces readers to Colonel Santosh Mahadik, Captain Tushar Mahajan, Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat, Subedar Major Mahendra Singh and others.
£11.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Dambusters Was the Raid Worthwhile
Book SynopsisBased on interviews and correspondence with those closely associated with, and actually involved in, the Dambusters Raid.
£21.25
Oxford University Press SIPRI Yearbook 2023
Book SynopsisThe SIPRI Yearbook is an authoritative and independent source of data and analysis on armaments, disarmament and international security. It provides an overview of developments in international security, weapons and technology, military expenditure, arms production and the arms trade, and armed conflicts and conflict management, as well as efforts to control conventional, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.This 54th edition of the SIPRI Yearbook covers developments during 2022, includingUSBLArmed conflict and conflict management, with an overview of global and regional trends in armed conflicts, peace processes and peace operations, as well as a focus on the role of private military and security companiesBEUEUSBLThe war in Ukraine, including its impact on military spending and European arms control, the role of space and cyber domains, and efforts to impose international trade restrictions on RussiaBEUEUSBLMilitary expenditure, international arms transfers and developments in arm
£100.00
Chronicle Books Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret
Book Synopsis"A riveting tale told through personal accounts and sketches along the way - ultimately, a story of success against great odds. I enjoyed it enormously." - Tom Brokaw The Ghost Army of World War II is the first book to tell the full story of how a traveling road show of artists wielding imagination, paint, and bravado saved thousands of American lives - now updated with new material. In the summer of 1944, a handpicked group of young GIs - including such future luminaries such as Bill Blass, Ellsworth Kelly, Arthur Singer, Victor Dowd, Art Kane, and Jack Masey - landed in France to conduct a secret mission. From Normandy to the Rhine, the 1,100 men of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the Ghost Army, conjured up phony convoys, phantom divisions, and make-believe headquarters to fool the enemy about the strength and location of American units. Every move they made was top secret and their story was hushed up for decades after the war's end. Hundreds of color and black-and-white photographs illuminate how their creations supported the war tactics that helped open the way for the final drive to Germany. The stunning art created between missions offers a glimpse of life behind the lines during World War II. Collectors of World War II books will find The Ghost Army of World War II an essential addition to their library.
£26.25
Dorling Kindersley Ltd The Military History Book
Book SynopsisA compelling visual guide to the history of the military!Travel through time and explore 5000 years of weaponry in stunning detail with this riveting military book - from the spears and swords of ancient times to the guns and grenades of modern warfare.This beautifully illustrated definitive military guide charts the evolution of battlefield technology. Here''s what you''ll find inside:- It includes objects taken from collections that are not available to the public or have never been photographed before- Features comprehensive catalogues of the key weapons, armour, equipment, and military technologies of each period, along with full specification details and information about special features- Includes stunning close-up virtual tours on subjects as diverse as a Roman fort, a medieval castle, a WWI trench system, a WWII tank, and a modern aircraft carrier, to name a few- Narrative spreads and timelines provide historical context for
£28.50
HarperCollins Publishers STORM COMMAND A Personal Account of the Gulf War
Trade Review‘More gripping than fiction; take the graphic account of an SAS corporal’s harrowing 200-mile escape through western Iraq, for instance - a tale almost too incredible for a thriller… An important and enjoyable book.’Christopher Bellamy, Independent ‘Fascinating… Deserves a place even in the glorious annals of British soldiering.’James Buchan, Spectator ‘This excellent and moving book builds up to a most exciting climax.’Sunday Times ‘A commander who made men do almost impossible things by doing them himself first… A soldier who from the most undisciplined and unpromising beginnings achieved complete mastery of himself and hte men who fought under him.’Daily Telegraph
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Three Roads To The Alamo The Lives and Fortunes
Book Synopsis
£18.69
Ebury Publishing Harrys War
Book SynopsisHarry Drinkwater (Author) Harold Victor Drinkwater was born on 19 February 1889 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School, where Shakespeare was educated. A month after war was declared in 1914, Harry volunteered, but failed his medical for being half an inch' too short. He tried again and successfully joined a Pals battalion in Birmingham. Harry fought on both the Western and Italian Fronts , receiving the Military Cross in 1917. Harry stayed in the army for two more years after Armistice was declared. He died in 1978.Trade ReviewA lost diary of the Great War so brutally vivid you'll feel you are there in the trenches * Daily Mail *One of the best diaries of the First World War -- Rodderick Suddaby, former keeper of the Department of Documents at the Imperial War MuseumUnique ... an unvarnished view of the war’s horrors – and its occasional joys * Telegraph *A remarkable insight into the mind of a man who went through WW1 as an infantryman in the trenches, private and officer ... No-one who wants to understand the truth about the trenches can ignore this book -- Colonel John Hughes-WilsonUnique ... an unvarnished view of the war’s horrors – and its occasional joys * Telegraph *
£15.29
Vintage Publishing Waterloo
Book SynopsisAfter midnight, 19 June 1815...On the battlefield more than 50,000 men and 7,000 horses lie dead and wounded; Drawing on a multiplicity of contemporary voices and viewpoints, Paul O’Keeffe brings into focus as never before the sights, sounds and smells of the battlefield, of conquest and defeat, of celebration and riot.Trade ReviewIf you buy one book to mark this Waterloo anniversary, buy this one -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *It is all here – and all told with the same verve, eye for anecdote and command of the material. This is a very good book, and a model of how narrative history should be written... anybody remotely interested in the battle should read * The Spectator *Invigorating and compelling * Daily Telegraph *I was gripped by the wealth of detail and humanity in the book... This is how the tales of battles should be told, whatever the time, place or outcome -- Emily Mayhew, author of WoundedA grim story – but well worth the telling -- Saul David * Evening Standard *
£14.39
Cornerstone Snow and Steel
Book SynopsisPeter Caddick-Adams is a writer and broadcaster who specialises in military history, defence and security issues. He previously lectured in Military and Security Studies at the UK Defence Academy for twenty years, and in Air Power for the Royal Air Force. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Geographical Society, he also spent thirty-five years as an officer in the UK Regular and Reserve Forces, and has extensive experience of various war zones, including the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, Sandhurst and Wolverhampton University, where he gained first class honours in War Studies; he received his PhD from Cranfield University. His previous works include Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives (2011), Monte Cassino: Ten Armies in Hell (2012), and Snow and Steel: Battle of the Bulge 194445 (2014).
