Product Description

There is no shortage of stories when it comes to battles. Some were decided by genius, but many more by a quirk of fate, when that thin balance which separates success from disaster lay in a minor decision or a trivial incident that tipped the scales. The thrust of a spear, the blink of an eye, a single phrase or a misinterpreted command is all it takes. A moment of courage or cowardice, energy or weariness, resolution or indecision.
Battles have shaped the course of history and decided the fate of mankind. From a brutal Attila the Hun who went down to defeat on the Catalaunian Fienls, to an overbearing French artillery colonel at Dien Bien Phu; from the stout walls of Constantinople to a skimpy mealie-bag wall at Rorke's Drift; from the sun of Austerlitz to the snows of Stalingrad, it was always an incident that decided the outcome of battle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #807062 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Scotsman
‘Gripping, riveting. Fascinating. Even when you’re sure you know what happened and whodunit, Erik Durschmeid provides another twist.’

Review
'The Hinges of Battle is more or less a sequel to Durschmied's previous book and is just as readable. The Hinges of Battle should have a wide readership' (Nicholas Fearn, Independent on Sunday )

PRAISE FOR THE HINGE FACTOR: ‘His tales of mayhem and confusion can be gripping, informative and genuinely idea-provoking. He reveals again and again, the casual impact of happenstance.’ (Independent )

‘This entertaining book considers the errors and incidents that have shaped the world as we know it rather than as we planned it might be.’ (The Times )

‘Gripping, riveting. Fascinating. Even when you’re sure you know what happened and whodunit, Erik Durschmeid provides another twist.’ (Scotsman )

‘Erik Durschmeid’s revelations are wholly captivating.’ (Manchester Evening News )

Scotsman
‘Gripping, riveting. Fascinating. Even when you're sure you know what happened and whodunit, Erik Durschmeid provides another twist.'

Customer Reviews

The Hinges of a Good Book!
'The Hinges of Battle' contains a series of short stories about various military forays or rather in some cases, blunders. The main focus being the small things that can change a battle for the better or worse. Each story is kept short and sweet, not going into too much detail or too less but providing enough facts to keep you interested. Reading about the fall of Constantinople and the battle at Rorkes Drift were my favourite stories, and each one has prompted me to research the topics more. This is also worth buying to read of the stupidity of the generals, mentioned in the various stories. I could not believe how stupid some military commanders were throughout history, and in some instances I couldn't help but laugh aloud at what I had just read! Overall I really enjoyed this book, I would recommend it to anyone interested in military history or anyone who just wants a good read. Top Marks!