Customer Reviews

The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography

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This reasonably-priced volume provides a good starting place in referencing military leaders. Included in each entry is a listing of principle wars involved in, a brief service narrative, and a summary of how each leader is traditionally viewed by scholars. Also, there are a few main sources after each bibliographic entry.

Though not comprehensive in overall content, it is well worth it to keep this volume at hand.

One thing about it, this book and "maybe" another one would replace all those biographies that take up too much room on one's bookshelf (especially mine). I especially like it when a good majority of our nation's military leaders (those on the Joint Chiefs) are included when no other volume even comes close. Great job, Colonel, and also outstanding work, Mr. Johnson

I have studied Military History for quite some time, and have always wanted a "quick reference" book for each figure in history. A lot of times, I will be watching a movie, and they will mention "General whoever" or another figure, and I jump up, grab this book, and read a brief history on the person involved.

This book is excellent in that respect. Do not buy this book for an in depth look at different personalities of military history. However, for a quick reference, this book cannot be beat. It is quite extensive, and seems to be unbiased in it's opinions of the people involved.

I cannot agree more with the above people. This book provides an incredible amount of information on each person and is an invaluable reference for any military historian. However as i was reading it, I discovered that several individuals were not included. After some research, I disovered a large number of soldier/statesmen who I felt deserved some mention, if anything to see their treatment in a work like this. I understand size restraints and readers may agree or not with my list, but that is what reviews are all about. I have grouped them in the following categories:
1. HOW COULD YOU MISSED THEM?
Alfred the Great, Attila, Bismark, Charles Martel,Cyrus the Great, DeGaulle, Epaminondas of Thebes, Robert Bruce, Tito.

2. IF YOU INCLUDED (FILL IN BLANK) WHY NOT:
English Admirals: Drake, Forbisher,
German Generals: Hans Hube, Spaatz.
French Warrior Kings: Francis I, Louis IX (St Louis).
US Generals: Simon Buckner, Terry Allen, Jubal Early, Gavin, Dupuy, Starry, Vuono, Fred Franks, Lew Wallace, John Buford.
English Warrior Kings: George II, Henry I.
British Generals: Richard O'Connor (N. Africa, WWII)

WHILE WE'RE AT IT, WHY NOT:
John Graham Montrose, Archibald Campbell Argyll, Henry (Hotspur) Percy, Charles Edward Stuart, Ealdorman Brintnoth (Maldon 991), Canute, Brian Boru, William Marshall, Robert Guiscard, Harold Godwinson, Harald Hardrada, El Cid, Boudicca, historical King Arthur (Mt Badon), Godfrey de Buillon, Raymond of Toulouse, Bohemond of Taranto, Charles the Bold of Burgundy, Sigismund (Holy Roman Emperor), Henry IV (ditto), Henry the Lion, Toktamish (Golden Hoard), Subutai, Theodoric of the Visigoths (Chalons), Ramses II, Antigonus, Mithrades of Pontus, Seleucus, Titus, Joshua Chamberlain, Marshall William von Roggendorf (Seige of Vienna)and why not any Biblical leaders (Joab for instance).
One nitpick; Ambrose Burnside was a good division commander and was not ready for higher command. He was however, a brilliant innovator. His amphibious operations along the east coast were very successful and his plan for the Crater operation would of succeeded if his superiors didn't replace his black unit, trained to exploit the detonation, with an inexperienced white unit.

"The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biographies" is an excellent resource for information on more than 3,000 of the most important military figures of all time.
The listings are alphabetically listed, and provide information about the major events in the life of the figure, in what wars he served, when he lived, his legacy, major victories and defeats, enemies, allies, and other information. The listings range in size from several sentences to three or four pages, depending on the importance of the figure. Sources are listed at the end of every listing.
Anyone interested in military history should own this book. It reigns supreme as a quick reference guide to military figures. Another good source is "The Military 100", which provides biographies several pages in length about 100 of the most influential military leaders in history.

A standard work is one that any intelligent person consults as a first step. Sometimes it is all the information that one wants, or serves as a foundation for further study. The information has to be factual and the judgements balanced and mature. This description fits the Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography. It does not cover every warrior from the beginning of recorded history, but 3,000 is a good start. And the authors should not be criticized for including a large number of American entries because this is their speciality.

I look at the writeup on Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. He is given credit for what he accomplished over his entire career, not only at his apex in North Africa. While he was opinionated and brusque, his professional abilities, while not at the genius level, was very much in the plus. The entries from 200 to a thousand words are balanced and mature.

Some readers may want to compare this volume to John Keegan's Who's Who in Military History 1453 to the Present Day. Keegan does not cover military leaders from antiquity such as Alexander the Great because the starting point is 1453 (the fall of Constantinople). Keegan has fewer entries (a few hundred compared to 3,000) , there are fewer facts, no list of the leader's battles and no bibliography. The serious student would choose the Dupuy book particularly for the more astute evaluations. The Keegan book is for a wider audience with a picture every second page

Trevor N. Dupuy (1916- 1995) was best known for the Harper Encyclopedia of Military History From 3500 BC to the Present, (4th edition, 1993) which he collaborated with his father, R. Ernest Dupuy (1887- 1975). Both were army officers and military historians.

The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography is a useful reference tool profiling 3,000 great military leaders from ancient times to the present. The following information is provided for each biographical entry: dates of birth and death (if known), nationality, rank or title, principal wars, nickname (if applicable), overview of the subject's life, and an evaluation of the leader's abilities and achievements. For most entries there is a list of books one can read for more information about the leader. While I have not read this book cover-to-cover I have referred to it many times as I have taught my American history students the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. If you are a student or teacher of military history then this book needs to be on your shelf. Highly recommended.