£15.29
Cornerstone How the French Won Waterloo or Think They Did
Book SynopsisStephen Clarke lives in Paris, where he divides his time between writing and not writing.His Merde novels have been bestsellers all over the world, including France. His non-fiction books include Talk to the Snail, an insider's guide to understanding the French; How the French Won Waterloo (or Think They Did), an amused look at France's continuing obsession with Napoleon; Dirty Bertie: An English King Made in France, a biography of Edward VII; and 1000 Years of Annoying the French, which was a number one bestseller in Britain.Research for The French Revolution and What Went Wrong took him deep into French archives in search of the actual words, thoughts and deeds of the revolutionaries and royalists of 1789. He has now re-emerged to ask modern Parisians why they have forgotten some of the true democratic heroes of the period, and opted to idolize certain maniacs. Follow Stephen on @SClarkeWriter and www.stepTrade ReviewIndeed, as Stephen Clarke demonstrates in this cheeky book, they have spent two whole centuries 'indulging in outrageous denial' * Daily Mail *Clarke’s tone is larky, but his outrageously readable work is based on extensive research, with a wealth of enticing detail. * Daily Mail *This is Waterloo as stand-up, funny and caustic by turns * BBC History Magazine *
£10.44
Oxford University Press Inc Verdun The Longest Battle of the Great War
Book SynopsisAt seven o''clock in the morning on February 21, 1916, the ground in northern France began to shake. For the next ten hours, twelve hundred German guns showered shells on a salient in French lines. The massive weight of explosives collapsed dugouts, obliterated trenches, severed communication wires, and drove men mad. As the barrage lifted, German troops moved forward, darting from shell crater to shell crater. The battle of Verdun had begun. In Verdun, historian Paul Jankowski provides the definitive account of the iconic battle of World War I. A leading expert on the French past, Jankowski combines the best of traditional military history-its emphasis on leaders, plans, technology, and the contingency of combat-with the newer social and cultural approach, stressing the soldier''s experience, the institutional structures of the military, and the impact of war on national memory. Unusually, this book draws on deep research in French and German archives; this mastery of sources in both languages gives Verdun unprecedented authority and scope. In many ways, Jankowski writes, the battle represents a conundrum. It has an almost unique status among the battles of the Great War; and yet, he argues, it was not decisive, sparked no political changes, and was not even the bloodiest episode of the conflict. It is said that Verdun made France, he writes; but the question should be, What did France make of Verdun? Over time, it proved to be the last great victory of French arms, standing on their own. And, for France and Germany, the battle would symbolize the terror of industrialized warfare, a technocratic Moloch devouring its children, where no advance or retreat was possible, yet national resources poured in ceaselessly, perpetuating slaughter indefinitely.Trade ReviewBrilliant. * Los Angeles Review of Books *The horrors have been described often and elaborately, but Mr. Jankowski is skillful enough that his accounts still provoke. * Wall Street Journal *One of its foremost virtues is to brush aside the insistence of modern folklore.... that Verdun imposed on its participants horrors unprecedented in history. * Max Hastings, The Sunday Times *Jankowski recognizes the significance of the battle that Maurice Genevoix, a French novelist and World War I veteran, was said to have called 'the battle-symbol of the entire 1914-1918 war...' He relies heavily on the memoirs, journals and letters of those who were present during the battle to complete his work. * Army magazine *Jankowski has written a superb, definitive popular account of Verdun through the eyes of soldiers, military leaders, and citizens of the two nations. * Publishers Weekly *Jankowski's revisionist book is a major achievement...The writing throughout is of the highest order... At every stage, Jankowski integrates the military narrative with broader political and cultural dimensions... Jankowski's book offers a model history of warfare. * Philip Jenkins, Books & Culture *Paul Jankowski's Verdun is a great book, truly a masterwork of modern literature. On a much studied event (25 percent of all the many French books on World War I have been about the battle of Verdun), he has given us a work of rare originality and creativity. And he has done it with old fashioned virtues of grace and refinement. This is not only a new interpretation of a major subject. It is also a new model of how history might be written on many subjects. * David Hackett Fischer *This fine book straddles two generations of writing on the Great War. It is a superb account of the unfolding of the battle from the viewpoint of the commanders, and a moving narrative of the tenacity of small groups of men pushed beyond the limits of human endurance. * Jay Winter, Yale University *Paul Jankowski provides a balanced, scholarly account of the pivotal Battle of Verdun. Within a smoothly flowing narrative, he highlights critical themes in both traditional military history and the social history of warfare. This book is a first-stop source for students of the First World War, and a superb survey of what arguably stands the greatest battle in human history. * Edward G. Lengel, author of To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918 *Paul Jankowski's Verdun is the first major study of the battle to appear in English for many years, and the first to draw fully on archival research on both sides. Jankowski presents a thoughtful, original, and moving account, full of insights into the course of the fighting and its subsequent commemoration and impact. * David Stevenson, author of Cataclysm:The First World War as Political Tragedy and With our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918 *[Jankowski] has written what certainly must stand as the most definitive history of the World War I Battle of Verdun ... In this majestically crafted book, the author exposes many of the myths about the battle that have developed over a century of narrative. He demonstrates an exceptional mastery of sources and method, as he mined the German as well as the French primary sources, and is equally adept at both traditional military history and the new social history that, until recently, dominated the enterprise ... By exploring all the connections between what happened on the battlefield and its impact and legacy, Jankowski compellingly illuminates the complex interaction of myth and reality built up over time concerning the Battle of Verdun. * Army History *Table of ContentsIntroduction I. The Three Hundred Days of Verdun II. Verdun under German Eyes III. Verdun under French Eyes IV. The Offensive Trap V. The Prestige Trap VI. The Attritional Trap VII. The Nightmare VIII. Rancor IX. Warning Signals X. Enemies XI. Circles of Loyalty Epilogue Appendix Acknowledgments Bibliography
£13.49
Oxford University Press SIPRI Yearbook 2021 Armaments Disarmament and
Book SynopsisThe 52nd edition of the SIPRI Yearbook analyses developments in 2020 in security and conflicts; military spending and armaments; non-proliferation; arms control; and disarmament.
£115.00
Oxford University Press SIPRI Yearbook 2022 Armaments Disarmament and
Book SynopsisThe 53rd edition of the SIPRI Yearbook analyses developments in 2021 in security and conflicts; military spending and armaments; non-proliferation; arms control; and disarmament.
