A Military History of the Western World: From the Earliest Times to the Battle of Lepanto (Da Capo Paperback) Vol. 1 [Paperback]

J. F. C. Fuller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 1987

Major General J. F. C. Fuller, a pioneer of mechanized warfare in Great Britain, was one of this century's most renowned military strategists and historians. In this magisterial work he spans military history from the Greeks to the end of World War II, describing tactics, battle lines, the day-to-day struggles while always relating affairs on the field to the larger questions of social, political, and economic change in Western civilization. A masterpiece of scholarship and biting prose, these volumes are available for the first time in a handsome trade paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Major General J.F.C. Fuller (1878-1966) was one of the most important and original military thinkers of this century. He served as lieutenant in the Boer War, organized the first British tank corps in World War I, and developed the strategy and tactics of tank warfare which were later put to such effective use by the Nazis for their World War II blitzkriegs. His many books include A Military History of the Western World (3 volumes), The Generalship of Ulysses S. Grant, Julius Caesar: Man, Soldier, and Tyrant, and The Generalship of Alexander the Great, all of which are available from Da Capo Press/Perseus Book Group.

Product Details

• Paperback: 616 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 22, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306803046
• ISBN-13: 978-0306803048
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #918,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anyone interested in western civilization., August 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Military History of the Western World: From the Earliest Times to the Battle of Lepanto (Da Capo Paperback) Vol. 1 (Paperback)

War is perhaps the one social aspect that has influenced history more than any other. From the Greeks, to Alexander, to the Roman Empire, entire civilizations have been established or toppled by war. As such, any person who wishes to truly understand human history, and in particular, the history of western civilization, should at least be familiar with the military aspect.

Fuller was a general in the British army, and he displays complete mastery of the causes, strategies, and the repercussions of the most important battles in history. This first volume concentrates on ancient warfare up to the naval battle of Lepanto in the 15th century.

What makes the reading so fascinating is that Fuller not only summarizes the important battles, but he frames them within their context in how they influenced and changed history. Preceding each major military struggle is a short summary of the conditions which laid the groundwork for the battle. Additionally, Fuller concludes each chapter with a short analysis of the historical repercussions of the battle. It is here where you will learn why Alexander the Great's victory over Darius and the Persian Army was the most influential battle ever fought, or how how Rome slowly disintegrated after the reign of Julius Caesar, or what the effects of the fall of Constantinople were on Europe at the end of the Middle Ages.

This is the first volume of a three-volume set which chronicles the major wars up to World War II. I can think of no other written account of military history which is at once so encompassing, and yet so readable. Highly recommended!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars admirable balance of tactics and historical context., April 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Military History of the Western World: From the Earliest Times to the Battle of Lepanto (Da Capo Paperback) Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Ginn from Arizona has written a fitting summary for Fuller's book. I would like to add my appreciation for the author's balance of the historical context with a complete account of the tactics, battle plans, decisions, and actions that carried the battles for one side over another.

I teach history on the college level, and while most textbooks teach the causes and effects of wars or battles, they sacrifice the details due to consideration of space. In many cases, the details of military conflicts pique students' interest in the event, and aid in remembering the impact of particular clashes or struggles. Yet most military histories overload readers on detail, as if the battle is the whole story. Fuller strikes a wonderful balance between the two purposes, and his book has earned a place of considerable importance on my reference shelf.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These volumes belong on the shelf of every reader of military history, October 12, 2008

By 

William S. Grass "Bill Grass (Wsgrass)" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Military History of the Western World: From the Earliest Times to the Battle of Lepanto (Da Capo Paperback) Vol. 1 (Paperback)

This review is for all three volumes collectively:

I. Earliest times to Lepanto
II. Spanish Armada to Waterloo
III. American Civil War to the end of WWII

Fuller's coverage is comprehensive, hitting all the traditional battles considered for one reason or another turning points of history, from the ancient Egyptians down through WWII. In between the chapters on actual battles, he includes essays that discuss the political, societal and military developments leading up to the next battle.

Fuller does inject his opinion into many places. This might put off some readers but I believe it is expected of the honest historian to let his personal views show through.

The volumes should be first read through completely, in order to give the military history enthusiast a broad background of knowledge, regardless of their particular area of interest. Then, they can be kept as a reference.