If you are a student of ancient warfare, this is a must read. Together with Livy & Polybius (who are widely quoted throughout the book), this is an essential reference book for a detailed study of one of the greatest battles in antiquity.
The book includes 7-maps and 10-figures that help visualize geography and troop dispositions, however I would have liked a few more of the latter. The Osprey books "Roman Battle Tactics" and "Cannae" can help make up for this. There is excellent coverage of the maniple system as it was in 216, and a decent figure is included here.
The book begins with a general description of Rome and Carthage during this age, followed by a chapter outlining the events that led to the battle. Chapters are dedicated to detailed study of both armies and their command. The final chapter is particularly well done, where Daly takes us into the midst of the battle and delivers a high quality perspective on the experience of both the commanders, and the massive number of troops who fought and died on this terrible day.
While this is essentially a text book, it kept me turning the pages and wanting more. Enjoy.
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Hannibal, The Annihilator
This was an excellent book. I have always been fascinated with Ancient Rome and just classical antiquity all together. I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that anywhere from 50,000-70,000 Roman legionaries were killed in this field with swords and spears not bullets and within 6 hours. Hannibal’s tactical deployment of the pincer movement, double envelopement, was absolutely brilliant. Another point I would like to make thst makes Hannibal truly a brilliant general is that once he arrives to Italy, half of his troops are depleted crossing mother alps' so after a couple stunning victories over the Roman Legions' more men flocked to his side including those of different background and even spoke different language, yet Hannibal was able to unite his troops to fight as one and to obey his comomands in which they did and the rest is history. Military institutions all around the world still study him today and his brilliant menouvers at Cannae represents tactical perfection and gave rise to a new definition to an outcome of war whereas the enemy is completely defeated or ANNIHILATED
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This was an excellent book. I have always been fascinated with Ancient Rome and just classical antiquity all together. I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that anywhere from 50,000-70,000 Roman legionaries were killed in this field with swords and spears not bullets and within 6 hours. Hannibal’s tactical deployment of the pincer movement, double envelopement, was absolutely brilliant. Another point I would like to make thst makes Hannibal truly a brilliant general is that once he arrives to Italy, half of his troops are depleted crossing mother alps' so after a couple stunning victories over the Roman Legions' more men flocked to his side including those of different background and even spoke different language, yet Hannibal was able to unite his troops to fight as one and to obey his comomands in which they did and the rest is history. Military institutions all around the world still study him today and his brilliant menouvers at Cannae represents tactical perfection and gave rise to a new definition to an outcome of war whereas the enemy is completely defeated or ANNIHILATED
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Top reviews from other countries
Pyrrhos
Une immersion au coeur d'un carnage
Reviewed in France on September 8, 2008