The Quest for Victory: The History of the Principles of War (Contributions in Military Studies) [Hardcover]

John I. Alger (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“John L. Alger ... has written what is probably the most comprehensive study of the development of the principles of war. Alger begins with the earliest known treatises on war and works his way chronologically to the present. ... Alger has included in his book an extensive bibliography, but particularly helpful are the lengthy appendices which include aphorisms related to the conduct of war, many appearing for the first time in English translation. ...Military historians should find it a helpful reference work.”–Historical Journal

Product Details

• Hardcover: 318 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; 1ST edition (July 28, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313233225
• ISBN-13: 978-0313233227
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,126,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Principles of War, January 25, 2012

By 

J. K. Van Riper (New Bern, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Quest for Victory: The History of the Principles of War (Contributions in Military Studies) (Hardcover)

There is no other book that offers such a detailed history of the so-called principles of war. The idea that war could be understood as a science began during the Age of Enlightenment. Then in the nineteenth century Jomini, a Swiss national who had served in Napoleon's army, offered an interpretation of Napoleon's strategy that was prescriptive in nature. Jomini held to a theory that war was amenable to scientific study and the inductive method. Such study, he further contended, would yield principles that officers could learn and reference on the battlefield. The search for such principles continued well into the twentieth century, and concise lists of the "principles of war" were found in the doctrine of most militaries. British General J.F.C. Fuller introduced the modern version of the principles of war in the 1920s. His list of nine principles dominated in the theoretical understanding of war until the 1970s. With the translation and publication of the first accurate English version of Clausewitz's "On War" in 1976, the principles of war faded from most doctrinal publications in the U.S., and Clausewitz's understanding of the theory and nature of war thereafter dominated. John I. Alger accurately and fully sets forth the history of the principles of war in his work "The Quest for Victory." The contention that he does not understand Clausewitz is false. As a student of history and a veteran of thirty-eight years service in the U.S. Armed Forces, I highly recommend "The Quest for Victory." The author produced a solid and well researched work that has no competitors.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is VERY POOR, FAULTY, UNBALANCED history !!, October 4, 2006

By 

i-Palikar "i-Palikar" (ALEXANDRIA, VA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Quest for Victory: The History of the Principles of War (Contributions in Military Studies) (Hardcover)

This is VERY POOR FAULTY history !! This is NOT balanced history by any means !! The analyses presented in this book are shalow, misleading, and highly skewed if not outright false ! This book relies EXCESSIVELY upon Jomini - who hasn't been considered credible in military circles for over a century ! This book goes purposely out of its way to downgrade the premier position of Clausewitz - and ignore Clausewitz as much as possible - so much so that this book actually attempts to deny Clausewitz as the author of the famous maxim: "War is a continuation of policy by other means." Instead this book actually gives the credit to Caemmerer for that eternal insight - and NOT Clausewitz ! Most amazingly, this book was written at a time of modern resurgence in the relevance and veracity of Clausewitz as the premier military theorist (even for nuclear war).

>>>>>The reader would be MUCH better served by reading the more comprehensive, composite works of Azar Gat. "IF" you really want to read about Jomini - then READ JOMINI's Art of War directly - not this skewed rehash trash !