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Clausewitz in English: The Reception of Clausewitz in Britain and America, 1815-1945

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This is one book that offers much MORE than its title promises. Not only do the opening chapters offer one of the clearest expositions of Clausewitz's rather abstruse (though worthwhile) writings on the philosophy and practice of war, but the book presents a clear review and critique of how the principles and practice of war was taught in the English speaking world in the past century and a half. The reception of Clausewitz in the US and the former British Commonwealth nations has been mixed, as Bassford shows through his skilfull and fascinating tour of military academy textbooks and the writings of thinkers such as Liddell Hart, Fuller, Hamley, Henderson, and some lesser known lehrmasters of modern combat. This is not dry academic theorizing but a well-written crash course in the way our conception of the higher direction of war has evolved. Bassford shows how, the taint of Prussian, then German "militarism" has unfairly been used against Clausewitz by superficial (or cynical) interpreters ... people who use C. to embellish the "martinet" stereotype.

Whether or not you agree with Bassford's criticisms of well-respected modern military historians such as Liddell-Hart and Keegan, his arguments are cogent and clear.

Anyone addressing the "problem" of total war should consult this book and keep it handy.

This book is a very good treatment of the process by which Clausewitz's work would come to influence the English-speaking world. Clausewitz is recognized today as one of the pillars of strategic thought. His influence, however, would not be felt in his day within the English world because of his service to the Prussian army. His insights were very strong, but they were relatively unnoticed because the English possess their own traditions and disliked those who had worked for their enemies. But as time went on, the English would search, slowly, for thought that would help them improve their fighting skills. They would start to find this in Clausewitz's work, but it took decades for its effect to sink in and be recognized. The author does a great job of detailing how this occurred and why it mattered. A good book, but not for many readers because of its narrow topic.