£115.00
Oxford University Press, USA Perilous Options
Book SynopsisIn the past three decades, the United States government has used special operations repeatedly in an effort to achieve key foreign policy objectives, such as in the overthrow of Fidel Castro in Cuba and the rescuing of American hostages in Iran. Many of these secret missions carried out by highly trained commando forces have failed. In Perilous Options, Lucien Vandenbroucke examines the use and misuse of such special operations through an in-depth analysis of four operations--the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Sontay raid to rescue P.O.W.s in North Vietnam, the Mayaguez operation, and the Iran hostage rescue mission. Drawing extensively on declassified government documents, interviews with key decision makers and participants in these episodes, and other primary material, Perilous Options identifies recurrent problems in the way the United States government has prepared and executed such operations. These recurrent problems, outlined by key participants in these four special operations, iTrade Review`The author has made full use of the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to government documents and his research is impressive. The 43 pages of notes are essential for future researchers and there is an extensive select bibliography.' International Affairs`His engaging, well-written book offers a compelling critique of US strategic special operations and valuable lessons for policymakers.' Political Studies
£85.50
Oxford University Press Inc Six Days of War
Book SynopsisIn 1967 the future of the state of Israel was far from certain. But with its swift and stunning military victory against an Arab coalition led by Egypt in the Six Day War, Israel not only preserved its existence but redrew the map of the region, with fateful consequences. The Camp David Accords, the assassinations of Anwar Sadat and Yitzhak Rabin, the intifada, and the current troubled peace negotiations--all of these trace their origins to the Six Day War.Michael Oren''s Six Days of War is a gripping account of one of the most dramatic and important episodes in the history of the Middle East. With exhaustive research in primary sources--including Soviet, Jordanian, and Syrian files not previously available--he has reconstructed the tension-filled background and the dramatic military events of the conflict, drawing the threads together in a riveting narrative, enlivened by crisp characters sketches of major characters (many of whom, from Ariel Sharon to Yasser Arafat, are still leadingTrade ReviewThis admirable book is likely to be the last word on the six-day war for a long time * The Sunday Times June 2002 *the most detailed, the most comprehensive and by far the best-documented history that we have on this short but fateful war * The Guardian *most comprehensive history yet... Six Days of War scores highly in telling an extremely complicated story within a narrative which despite being loaded with a crushing volume of research reads at times like the breeziest blockbuster... Oren's narrative is at its most gripping during the day-by-day account of the war * Financial Times *
£26.77
Oxford University Press Mirrors of Destruction
Book SynopsisMirrors of Destruction examines the relationship between total war, state-organized genocide, and the emergence of modern identity. Here, Omer Bartov demonstrates that in the twentieth century there have been intimate links between military conflict, mass murder of civilian populations, and the definition and categorization of groups and individuals. These connections were most clearly manifested in the Holocaust, as the Nazis attempted to exterminate European Jewry under cover of a brutal war and with the stated goal of creating a racially pure Aryan population and Germanic empire. The Holocaust, however, can only be understood within the context of the century''s predilection for applying massive and systematic methods of destruction to resolve conflicts over identity. To provide the context for the Final Solution, Bartov examines the changing relationships between Jews and non-Jews in France and Germany from the outbreak of World War I to the present. Rather than presenting a comTrade ReviewHis insights about the Great War, the Holocaust, and public memory makes Mirrors of Destruction an important contribution to the literature. * History *What does it mean to "come to terms with the Holocaust?" ... Bartov brings a prodigious amount of reading, intelligence, and critical energy to [this question] ... To his credit, [he] rejects the mystifications that one often finds in writing on the Holocaust--for instance, the notion that it is fundamentally inexplicable, or that only survivors can grasp its deeper significance ... In his conclusion [he] explores new material, taking on new polemics and problems and offering a brilliant analysis of the strange case of Binjamin Wilkomirski, a Swiss writer who falsely claimed to be a Holocaust survivor in his memoir `Fragments. * The New York Times Book Review *Bartov's work has always been characterized by its thoughtfulness and independence, and here he combines archival research with an interdisciplinary critique of the literature drawn from widely diverse fields. He focuses on the links of social, cultural, and military history and offers particularly interesting insights into Europe's two major wars in this century and their relationship to the Holocaust. This is history painted in large strokes, and anyone trying to understand how and why the promise of the twentieth century went horribly wrong should read this book. * Robert Gellately, Strassler Professor in Holocaust History, Clark University *Table of ContentsInroduction ; 1. Fields of Glory ; 2. Grand Illusions ; 3. Elusive Enemies ; 4. Apocalyptic Visions ; Conclusion ; Notes ; Index
£29.24
OUP USA Battle Cry of Freedom
Book SynopsisFilled with fresh interpretations and information, puncturing old myths and challenging new ones, Battle Cry of Freedom will unquestionably become the standard one-volume history of the Civil War. James McPherson's fast-paced narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox. Packed with drama and analytical insight, the book vividlyrecounts the momentous episodes that preceded the Civil Warthe Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferryand then moves into a masterful chronicle of the war itselfthe battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, the politics, and thepersonalities.Trade ReviewAnyone interested in Texas and the republic to which it belongs should set some weeks aside for this big, smart porcupine of a book * Patrick G. Williams, Southwestern Historical Quarterly *Table of ContentsEditor's Introduction Prologue: From the Halls of Montezuma 1. The United States at Midcentury 2. Mexico Will Poison 3. An Empire for Slavery 4. Slavery, Rum, and Romanism 5. The Crime Against Kansas 6. Mudsills and Greasy Mechanics for A. Lincoln 7. The Revolution o f1860 8. The Counterrevolution 9. Facing Both Ways: The Upper South's Dilemma 10. Amateurs Go to War 11. Farewell to the Ninety Days' War 12. Blockade and Beachhead: The Salt-Water War, 1861-1862 13. The River War in 1862 14. The Sinews of War 15. Billy Yank's Chickahominy Blues 16. We Must Free the Slaves or Be Ourselves Subdued 17. Carry Me Back to Old Virginny 18. John Bull's Virginia Rell 19. Three Rivers in Winter, 1862-1863 20. Fire in the Rear 21. Long Remember: The Summer of '63 22. Johnny Reb's Chattanooga Blues 23. When This Cruel War is Over 24. If It Takes All Summer 25. After Four Years of Failure 26. We Are Going to be Wiped off the Earth 27. South Carolina Must Be Destroyed 28. We Are All Americans Epilogue: To the Shoals of VIctory Afterward Abbreviated Titles Bibliographic Note Index
