Moment of Battle: The Twenty Clashes That Changed the World
Two distinguished military historians offer yet another (and undeniably successful) effort to update Sir Edward Creasy’s classic, TheFifteen Decisive Battles of the World (1908). The 20 battles range from classical antiquity (Marathon) to the Second Iraqi War, and each battle (or as with Vicksburg, campaign) is placed in its historical context, with economic and social factors added as relevant. The criterion for ­decisiveness—Would a different outcome have changed the world?—seems to be reasonable, and the actual battle narratives have notes for scholars and clarity for lay readers. The focus is definitely on Western history, and not all of the minor details are quite right (e.g., Nelson’s Victory did not have 50 32-pounders on each broadside), but literate narratives and balanced conclusions should attract a deservedly large readership. --Roland Green