Product Description

The first of its kind, a unique exploration of the history of human conflict, Essential Histories is the most comprehensive and fascinating study of human conflict ever undertaken. Leading historians from around the world have been commissioned to write 42 accessible and definitive guides to every major war throughout history, with an emphasis on the people who fought and the impact on the world at large. Eyewitness accounts are used to give a "soldier's-eye view" of the conflict and expose the reality of the battlefield. Illustrated with colour photographs and maps throughout, Essential Histories will provide for a deepened understanding of the nature of war and human history. The Series Editor of Essential Histories is Professor Robert O'Neill, Chichele Professor of the History of War at Oxford University.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3120215 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 96 pages

Review
"A very useful resource, especially, but by no means exclusively, in school and college libraries...these books offer very useful standardised accounts and are presented in very attractive and approachable volumes."
-"Reference Reviews

From the Back Cover
The closest thing to total war before the First World War, the Seven Years' War was fought in North America, Europe, the Caribbean and India with major consequences for all parties involved. This fascinating book is the first to truly review the grand strategies of the combatants and examine the differing styles of warfare used in the many campaigns. These methods ranged from the large-scale battles and sieges of the European front to the ambush and skirmish tactics used in the forests of North America. Daniel Marston's engaging narrative is supported by personal diaries, memoirs, and official reports.

Customer Reviews

A Frustrating Disappointment
It is rare that a book makes me really angry, but this succeeded so effortlessly that I feel compelled to write this review to warn its potential future readers. If you are looking for an introduction to the Seven Years War look elsewhere.
At best the narrative is confused and fragmented. The language and editing are consistently shoddy. For example on page 29 one finds: "The naval conflict was chiefly between the British and the French". Then later the same page one encounters: " The naval war was chiefly fought between Britain and France". Such poor quality is nothing less than an insult to the reader.
Some of the maps will require investment in a high quality magnifying glass to be of any use. I imagine that most coming across the genius of Frederick's manoeuvring at Leuthen for the first time will remain none the wiser. There is nothing wrong with using period maps but reproductions must be of a practical size. More than once the maps are located far from the relevant text. The illustrations are of the usual high quality one expects from Osprey, but they appear to have been scattered throughout the text at random and are poorly labelled.

The sole redeeming feature of this book is that it reminds one of high standard that Osprey has set with its other publications.

Thorough and interesting
Speaking as a non-historian (and therefore one of the book's intended audience), I found this book to be an excellent general history of a conflict that I previously knew little about. The author did a good job of presenting the various participants and theatres clearly and concisely, as well as succinctly outlining the (potentially confusing) political context in which the war took place. The illustrations and maps provided interest and important supporting information. I thought that this was more than up to Osprey's usual standard of quality, and overall a thorough and interesting exploration of 18th-century history and warfare.