This book was originally published in 1891. However, historian Michael Grant (author of
History of Rome, et al.) states that "this book has never been bettered." This is a classic that belongs in the library of every person who has an interest in Carthage and/or ancient Rome at least.
This edition was published by Albion Press (an imprint of Endeavor Press). It's very "clean" and contains a clickable TOC.
This book seems to originally have been published as a 2-volume work. So, in effect, with the price of the ebook being
99 cents, you're getting two books for less than 50 cents each! And, however you look at it, the markdown from the digital list price right now is a nice 75%.
Hannibal: A History of the Art of War among the Carthaginians and Romans down to the Battle of Pydna, 168 B.C., with a detailed account of the Second Punic War. By Theodore Ayrault Dodge. Print list price $24.99; digital list price $3.99; Kindle price now
$0.99. Rated 4.5 stars, from 74 reviews, at Amazon. Albion Press. 473 pages.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DWL6V5Q.
Book Description
Carthage grew to rival Rome.
But only under the leader of its greatest general: Hannibal.
A clash of titans was inevitable.
Roman jealousy brought about the First Punic War — in which Hamilcar became a leading commander — and her efforts enabled her to defeat Carthage in her own element: at sea.
Although Carthage was on the wane at the time of the Barcas, the impetus, intelligence and ability of Hamilcar and then his son Hannibal almost carried them to success.
As a commander Hannibal was a visionary, recognising challenges that he would have to face before being able to set foot on Italian soil in 218 B.C., as well as opponent’s weaknesses.
By virtue of having followed in his footsteps with the sources, Dodge’s narrative is very much grounded in the topography and delivers a greater understanding to the general’s wars.
With admirable calculation of the power of the forces opposing him, Hannibal disregarded the accepted rules of war and took advantage of circumstance … or made his own.
Much like Alexander, Hannibal would act promptly and energetically on this knowledge but following Cannæ he was obliged to confine himself within much narrower boundaries.
A master tactician, it was in logistics and overall strategy that Hannibal excelled and led to him defying numerous efforts to dislodge him from his Italian foothold.
In the end it was the Carthaginian senate, facing defeat at Scipio’s hands, who would relieve the pressure on Rome by ordering Hannibal to return home in attempt to save a lost cause.
Inevitably the Romans proved themselves fast learners once more, and for all the bitter experiences he had inflicted upon them it was Hannibal who taught them the art of war.
In this masterful two-volume study of the Romano-Carthaginian art of war, Theodore Ayrault Dodge charts Hannibal’s extraordinary career and examines how he earned the moniker “the Father of Strategy.”