The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic
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	Type	Hardcover
	Release Date	2010-07-13
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ISBN13: 9781400067022 Condition: New Notes: BUY Together with CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Evaluate our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
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Description
A stirring account of the much influential battle in history   For millennia, Carthage’s triumph over Rome at Cannae in 216 B.C. has inspired reverence and awe. It was the battle this countless armies tried to imitate, much notably in World Wars I and II, the battle this obsessed legendary military minds. Yet no general ever matched Hannibal’s much unexpected, innovative, and brutal military victory—the costliest day of combat for any army in history. Robert L. O’Connell, one of the much admired names in military history, now tells the whole story of Cannae for the first time, giving us a stirring account of this apocalyptic battle of the Second Punic War, and its causes and consequences. O’Connell shows how a restive Rome amassed a giant army to punish Carthage’s masterful commander, who had dealt them deadly blows at Trebia and Lake Trasimene, and how Hannibal outwitted enemies this outnumbered him. O’Connell describes Hannibal’s strategy of blinding his opponents together with sun and dust, enveloping them in a deadly embrace and sealing their escape, before launching a massive knife fight this would kill 48,000 men in shut contact. The Ghosts of Cannae then brilliantly conveys how this disastrous pivot point in Rome’s history ultimately led to the republic’s resurgence and the creation of its empire. Piecing mutually decayed shreds of ancient reportage, the author paints great portraits of the leading players: Hannibal, resolutely sane and uncannily strategic; Varro, Rome’s co-consul who was so scapegoated for the loss; and Scipio Africanus, the surviving (and self-promoting) Roman military tribune who would one day pay back Hannibal at Zama in North Africa. Finally, O’Connell reveals how Cannae’s legend has inspired and haunted military leaders ever since, and the lessons it teaches for our own wars. Superbly researched and written together with wit and erudition, The Ghosts of Cannae is the definitive account of a battle whose history continues to resonate.
Customer Reviews
Great Book...Terrible delivery from Amazon and the shipper   2010-08-30
By Enrique 003 1/2 (Florida)
If you enjoy military history--- this is your book! Interesting and vivid story telling makes this a must read. While reading this book, you will be transported back in time to the Roman Empire. You will encounter the intricate details and the who, what, when, and where of this historic battle and the key players. WARNING: Amazon shippers are terrible!!! I chose regular shipping; my package was thrown on the floor, in front of my door, on a RAINY day. And although I was in when the book was thrown (I heard a loud noise) and the package was hastily taped, in simple terms...it was an open package. Amazon should get better shippers. In conclusion, book was great...shipping, terrible.
Every general dreams of replicating Hannibal's victory   2010-08-28
By Michael A Neulander (VA)
Robert L. O'Connell's "The Ghosts of Cannae" is a well written and stimulating account of one of the most studied battles, by military leaders, from ancient history. As a retired army officer, and adjunct professor of history I highly recommend this book especially for those who have a burgeoning interest in Roman and/or military history. I enjoyed O'Connell's insightful analysis of not only this "monumental" battle, but also the detailed history leading up to Hannibal's victory and the "aftershocks" it produced, both for Rome and Carthage afterwards. I am not surprised at how well O'Connell analyzed the battle and its importance to the history of the ancient world. O'Connell's keen analysis of Cannae was honed by his professional career of over 30 years as a U.S. Army intelligence analyst. Without going into the detail of the battle, I think mentioning a few key points will help to highlight why Hannibal's victory at Cannae in 216 BCE is always studied by military leaders. Hannibal's forces were outnumbered by the Roman general Varro's forces by at least 10,000 men. The Roman Legions were regarded to be the finest equipped and best trained army in the world at that time. Hannibal wisely chose the field of battle. By capturing the Roman supply depot at the town of Cannae, Hannibal was able to employ his army in-between the advancing Romans and their much needed supplies. Hannibal deployed his troops where the early morning sun would be in the eyes of the attacking Roman soldiers. In addition, Hannibal's forces had there left flank protected by the Aufidus River. Finally, Hannibal had the "luck" to face a brash and egotistical Roman general who made several tactical eras leading up to and during the battle. Essentially, the winning tactic that Hannibal used, known as the "double envelopment" or "pincer," has had a "mythological" hold over generals throughout history. What Hannibal essentially did was to allow the center of his army's front to retreat when they where attacked by the Romans, this caused a "bow" in the Carthaginian line. The Romans were encouraged by this seeming retreat and poured more forces into the center to break through the line which depleted their reserves and weakened their own flanks. What Hannibal actually accomplished was the "drawing" in of the Roman army and by using his flanks to surround the attacking Roman force he successfully "enveloped" or surrounded the Roman force making it an easy target of annihilation, by which time the Romans realized only too late that they had been drawn into a trap! In, O'Connell's last chapter, which military professionals will find extremely interesting, he briefly describes Cannae's significance and influence on many generals' strategy and tactics throughout history. I wish that O'Connell had given more in-depth analysis to this fascinating subject; however, I am also aware that with that kind of an analysis O'Connell could easily produce another book! The only other disappointment I have is that there is no bibliography. I am sure that O'Connell's book will generate more interest in his readers yearning to know more about this battle or the Punic Wars and a bibliography would be helpful for continued study in these areas. Bottom line, if you like ancient or military history, read this book!
A Captivating Account of the Second Punic War   2010-08-18
By G. Poirier (Orleans, ON, Canada)
The Second Punic War is arguably the best known of the Punic wars and the battle at Cannae is surely its most salient feature. In this fascinating book, the author starts off, in the earlier chapters, by discussing the ancient sources for the events about to be described. He then outlines the political, social, economic and military characteristics of both sides - Rome and Carthage; the main personalities are introduced as well. Then, as Hannibal gets under way, the story gathers steam, culminating at Cannae but continuing in gripping prose into the battle's aftermath and on to the end of the Second Punic War. Thus, beyond the earlier chapters, the rollercoaster ride never stops. Also, the author pulls no punches in his battle scene depictions - some of which are very graphic and not recommended for the squeamish. Throughout the book, where the ancient sources are unclear or in disagreement about certain events, the author offers what are the most likely scenarios based on the best available current scholarship. The writing style is authoritative and relatively formal, but also friendly, lively, often quite witty and very captivating. This book can be enjoyed by anyone, especially ancient history buffs and military history enthusiasts.
Ancient voices and modern problems   2010-08-17
By David J. Hunter (CLEVELAND, OH, US)
A fascinating insight into what happens in a militarized society and one that holds wealth accumulation as its central goal. I couldn't help but draw parallels with our current social values and structures. As a student of ancient cultures, I found this book very helpful in clarifying the events and conditions of Hannibal's invasion and how the passions of one man changed the historical flow of the Western world.
Where's the bibliography?   2010-08-14
By D. McAllister (Lake Oswego, OR United States)
This isn't a critique of book, but an attack on current authors and publishers refusing to include a bibliography in many footnoted books. In chapter 1, the author quotes a line from the Iliad, which the footnote states as being from Book 2, lines 385-387. Is this the author's own translation? Who knows, without a bibliography or a more detailed footnote. Incidentally, the quote is actually from Book 11 of the Iliad instead of book 2, and is from the Richard Lattimore translation. It's frustrating to have 19 pages of notes, but no bibliography to quickly scan to see what sources are being used throughout the entire book.