£22.68
Oxford University Press Is War Necessary for Economic Growth
Book SynopsisMilitary and defence related procurement has been an important source of technology development across a broad spectrum of industries that account for an important share of United States industrial production. Changes in the structure of the defence industries and of the U.S. industrial economy make it unlikely that military and defence related procurement would again become an important source of revolutionary new technologies in the absence of a major war.Trade ReviewWe owe Ruttan a debt of gratitude for demonstrating yet again the importance of public sector support in the development of many major technologies. * Journal of Economic Literature *
£60.30
Oxford University Press Inc Cooperating with the Colossus
Book SynopsisDuring the Second World War, the United States built over two hundred defense installations on sovereign soil in Latin America in the name of cooperation in hemisphere defense. Predictably, it proved to be a fraught affair. Despite widespread acclaim for Pan-American unity with the Allied cause, defense construction incited local conflicts that belied the wartime rhetoric of fraternity and equality. Cooperating with the Colossus reconstructs the history of US basing in World War II Latin America, from the elegant chambers of the American foreign ministries to the cantinas, courtrooms, plazas, and brothels surrounding US defense sites. Foregrounding the wartime experiences of Brazil, Cuba, and Panama, the book considers how Latin American leaders and diplomats used basing rights as bargaining chips to advance their nation-building agendas with US resources, while limiting overreach by the Colossus of the North as best they could. Yet conflicts on the ground over labor rights, discriminaTrade ReviewBurrowing deep into the national archives in Brazil, Cuba, and Panama, Herman has produced a splendid, well-balanced history of an extraordinary but seldom studied period in inter-American relations. She pushes back against the still prevalent academic caricature of the United States as an all-powerful imperial actor, aligning herself instead with a younger generation of scholars that has emphasized Latin American agency and the ability of Latin Americans to astutely bargain with Washington....Herman deftly demonstrates how onsite U.S. commanders and diplomats cooperated with local authorities to find informal, flexible solutions to potentially tricky issues....Such pragmatic accords successfully managed the inherent tensions between international security cooperation and national sovereignty, enabling a brilliant if brief chapter of solidarity in the Western Hemisphere. * Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs *Rebecca Herman's Cooperating with the Colossus is a superb book. Wonderfully written and impressively researched, Herman's history greatly expands our understanding of the way Washington used Latin America as a testing ground for the creation of its worldwide military-base archipelago. Cooperating with the Colossus will immediately find a deserved place in the canon of international diplomatic history. * Greg Grandin, Yale University *The World War II years were a 'transformative crucible' in US relations with Latin America, Rebecca Herman demonstrates, requiring negotiation between the projection of American power in the name of protecting democracy, and incursions in the sovereignty of other nations. An outstanding, nuanced, and deeply researched study. * Mary L. Dudziak, author of War Time: An Idea, Its History, Its Consequences *Cooperating with the Colossus provides a strikingly new perspective on the close encounters between US authorities and Latin American nations during World War II. Rebecca Herman brilliantly brings together the micro-level social tensions that erupted along the 'borderlands' of US military bases in Latin America during the war, and the macro-level impact of US basing on political concerns regarding national sovereignty in the region. Drawing on a vast array of sources from multi-national archival research, Herman delves into the extensive clashes and protests sparked by matters of racial discrimination, criminal jurisdiction, labor rights, and gender norms as US bases multiplied in Brazil, Cuba, and Panama. And then she goes a step further and offers us a stunning synthesis of these local dramas that amounts to a radical reinterpretation of the era of 'The Good Neighbor. * Barbara Weinstein, New York University *The book examines the expansion of US military basing in Latin America as part of the Allied war effort. But it does more than that. Herman's multifaceted and multilevel history takes a renewed look at cooperation in asymmetrical relationships during a consequential moment. Thus, Cooperating with the Colossus joins a handful of existing books as a veritable must-read book on wartime inter-American relations. * Tom Long, International Affairs *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter One: The Specter of Guantanamo Chapter Two: High Politics and Horse-Trading Chapter Three: Base Labor Chapter Four: Discrimination in the Canal Zone Chapter Five: Sex, Honor, and Moral Hygiene Chapter Six: Criminal Jurisdiction Chapter Seven: Cooperation at the War's End Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
£23.99
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Bases Abroad The Global Foreign Military Presence SIPRI Monographs
Book SynopsisThis book provides a comprehensive description of the global basing networks of the major powers, including their types, their locations and the politics and economics of their acquisition. The crucial link between arms transfers and the politics of basing is emphasized.Trade Review`This is fascinating read for anyone interested in defence and intelligence issues.' BBC Book of the Week, Arabic Service`Robert Harkavy has produced a book that has long needed to be written, a comprehensive and well-organized analysis of bases and related military facilities around the world.' Security and Arms Control`This is a substantial piece of work. Harkavy provides a meticulous historical survey of how the two superpowers have obtained their bases ... a most useful survey.' The Journal of Strategic Studies`Harkavy has provided a treasury of basic data and analysis to inform both sides ... by far the most complete reference guide to an issue that is bound to grow in importance in the years to come.' War Studies`Harkavy has produced a meticulous and detailed study of US and Soviet military presence in foreign countries ... Detailed tables give data ... The work is well organized and has valuable notes and a bibliography.' G.N. Sandwick, North Hennepin Community College, USA`Robert Harkavy has produced a book that has long needed to be written, a comprehensive and well-organized analysis of bases and related military facilities around the world ... As Harkavy makes clear, bases also remain an issue of great political sensitivity, in both developed and Third World countries.' Fred Halliday, London School of Ecoomics'an excellent reference work ... Anyone interested in military matters should have it in his or her library.' John C. Ausland, Oslo, Survival, Vol.xxxii, No.6 Nov/Dec 1990'The empirircal material is overwhelming, but is presented in an orderly fashion under various headings.' Magne Barth, Journal of Peace Research, No.3, 1990Table of ContentsNaval facilities; air force facilities; ground-force FMP; missiles; overseas "technical" facilities - intelligence, space and communications; research and environmental facilities; nuclear-related FMP - deterrence and defence; conventional FMP power projection; the politics and economics of foreign military presence.
