Hannibal Enemy of Rome [Hardcover]

L. Cottrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1961

In the year 216 B.C., Hannibal of Carthage, faced with an opposing Roman army twice the size of his own, outwitted the enemy at Cannae by means of a strategy which has become a classic of its kind. As a result of his famous ”double pincer” maneuver, 70,000 Roman soldiers died within the space of a few hours on a field the size of New York’s Central Park. Yet, as devastating and startling as Cannae was, it was only one of a long list of incredible achievements. Hannibal’s fantastic 1,000-mile march across the Alps from Spain to Italy was one of the wonders of ancient times. He began his hazardous journey with 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 37 elephants. By the time he reached the Valley of the Po, more than 30,000 troops and many of his elephants had perished, but he still managed to stay in Italy for sixteen years.Blending biography and military adventure, Hannibal is a portrait of a military genius who was also a highly civilized man. The son of Hamilcar Barca, a famous general in his own right, Hannibal was a student of the Greek classics. But his father’s lifelong grudge against Rome fostered in the son a deep hatred for that Republic and a fierce determination to subdue it forever. This resulted in the bloody battles of Lake Trasimene, Campania, Nole, Capua, and Zama, all of which Leonard Cottrell describes with vigor and authority. In gathering material for Hannibal, Cottrell traveled the entire route that Hannibal took across the Alps, thus bringing to his account a valuable firsthand knowledge of his subject. With the drama and authenticity for which he is famous, Leonard Cottrell describes Hannibal’s amazing campaign—a saga of victory after victory which fell just short of its ultimate goal: the annihilation of Rome.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Leonard Cottrell was a well-known archeologist, documentary producer, and author. His many books include The Bull of Minos and Lost Pharoahs

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc.; 1 edition (June 1961)
• ISBN-10: 0030307201
• ISBN-13: 978-0030307201
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,168,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid 5 stars, January 12, 2004

By 

Stefan C. Mazur (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hannibal: Enemy Of Rome (Paperback)

An incredibly well written book by an author who traveled and folled the paths of the great Hannibal who was only surpassed by one other general, the invincible and even greater Alexander! This book flows very well and engages the reader unlike so many other equally factual but "dry" accounts of history. What becomes very clear is the fact that Hannibal's success was based on his perfect reading of the the psyche of his enemy commanders. "Know thy enemy" must have been invented by Hannibal because he exploited that knowledge to the point where each pitched battle was tailormade for each confronting Roman general. But was goes around comes around - and as we know Hannibal was in the end defeated by a Roman general who was not only equally meticulous in preparing for his battles but spent his entire career studiying Hannibal's tactics which he then successfully employed in the final showdown with Rome's enemy #1. This man of course was Publius Cornelius Scipio, the son of the Roman general Scipio who led Hannibal's first encounter on Roman soil. Young Scipio fought in this battle some 15 years earlier. Wonderful reading and a very great effort by the author who succeeded splendidly in presenting one of the greatest generals in all time history.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An easy and enjoyable read., February 4, 1999

By 

Aaron Brown (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hannibal: Enemy Of Rome (Paperback)

This book is perfect for those who want detail, but not to the extreme. In an attempt to get a better understanding of Hannibal the author goes for his own trek across the alps (albiet he is driving and has no elephants). It is not a long read and is very well written. Ideal for those who need an introduction to Hannibal.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Readable., April 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Hannibal: Enemy Of Rome (Paperback)

I read this book a few years ago and what I liked about it most was the authors ability to catch the reader in the momentum of the events that are taking place. Only the heartless are not hoping even in the face of this tragedy that Hannibal will win through and not be defeated. Also because the author is not writing what is to be a scholarly work he speculates in a manner which is very enjoyable making the book more readable. If you have never read anything about Hannibal but have always been interested I highly recommend this book.