Clausewitz in English: The Reception of Clausewitz in Britain and America, 1815-1945 / Edition 1

by Christopher Bassford

Overview

This intellectual history examines the reception of Carl von Clausewitz's military theories in Britain and the United States. In the first comprehensive study of the literature, Christopher Bassford argues that the impact of Clausewitzian theory has been underestimated and he follows the trail of Clausewitzian influence from pre-1873 Britain to 1945. Bassford finds that among those who explicitly discussed Clausewitz and his theories were soldiers, journalists, historians, political scientists and propagandists. In bringing this literature to light, Clausewitz in English makes a persuasive case for Clausewitzian theory having a major impact on the broad development of the British and American military thinking. It will be of interest to a wide range of military and intellectual historians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195083835
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/17/1994
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	9.62(w) x 6.41(h) x 0.97(d)

About the Author

USMC Command and General Staff College, Quantico, Virginia

Editorial Reviews

"In the course of an illuminating discussion, Bassford says a great deal about Anglo-American strategic thought in the modern period....An interesting study that has something to say to many audiences, including those concerned with the state of contemporary military thought or intellectual history."—Foreign Affairs

"Bassford succinctly summarizes Clausewitz's theories and charts their journey through the English-speaking world, while also illustrating many aspects of the diffusion of ideas."—CHOICE

"Clausewitz in English is an outstanding book on many levels...This is a must-read book for anyone with pretensions to an understanding of Clausewitz and the major movements in modern Western military thought."—Military History

"In a book everyone concerned with future U.S. military strategy should read, Bassford, a professor at the Marine Command and Staff College, gives us some important insights."—Strategic Review

"Bassford tell a great story of dutiful struggle and pigheadedness, of petty revenge and epiphany, and, ultimately, of how Anglophone armies that read Clausewitz reluctantly beat the hell out of a German-speaking military that willfully read him wrong."—Parameters

"[Bassford] understands the complexitites of Clausewitz's approach to war and the difficulties in assessing influence...Bassford has provided an informative introduction to a hitherto neglected area of Clausewitz studies..."—The Albion

From the Publisher