The Allure of Battle: A History of How Wars Have Been Won and Lost

by Cathal J. Nolan Narrated by Julian Elfer

Overview

History has tended to measure war's winners and losers in terms of its major engagements, battles in which the result was so clear-cut that they could be considered "decisive." Cannae, Konigsberg, Austerlitz, Midway, Agincourt-all resonate in the literature of war and in our imaginations as tide-turning. But these legendary battles may or may not have determined the final outcome of the wars in which they were fought.



Cathal J. Nolan's The Allure of Battle systematically and engrossingly examines the great battles, tracing what he calls "short-war thinking," the hope that victory might be swift and wars brief. As he proves persuasively, however, such has almost never been the case. Even the major engagements have mainly contributed to victory or defeat by accelerating the erosion of the other side's defenses. Massive conflicts, the so-called "people's wars," beginning with Napoleon and continuing until 1945, have consisted of and been determined by prolonged stalemate and attrition, industrial wars in which the determining factor has been not military but matériel.



Nolan's masterful book places battles squarely and mercilessly within the context of the wider conflict in which they took place. In the process it helps correct a distorted view of battle's role in war.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Nolan exhibits an impressive depth of knowledge of his subject; his work is marked by stylish writing with extensive discourse on political and social as well as military issues" — Russell K. Brown, The Journal of America's Military Past

"This is one of the most valuable military histories in years. A must-read for students of military history." - Kirkus Reviews (Starred review)

"One of the most stimulating and controversial books on military history in a long time. Challenging, well written, well-sourced ... there is a great deal of food for thought for military historians and professionals in this volume." New York Journal of Books

"The Allure of Battle provides new and fresh insights into war studies and offers several new and fresh perspectives to look at military history...This is a very well-researched book. Nolan's credentials on the subject are unmatched. It will change the way you have looked at military history up until now. It is a must-read for both students and experts of military history." - The Washington Book Review

"The Allure of Battle is written with impressive energy and verve." - Daily Beast

"Nolan's meticulous contribution remains unmatched as it provides an in-depth survey picking up the right threads and nuances of history and relating it to contemporary events." - Academic Council on the United Nations System

"[The Allure of Battle] never flags, and it is one of those books that is guaranteed to have a permanent impact on the way you think about history." - Neil Faulkner, Military History Matters

"This is the single most insightful and comprehensive book on war that I have ever read. And I have read a few. It is simply spectacular. Trapped in my office weathering a week-long quarantine, Nolan's book was an absolute life-saver." - Keith Johnson, Foreign Policy

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

"This is one of the most valuable military histories in years. A must-read for students of military history." —Kirkus Starred Review

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170445172
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	01/30/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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