£164.25
Clarendon Press Israels Border Wars 19491956
Book SynopsisThis revised and updated paperback edition of a highly successful study looks at the development of Israeli-Arab relations during the formative years 1949 to 1956, focusing on Arab infiltration into Israel and Israeli retaliation. Palestinian refugee raiding and cross-border attacks by Egyptian-controlled irregulars and commandos were a core phenomenon during this period and one of the chief causes of Israel''s invasion of Sinai and the Gaza strip, the Israeli part of the Anglo-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt in 1956. Benny Morris probes the types of Arab infiltration and the attitude of Arab governments towards the phenomenon, and traces the evolution of Israel''s defensive and offensive responses. He analyses Israeli decision-making processes, including the emergence and ultimate failure of Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett''s dissident policy of moderation and describes in detail the history of the Arab infiltration, including the terrorist-guerrilla raids by state-organized Fedayeen Trade ReviewTimely ... an impressive work, scholarly, balanced and searching ... Morris lets the facts speak for themselves * The Observer *There can be nothing but praise for Dr Morris's latest book ... makes uncomfortable reading, but is nevertheless of fundamental importance for understanding the evolution of Israeli policy and the attitude of the major powers, particularly Britain and the United States * Jewish Chronicle *Morris analyses effectively the interplay between different Israeli decision-making authorities, military and civilian, local and central ... this book confirms and lends depth to the authoritative picture of the Arab exodus in Morris's previous work ... Morris's works provide the fullest, best documented, and most fair-minded examination of the subject yet published. They are likely to remain the standard works on the topic for the foreseeable future. * Mediterranean Historical Review *Table of Contents1. Israel, the Arab States, and the Palestinians after the 1948 War ; 2. Infiltration ; 3. Arab Attitudes and Policies Towards Infiltration, 1949-55 ; 4. The Costs of Infiltration ; 5. The Israeli Defensive Responses to Infiltration ; 6. The Beginning of the Retaliatory Policy ; 7. Raiding and Counter-Raiding, 1951-1953 ; 8. Qibya ; 9. Israel, the Arab States, and the Great Powers, 1952-1956 ; 10. Sharett's Year, 1954 ; 11. The Gaza Raid and After ; 12. Countdown to a War ; Afterword: The Sinai/Suez War and the End of the Gaza Fedayeen ; Conclusion ; Biographical Notes
£128.25
OUP USA Verdun
Book SynopsisPaul Jankowski offers a fresh look at Verdun, one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the First World War, in a book that will surely become the standard work on the topic.Trade ReviewA scholarly but readable account of something quite extraordinary. A valuable and valued addition to the growing library of WW1 literature. * Books Monthly *Impressive. * Max Hastings, The Sunday Times *Jankowski is abundantly qualified to present a new standard work on the subject. A well-respected scholar of French politics and culture, he has delved deeply into the contemporary sources from that nation, but he is no less at home in the copious German archives. The writing throughout is of the highest order, to a degree that may startle any reader with a dated stereotype of military history as a mechanical recounting of military formations. * Books & Culture *The first major study of the battle to appear in English for many years, and the first to draw fully on archival research on both sides... A thoughtful, original, and moving account, full of insights into the course of the fighting and its subsequent commemoration and impact. * David Stevenson, author of Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy *Jankowski has written a superb, definitive popular account of Verdun through the eyes of soldiers, military leaders, and citizens of the two nations. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; I. The Three Hundred Days of Verdun ; II. Verdun under German Eyes ; III. Verdun under French Eyes ; IV. The Offensive Trap ; V. The Prestige Trap ; VI. The Attritional Trap ; VII. The Nightmare ; VIII. Rancor ; IX. Warning Signals ; X. Enemies ; XI. Circles of Loyalty ; Epilogue ; Appendix ; Acknowledgments ; Bibliography
£23.79
Oxford University Press The Strategy Bridge
Book SynopsisThe Strategy Bridge: Theory for Practice is an original contribution to the general theory of strategy. While heavily indebted to Carl von Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, and the very few other classic authors, this book presents the theory, rather than merely comments on the theory as developed by others. The author explains that the purpose of strategy is to connect purposefully politics and policy with the instruments they must use. The primary focus of attention is on military strategy, but this focus is well nested in discussion of grand strategy, for which military strategy is only one strand. The book presents the general theory of strategy comprehensively and explains the utility of this general theory for the particular strategies that strategists need to develop in order to meet their historically unique challenges. The book argues that strategy''s general theory provides essential education for practicing strategists at all times and in all circumstances. As general theory, The StrategTrade ReviewOne of the most detailed and important investigations of the concept of strategy published in recent decades. * C.Dale Walton, Lindenwood University *It would be professional malfeasance...to overlook The Strategy Bridge. * Bradford Lee, Journal of Strategic Studies *...it is far more than a textbook, though it certainly can and should be used for instructional purposes. Interms of rigor, Strategy Bridge is every bit as scientific as Clausewitz's On War, but much more accessible... It's synthetic nature and analytic rigor make Colin Gray's Strategy Bridge a necessary, and welcome, addition to any educator's already vast library of works on strategy. * Antulio J Echevarria II, US Army War College *Gray is a prolific writer on strategy... It could be said that Gray has positioned himself in pole position as a strategic thinker. Few other contemporary writers can rival him, and none has been so consistent in trying to develop a general theory, distilled largely, but not entirely from Clauswitz's On War. * Christopher Coker, RUSI Journal d *For any aspiring military officer, there could be no better book than this. * Christopher Coker, The Rusi Journal *what Gray has provided here is more than ample as a base line work for anyone who wishes to get serious about strategy * William F. Owen, Infinity Journal *Table of ContentsPART I: THEORY; PART II: PRACTICE; PART III: CONTEXT AND PURPOSE
£97.75
Oxford University Press Hattin
Book SynopsisThe story of Saladin's recapture of the Holy City of Jerusalem from the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. A pivotal battle in the history of the Crusades - and in the subsequent history of the Middle East and the Muslim world.Trade Review[France] reminds us why Hattin, more so than the subsequent Christian victory four year later at Arsuf, became embedded in popular culture. * Victor Davis Hanson, Times Literary Supplement *France's highly accessible book examines the causes and consequences of [the Battle of Hattin], tracing its impact way beyond its immediate aftermath and impact on Euro-Islamic relations. He follows the path of its tremors all the up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the uneasy relationship between Eastern Islamic culture and Western Christian culture that still exists today. * History of War *The Battle at Hattin, despite its immense significance, is often overlooked or even forgotten by the twenty-first century student of military history. That being the case, it is wonderful to see the excellent 'Great Battles' series from the Oxford University Press redressing this fact and giving it the attention that it warrants ... A hugely interesting, engaging and accessible book which brings the period and the personalities of the battle to life. * Major P D Horne RA, British Army Review *a useful and absorbing examination of the importance of the Battle of Hattin * Battlefield Magazine *[A] tour de force. I was surprised how much information an author can squeeze into only 168 pages of text ... a delightful read ... Hattin is a good book, well-written and full to the brim with information. * Jona Lendering, Medieval Warfare *Table of Contents1. Salvation through Slaughter ; 2. Crusade and Jihad ; 3. The Battle of Hattin ; 4. Hattin: Bloody Consequences ; 5. Hattin Today: A Poisoned Heritage ; Notes ; Further Reading ; Index
