Customer Reviews

Cannae 216 BC: Hannibal smashes Rome's Army (Campaign)

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Cannae 216 Bc : Hannibal Smashes Rome's Army (Campaign Series, No 36) by Mark Healy is positive proof that good things do come in small packages. While the book is short (96 pages) it is jammed pack with useful and information and maps. If one is looking for a well written account of the Second Punic War up to the battle of Cannae there are few books which are better.

I purchased the book after reading a number of accounts of the battle of Cannae contained in more extensive studies of Hannibal. However, in each case I was disappointed with the discussion of Cannae. Healy's book was not a disappointment. Especially appealing were the maps which accompanied the prose. What little that was missing in the verbal description was more than made up for in the maps.

After finishing the book, I felt that I understood the tactics and strategy that were both planned for and carried out. This is an excellent book and I would highly recommend it.

Another great book in the Osprey Campaign series. Like all Campaign books it gives important background information on the cause of the war, the opposing leaders and the armies that fought the battle. In addition there is a detailed description of Hannibal's invasion of Italy, the preceding battles of Ticinus, Trebbia and Lake Trasimene, and the climatic clash at Cannae. It also gives an interesting account of the "Fabian" strategy of the Romans that would bring them eventual victory in the war. If you are interested in the battles of the ancient world or Roman history this is a must for your library.

Quite a good introduction for the 2nd punic war period. Nicely illustrated using plates from other man-at arms books. The maps are interesting and a nice addition. Healy's numbering of the Legions is a great feature and he seems to do a good job of keeping a track of the many bodies of troops raised for assorted campaigns. Another pleasant bonus are the pictures of the battle fields today, illustrating probable campsites and lines of advance. My only major complaint concerns his revisionist views on Varro. He spends too many pages in my view excusing his dismal performance on the day of the battle. He discounts both Livy and Polybius and suggests that other Consul was in command on the day. Any general worth his salt should have learned something from the previous defeats. Varro's deep deployment is clearly to blame for this day of Roman disaster. Healy makes out that no one could have beaten Hannibal on the day. A longer battle line would have saved the Romans and they had plenty of troops to do that. Hannibal tactics were excellent and have been a source of inspiration to many other generals over the centuries. That aside it is a good read and general introduction to the period 3/5 ***'s

This book is more on the campaign and events that led to the battle of Cannae than on the battle itself. This is evident in the fact that only about 20 pages of the books 96 pages are dedicated to the battle. Nevertheless an excellent book.

The book starts out, as nearly all Osprey's Campaigns, with some strategic background. It discusses the strategic picture existing between Carthage and Rome just before the Second Punic War. Then the events that lead to the war and what Hannibal's strategy, on the strategic level, was. Excellent intro. The book also provides perspective on tactics, weapons and troops of each side as well as the goals of each side.

The book then follows Hannibal's trail from Spain, through the Alps and finally climaxes (ironicallly in an anti-climatic manner) at the battle of Cannae. Finally the repurcussions of the battle are discussed.

All of the above is done, very well, in only 96 short pages (about an hour's worth of reading). If your goal is to familiarize yourself with this battle in an hour this is the book to buy.

All in all, this is a very well written book. The Battle of Cannae was a disaster in which the Romans lost almost fifty thousand men killed. The author, Mark Healy, gives a very clear and concise description of this ancient battle. This is commendable given that the book is only 96 pages long.

The author, however, gives more than just a synopsis of the battle, which only takes up a small portion of the book. He also covers several preceding events. These include Hannibal's march across the Alps as well as the early battles of the Ticinus, the Trebbia, and Lake Trasimene.

The author also provides a detailed description of the opposing armies' Order of Battle. He discusses the weapons and tactics of both sides. In one chapter, the text is augmented with numerous museum photographs of weapons and armor. These black and white photographs are then paired with full color illustrations of typical soldiers.

The maps in this book are well done. They are succinct, clear, and easy to understand. The strategic maps provide an excellent understanding of the terrain or a particular route used by Hannibal. The 3D maps give a clear picture of the different phases of the battle itself. The fact that these maps are uncluttered by extraneous information is noteworthy.

The book concludes with a description of the battle's aftermath and a two page chronology. It also has a description of the battlefield today and several recent photographs of the area. Finally, the author added a section with guidance for anyone wishing to war-game this battle.

Bottom line: this is a well written and easy to read book. Although the battle itself is covered by only a small portion of the book, the reader will nevertheless walk away with a clear understanding of both this engagement and the entire campaign.

This book is more on the campaign and events that led to the battle of Cannae than on the battle itself. This is evident in the fact that only about 20 pages of the books 96 pages are dedicated to the battle. Nevertheless an excellent book.

The book starts out, as nearly all Osprey's Campaigns, with some strategic background. It discusses the strategic picture existing between Carthage and Rome just before the Second Punic War. Then the events that lead to the war and what Hannibal's strategy, on the strategic level, was. Excellent intro. The book also provides perspective on tactics, weapons and troops of each side as well as the goals of each side.

The book then follows Hannibal's trail from Spain, through the Alps and finally climaxes (ironicallly in an anti-climatic manner) at the battle of Cannae. Finally the repurcussions of the battle are discussed.

All of the above is done, very well, in only 96 short pages (about an hour's worth of reading). If your goal is to familiarize yourself with this battle in an hour this is the book to buy.