Scipio Africanus [Paperback]

B. H. Liddell Hart (Author), Michael Grant (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 1994

Scipio Africanus (236–183 B.C.) was one of the most exciting and dynamic leaders in history. As commander he never lost a battle. Yet it is his adversary, Hannibal, who has lived on in the public memory, due mostly to his daring march through the Alps with his elephants. At the Battle of the Ticinus, Hannibal’s initial encounter with Roman arms, young Scipio first tasted warfare, rescuing his dangerously wounded, encircled father, who was also the Roman commander. By nineteen Scipio was the equivalent of a staff colonel and in 210 B.C. he was placed in supreme command. In three years he destroyed Carthaginian power in Spain and, after being made consul, took his forces to Africa, where he conquered Carthage’s great ally, Syphax. Two years later he clashed with Hannibal himself, annihilating his army in the decisive Battle of Zama. For this triumph and his other exploits in the Punic Wars, Scipio was awarded the title Africanus.In his fascinating portrait of this extraordinary commander, B. H. Liddell Hart writes, ”The age of generalship does not age, and it is because Scipio’s battles are richer in stratagems and ruses—many still feasible today—than those of any other commander in history that they are an unfailing object lesson.” Not only military enthusiasts and historians but all those interested in outstanding men will find this magnificent study absorbing and gripping.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Captain Basil Henry Liddell Hart (1895–1970) was one of the foremost military theorists of our time. His many books include Scipio Africanus, Lawrence of Arabia, The Rommel Papers, and Sherman (all available from Da Capo Press/ Perseus Books Group).

Product Details

• Paperback: 281 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1st edition (August 21, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306805839
• ISBN-13: 978-0306805837
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,254,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scipio - Outstanding & Underated, November 1, 2000

By 

"tydides" (Auburn, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scipio Africanus (Paperback)

Hart's book makes a strong case for the consideration of Scipio Africanus Major as one of the truly great military commanders of history. I have spent a great deal of time reading ancient and military history and have always been annoyed at the lack of information about this historical figure. Plutarch, argueably the greatest biographer ever, when writing his 'Lives' (a comparison of noble greeks and romans) intentionally omitted a description of Scipio and his greek counterpart Epaminondas because he felt they were the supreme examples of their respective societies. When I was fortunate enough to find this title on Amazon, I bought it no questions asked. This book would be a bargain at twice the price. Hart does an excellent job of presenting Scipio's military career and specific engagements in detailed and entertaining fashion. The material will appeal to both the beginning and hardcore military history buff alike. His descriptions of specific tactics as well as examples of Scipio's personal integrity are thoroughlly entertaining. Machiavelli in his classic 'The Prince' described how Scipio attempted to emulate and imitate Cyrus ("the great" - ancient Persian commander). I believe, that Hart has made the case to consider Scipio as greater than not only Napoleon, but Cyrus, Alexander or Ceasar.

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book On The Great General., June 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Scipio Africanus (Paperback)

Liddell-Hart has delivered a godsend for military enthusiasts & readers alike,by finely narrating the campaigns & quite convincingly the achievements of this brilliant & great but quite appropriately forgotten general.

One of the greatest crimes of this book is the way the author undermines the greatness of the other three immortals of military antiquity:Alexander,Hannibal & Caesar.Though I would not go into great length to prove this,point by point,I would humbly suggest readers that after reading this book,to please look for other sources on the great generals aforementioned,so one could compare & see things in a much better,clearer,more factual light.I strongly suggest reading Theodore Dodge's books on these men.For if one were to rely on this book as a main source,one would be terribly misguided into believing Scipio as the greatest man & general in history.Which is definitely not the case.When all is summed up,comparing him to his rival,the case paves to this irrefutable fact:Hannibal was the original,innovative master,& Scipo his greatest pupil.

My other criticism,in a more technical term,is the lack of more maps in the book to detail & highlight his campaigns.Maps detailing the maneuveres in the Battle of the Great Plains,the burning of the Carthaginian camps,the battle against Andobales in Spain,The Siege Of Cartagena,etc.,would have made it a more instructive & fulfilling book.

Other than these,I would say that this is the best book on Scipio ever written,a great contribution to humanity in fact,in the sense that it brings to every reader the importance & achievement of a great man who is almost forgotten in the annals of history.And convinces him.And for this alone deserves the highest merit.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and informative book on Scipio, February 7, 2000

By 

John Ingle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scipio Africanus (Paperback)

This was such an excellent book I had Amazon find the hardcover edition for my collection. Lidell-Hart has done an excellent job of a military review of Scipio. He has done a superb job of comparing Scipio's campaigns in Spain to the battles that were fought in Spain during the first world war. This is a very easy reading book while at the same time presenting the evidence found within Livy and Polybius in a very clear and concise manner. Although Lidell-Hart does not cite his evidence(I don't believe that this was as such a big deal at the start of the century that it is now) he does provide a bibliography of the ancient sources he used and it is pretty easy to follow if you have a good translation of Polybius. (The Rise of the Roman Empire would be best suited for reading before hand) Scipio who helped Rome to a fourth quater comeback (please excuse the footbal jargon)in perhaps one of her worst crisis and establish Rome as the military might of the Mediterranean world deserves his place in history and this book does a very fine job of doing just that.