Great Military Leaders and Their Campaigns

摘要

Though its format and design suggests it is more appropriate for the coffee table than the reference shelf, this book nevertheless includes much useful reference material. But it does not live up to the claims in the publisher's handout, which states that it comprises 100 major articles and 250 short biographies. 45 of the 100 generals in the first part are, in fact, covered only in subsidiary boxes within the major articles, running to about 300 words each; and of the "250" short biographies, 100 are merely cross-references to the earlier sections; the other 150 are quite short, about 200 words or less. However, the 60 major entries (by 40 reputable contributors) are impressive, comprising, at an average of four large pages, short accounts of each leader's career and its significance in military' history; a map of his principal campaigns; and descriptions, sometimes with quite elaborate plans, of his most important battles. As would be expected from Thames and Hudson, the volume is lavishly illustrated, mostly in colour, with a total of over 500 illustrations, including more than 100 maps.