Elusive Victory: The Arab-Israeli Wars, 1947-1974 [Paperback]

Trevor N. Dupuy (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 669 pages
• Publisher: Kendall Hunt Pub Co; 3 edition (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0840378629
• ISBN-13: 978-0840378620
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,011,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars As a Contributor to the book I am biased, HOWEVER..., November 28, 1999

By 

James J. Bloom (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elusive Victory: The Arab-Israeli Wars, 1947-1974 (Paperback)

I was a research consultant on this book project under contract with TN Dupuy's think tank, Historical Evaluation and Research Organization. I worked up some data and battle studies for the 1947-49 hostilities and naval actions for all the wars. Knowing first-hand the amount of research that the late Col. Dupuy put into this book, I can vouch for his efforts to get the Arab side of the story. The research team corresponded with many spokespersons from all antagonists... except the Syrians, who simply recycled their canned wartime propaganda. The battle analysis is based on Dupuy's Quantified Judgement Method, a formula to gauge relative combat effectiveness. This formula has been challenged with respect to German versus American forces in Europe, 1944-45, but I believe that it is essentially sound for the various Mideast combatants.

I would say that the book should remain in print-- as of late 1999 it is still available in some bookstores (Borders and B&N)but is not currently in print. Any reissue, however, should at least have a new preface commenting on research and reviews since the book's 1978 publication date. (the new edition would get five stars, in my not so humble opinion).

For my own part, I know that some of the conclusions on the 1948 fighting need to be modified in light of recent work on Arab preparations and strengths.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise, detailed, overall, excellent book., February 6, 1998

By 

Samy S El Semman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elusive Victory: The Arab-Israeli Wars, 1947-1974 (Paperback)

As books about the Arab-Israeli Wars come, this one is definitely among the best. Traditional coverage of this topic is so often biased towards either the Israelis or the Arabs, although more towards the former than the latter. Mr. Dupuy however strikes a remarkable balancing act in his coverage of the many Arab-Israeli wars. Dupuy exerts remarkable efforts to narrate events, analyze them, and also to clear up various controversies. Although some of his coverage includes various errors or biases, his overall work is remarkably clear, concise, detailed, and balanced, and the overall effect of his work is untarnished by these minor mistakes. If ever there was one book to consult for a detailed look at all the Arab-Israeli wars from 1947-1974, this is it. While not exactly definitive, Dupuy's book comes closer to this standard than any book before it (and many after it as well!), and any student of the topic should definitely read this remarkable book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great text book, July 4, 2006

By 

Majed "m_aly" (Kuwait) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elusive Victory: The Arab-Israeli Wars, 1947-1974 (Paperback)

The best documentary book I have ever read on the Arab Israili war. The book covers all the wars from a totally unbiased angle, and shows each and every detail throughout the war. I read the translated version fro Al-Ahram strategies center in Arabic, and I can't wait to get my hands on the original English one. Althugh I read the book, it is a must to have on your shelf. Simply it is a great reference