£19.12
Oxford University Press Culloden
Book SynopsisThe battle of Culloden lasted less than an hour. The forces involved on both sides were small, even by the standards of the day. And it is arguable that the ultimate fate of the 1745 Jacobite uprising had in fact been sealed ever since the Jacobite retreat from Derby several months before. But for all this, Culloden is a battle with great significance in British history. It was the last pitched battle on the soil of the British Isles to be fought with regular troops on both sides. It came to stand for the final defeat of the Jacobite cause. And it was the last domestic contestation of the Act of Union of 1707, the resolution of which propelled Great Britain to be the dominant world power for the next 150 years. If the battle itself was short, its aftermath was brutal - with the depredations of the Duke of Cumberland followed by a campaign to suppress the clan system and the Highland way of life. And its afterlife in the centuries since has been a fascinating one, pitting British Whig triumphalism against a growing romantic memorialization of the Jacobite cause. On both sides there has long been a tendency to regard the battle as a dramatic clash, between Highlander and Lowlander, Celt and Saxon, Catholic and Protestant, the old and the new. Yet, as this account of the battle and its long cultural afterlife suggests, while viewing Culloden in such a way might be rhetorically compelling, it is not necessarily good history.Trade ReviewUnlike too much writing on places of memory, this is fresh, concise, free from jargon and well informed about realities. * Jeremy Black, Books of the Year 2016, History Today *deep and thoughtful study * Michael Russell, MSP, Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, Books of the Year 2016, Herald *an admirably balanced volume on Culloden which should be required reading for non-Scottish MPs * Keith Simpson, Iain Dale's blog *a fascinating read * Battlefield Trust *Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Conflicts and Armies: The Rising of 1745 3: Culloden Moor 4: Aftermath and Occupation 5: The Battle that Made Britain ? Historiography and Evidence in the case of Culloden 6: Culloden in British Memory: Objects, Artifacts and Representations of the Conflict
£19.12
Oxford University Press The Changing Character of War
Book SynopsisOver the last decade (and indeed ever since the Cold War), the rise of insurgents and non-state actors in war, and their readiness to use terror and other irregular methods of fighting, have led commentators to speak of ''new wars''. They have assumed that the ''old wars'' were waged solely between states, and were accordingly fought between comparable and ''symmetrical'' armed forces. Much of this commentary has lacked context or sophistication. It has been bounded by norms and theories more than the messiness of reality. Fed by the impact of the 9/11 attacks, it has privileged some wars and certain trends over others. Most obviously it has been historically unaware. But it has also failed to consider many of the other dimensions which help us to define what war is - legal, ethical, religious, and social. The Changing Character of War, the fruit of a five-year interdisciplinary programme at Oxford of the same name, draws together all these themes, in order to distinguish between what Table of ContentsPART I: THE NEED FOR A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: WHAT HAS CHANGED?; PART II: THE PURPOSE OF WAR: WHY GO TO WAR?; PART III: THE CHANGING IDENTITIES OF COMBATANTS: WHO FIGHTS?; PART IV: THE CHANGING IDENTITIES OF NON-COMBATANTS; PART V: THE IDEAS WHICH ENABLE US TO UNDERSTAND WAR
£43.35
Oxford University Press World War II
Book SynopsisThe enormous loss of life and physical destruction caused by the First World War led people to hope that there would never be another such catastrophe. How then did it come about that there was a Second World War causing twice the 30 million deaths and many times more destruction as had been caused in the previous conflict? In this Very Short Introduction, Gerhard L. Weinberg provides an introduction to the origins, course, and impact of the war on those who fought and the ordinary citizens who lived through it. Starting by looking at the inter-war years and the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, he examines how the war progressed by examining a number of key events, including the war in the West in 1940, Barbarossa, The German Invasion of the Soviet Union, the expansion of Japan''s war with China, developments on the home front, and the Allied victory from 1944-45. Exploring the costs and effects of the war, Weinberg concludes by considering the long-lasting mark World War II has left on society today.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. The Inter-war years ; 2. The Second World War begins ; 3. War in the West 1940 ; 4. Barbarossa: the German invasion of the Soviet Union ; 5. Japan expands its war with China ; 6. The turning tide: fall 1942-spring 1944 ; 7. Developments on the home front and in technical and medical fields ; 8. Allied victory 1944-45 ; Further reading ; Index
£9.49
Oxford University Press (UK) How Fighting Ends
Book SynopsisThere are many histories of how wars have begun, but very few which discuss how they have ended. This book fills that gap. Beginning with the Stone Age and ending with globalized terrorism, it addresses the specific issue of surrender, rather than the subsequent establishment of peace. At its heart is the individual warrior or soldier, and his or her decision to lay down arms. In the ancient world surrender led in most cases to slavery, but a slave still lived rather than died. In the modern world international law gives the soldiers rights as prisoners of war, and those rights include the prospect of their eventual return home. But individuals can surrender at any point in a war, and without having such an effect that they end the war. The termination of hostilities depends on a collective act for its consequences to be decisive. It also requires the enemy to accept the offer to surrender in the midst of combat. In other words, like so much else in war, surrender depends on reciprocitTrade Review[the] accumulation of research remains admirably comprehensive and it can serve as a highly valuable reference work as well as a volume of stimulating and thought-provoking essays. It certainly demands to be widely cited. Thus with some twenty-seven leading scholars covering the period from prehistoric tribal societies to modern-day terrorism, this impressive volume clearly fills an important gap. Sean McGlynn, HistoryTable of ContentsPART I: NO QUARTER? THE BEGINNINGS OF SURRENDER; PART II: LEARNING TO SURRENDER? THE MIDDLE AGES; PART III: THE DEVELOPMENTS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS: SURRENDER IN EARLY MODERN TIMES; III.A. SURRENDER IN INTERCULTURAL WARS; III.B.: SURRENDER IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE; PART IV: A QUESTION OF HONOUR: SURRENDER IN SEA WARFARE; PART V: THE TIMES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW: SURRENDER IN MODERN WARS; V.A. THE 19TH CENTURY; V.B. SURRENDER IN WORLD WAR I; PART VI: UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER? WORLD WAR II; VI A. 'CONVENTIONAL' SURRENDERS; VI B. GERMANY AND JAPAN IN WORLD WAR II; PART VII: OUR TIMES: ASYMMETRIC WARS - ENDLESS WARS AND NO SURRENDER?
£128.25
Oxford University Press Smell of Battle the Taste of Siege
Book SynopsisHistorical accounts of major events have almost always relied upon what those who were there witnessed. Nowhere is this truer than in the nerve-shattering chaos of warfare, where sight seems to confer objective truth and acts as the basis of reconstruction. In The Smell of Battle, the Taste of Siege, historian Mark M. Smith considers how all five senses, including sight, shaped the experience of the Civil War and thus its memory, exploring its full sensory impact on everyone from the soldiers on the field to the civilians waiting at home. From the eardrum-shattering barrage of shells announcing the outbreak of war at Fort Sumter; to the stench produced by the corpses lying in the mid-summer sun at Gettysburg; to the siege of Vicksburg, once a center of Southern culinary aesthetics and starved into submission, Smith recreates how Civil War was felt and lived. Relying on first-hand accounts, Smith focuses on specific senses, one for each event, offering a wholly new perspective. At Bull Run, the similarities between the colors of the Union and Confederate uniforms created concern over what later would be called friendly fire and helped decide the outcome of the first major battle, simply because no one was quite sure they could believe their eyes. He evokes what it might have felt like to be in the HL Hunley submarine, in which eight men worked cheek by jowl in near-total darkness in a space 48 inches high, 42 inches wide. Often argued to be the first total war, the Civil War overwhelmed the senses because of its unprecedented nature and scope, rendering sight less reliable and, Smith shows, forcefully engaging the nonvisual senses. Sherman''s March was little less than a full-blown assault on Southern sense and sensibility, leaving nothing untouched an no one unaffected. Unique, compelling, and fascinating, The Smell of Battle, The Taste of Siege, offers readers way to experience the Civil War with fresh eyes.Trade ReviewSmiths choice of episodes is inspiring. Perhaps not evident from the last two chapters titles, themes are introduced with playful language, his enjoyment in writing this volume evident throughout ... I would be surprised if this book does not change historical accounts of warfare. The twentieth century brought total war to greater numbers of civilians of many other nations, but historians have yet to write the sort of total history, which adequately conveys the full meaning of such collective trauma. Yet again, Smith has provided us with a model. * Jonathan Reinarz, University of Birmingham, The American Historical Review *Read this book for an original methodology that encourages readers to consider the influence of the confusions of battle, the noise of shells, and the stench of death. Smith describes some of the key encounters of the civil war, including the Battle of Bull Run and Gettysburg, in terms of assaults on the senses and shows how that affected outcomes. * Books of the year 2014, War on the Rocks *Historians often ask readers to imagine the intense sights, sounds, and smells of battle. Smith goes one step further and explores how such sensory assaults affect the conduct of war itself. * Lawrence D. Freedman, Books of the year 2014, Foreign Affairs *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. The Sounds of Secession ; 2. Eying First Bull Run ; 3. Cornelia Hancock's Sense of Smell ; 4. Hollowing Out Vicksburg ; 5. The Hunley's Impact ; Epilogue: Experiencing Total War
£43.50
Oxford University Press Modern American Military
Book SynopsisThe advent of the all-volunteer force and the evolving nature of modern warfare have transformed our military, changing it in serious if subtle ways that few Americans are aware of. Edited by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy, this stimulating volume brings together insights from a remarkable group of scholars, who shed important new light on the changes effecting today''s armed forces. Beginning with a Foreword by former Secretary of Defense William J. Perry, the contributors take an historical approach as they explore the ever-changing strategic, political, and fiscal contexts in which the armed forces are trained and deployed, and the constantly shifting objectives that they are tasked to achieve in the post-9/11 environment. They also offer strong points of view. Lawrence Freedman, for instance, takes the leadership to task for uncritically embracing the high-tech Revolution in Military Affairs when conventional warfare seems increasingly unlikely. And eminent psychiatrist Jonathan Shay warns that the post-battle effects of what he terms moral wounds currently receive inadequate attention from the military and the medical profession. Perhaps most troubling, Karl Eikenberry raises the issue of the political ownership of the military in an era of all-volunteer service, citing the argument that, absent the political protest common to the draft era, government decision-makers felt free to carry out military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Andrew Bacevich goes further, writing that it''s no longer our army; it hasn''t been for years; it''s theirs [the government''s] and they intend to keep it.Looking at such issues as who serves and why, the impact of non-uniformed contractors in the war zone, and the growing role of women in combat, this volume brings together leading thinkers who illuminate the American military at the beginning of the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewAcademic yet accessible, this volume offers thoughtful and occasionally disturbing insights into the workings of the world's most powerful war machine. * Publishers Weekly *Table of Contents1. The Mission by Lawrence Freedman ; 2. The Force by David Segal and Lawrence Korb ; 3. Command by Andrew Bacevich ; 4. The Armed Forces' View of War by Brian Linn ; 5. Images ; 6. Obedience and Disobedience by Errol Morris ; 7. International Comparisons by James Sheehan ; 8. Mercenaries by Deborah Avant and Renee de Nevers ; 9. Weapons by Thomas Mahnken ; 10. Casualties by Jonathan Shays ; 11. Culture: Life Inside the Military by Robert Goldich ; 12. The <"Military-Industrial Complex>" Today by Charles J. Dunlap ; 13. Gender and Sexuality by Martha McSally ; 14. Military Law by Eugene Fidell
£34.84
Oxford University Press Inc Angels of the Underground
Book SynopsisWhen the Japanese began their brutal occupation of the Philippines in early 1942, 76,000 ill and starving Filipinos and many Americans were left to defend Bataan, Manila, and surrounding islands. During the three violent years of occupation that followed, Allied sympathizers smuggled supplies and information to guerilla fighters and prisoner camps around the country. Theresa Kaminski''s Angels of the Underground tells the story of two such members of this lesser-known resistance movement--American women known only as Miss U and High Pockets. Incredibly adept at skirting occupation authorities to support the Allied effort, the very nature of their clandestine wartime work meant that the truth behind their dangerous activities had to be obscured as long as the Japanese occupied the Philippines. Were their identities revealed, they would be arrested, tortured, and executed. Throughout the war, Miss U and High Pockets remained hidden behind a veil of deceit and subterfuge.Angels of the UndTrade Review"Two American women, known as Miss U and High Pockets, risked their lives in clandestine efforts to help the Allies, a story related in Angels of the Underground: The American Women Who Resisted the Japanese in the Philippines in World War II (Oxford Univ., Dec.) by Theresa Kaminski, who also provides an account of life under three years of Japanese occupation." --Publishers WeeklyTable of ContentsIntroduction ; Chapter One: The Four Women ; Chapter Two: Manila on the Edge ; Chapter Three: Pearl Harbor ; Chapter Four: The Japanese Occupation of Manila ; Chapter Five: Bataan ; Chapter Six: The Surrender of Bataan and After ; Chapter Seven: Organizing Relief and Resistance in Manila ; Chapter Eight: Cabanatuan ; Chapter Nine: Guerrillas in the Midst of the Occupation ; Chapter Ten: The Manila Underground ; Chapter Eleven: Betrayals and an Arrest ; Chapter Twelve: The Carabao Cart Incident and Another Arrest ; Chapter Thirteen: The War Returns to the Philippines ; Chapter Fourteen: Bloodletting and Liberation ; Chapter Fifteen: Freedom ; Notes
£22.94
The University of Chicago Press Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Book SynopsisPresents the story of the author's journey from hard-drinking bravado to the grave realism of a scarred survivor. This book describes his experience with post-traumatic stress disorder, and grapples with the reality that Iraq - despite the sacrifice in Iraqi and American lives - has descended into a civil war with no end in sight.Trade Review"Ashley Gilbertson, a gifted and fearless photographer, has plunged into this darkest and most ferocious of battle-grounds and found beauty and horror and honor and truth. Scan the faces captured in these pages, of Iraqis and Americans, and of the predicaments they have found themselves in, and see and feel - in your gut - what it really means to be a human being in the middle of a place like Iraq." - from the Introduction by Dexter Filkins"
£41.12
The University of Chicago Press After the Rubicon
Book SynopsisWhen the United States goes to war, the nation's attention focuses on the president. This title reveals that even in politically sensitive wartime environments, individual members of Congress frequently propose legislation, hold investigative hearings, and engage in national policy debates in the public sphere.Trade Review"Douglas Kriner closely scrutinizes how and when Congress influences foreign policy in this very fine book. This is the best statement, quantitative or qualitative, I've seen on the role of Congress in American foreign policy making." - David Clark, Binghamton University"
£91.20
The University of Chicago Press After the Rubicon Congress Presidents and the
Book SynopsisWhen the United States goes to war, the nation's attention focuses on the president. This title reveals that even in politically sensitive wartime environments, individual members of Congress frequently propose legislation, hold investigative hearings, and engage in national policy debates in the public sphere.Trade Review"Douglas Kriner closely scrutinizes how and when Congress influences foreign policy in this very fine book. This is the best statement, quantitative or qualitative, I've seen on the role of Congress in American foreign policy making." - David Clark, Binghamton University"
£30.40
The University of Chicago Press Suffering Made Real
Book SynopsisA study of the first attempts to understand how radiation affected the survivors of the atomic bomb and subsequent generations of Japanese, this book argues that Cold War politics and cultural values shaped this research. Using varied sources, it examines how US science was socially constructed.
£30.40
The University of Chicago Press The Pursuit of Power
Book SynopsisIn this magnificent synthesis of military, technological, and social history, William H. McNeill explores a whole millennium of human upheaval and traces the path by which we have arrived at the frightening dilemmas that now confront us. McNeill moves with equal mastery from the crossbowbanned by the Church in 1139 as too lethal for Christians to use against one anotherto the nuclear missile, from the sociological consequences of drill in the seventeenth century to the emergence of the military-industrial complex in the twentieth. His central argument is that a commercial transformation of world society in the eleventh century caused military activity to respond increasingly to market forces as well as to the commands of rulers. Only in our own time, suggests McNeill, are command economies replacing the market control of large-scale human effort. The Pursuit of Power does not solve the problems of the present, but its discoveries, hypotheses, and sheer breadth of learning do offer a pe
£23.75
John Wiley & Sons Total Defence Forces in the TwentyFirst Century
Book SynopsisThis volume considers the various groups that make up total defence forces: the military, reservists, civil defence servants, and contractors working for private military and security companies. It offers an essential analysis of civilian-military personnel integration and collaboration toward defence goals in the twenty-first century.Trade Review“This volume tackles a highly topical theme: analyzing change dynamics in the organization of defence establishments. Recent international events underscore the need to understand how warfare has changed and to unpack the implications for the operations of military forces and the organization of national defence.” Jozef Bátora, co-author of Fringe Players and the Diplomatic Order: The 'New' Heteronomy“Total Defence Forces in the Twenty-First Century provides a very rich analysis of the changed landscape of the wider defence sector and will prove a gold mine for much future research.” Andrea Ellner, co-editor of When Soldiers Say No: Selective Conscientious Objection in the Modern Military
£98.60
McGill-Queen's University Press Total Defence Forces in the TwentyFirst Century
Book SynopsisThis volume considers the various groups that make up total defence forces: the military, reservists, civil defence servants, and contractors working for private military and security companies. It offers an essential analysis of civilian-military personnel integration and collaboration toward defence goals in the twenty-first century.Trade Review“This volume tackles a highly topical theme: analyzing change dynamics in the organization of defence establishments. Recent international events underscore the need to understand how warfare has changed and to unpack the implications for the operations of military forces and the organization of national defence.” Jozef Bátora, co-author of Fringe Players and the Diplomatic Order: The 'New' Heteronomy“Total Defence Forces in the Twenty-First Century provides a very rich analysis of the changed landscape of the wider defence sector and will prove a gold mine for much future research.” Andrea Ellner, co-editor of When Soldiers Say No: Selective Conscientious Objection in the Modern Military
£31.50
