I've added a link to my latest book review to the articles page. It's a review of Stephen English's paperback "The Army of Alexander the Great" released by Pen & Sword in 2021.
I really enjoyed reading something outside my "historical comfort zone". Here's a précis of the review's opening paragraphs:
"This book was first published in 2009 in a hardback edition. As far as I can tell, this new paperback edition is a straight reprint and not a new edition.
The contents appear ideal for a reader looking to understand the composition of Alexander the Great’s army. There are five chapters on different troop types (heavy infantry, cavalry etc) and one each on naval forces, siege engines & command structure. The book ends with a discussion of three very different engagements: the Balkans campaign (335 BC), the battle of Issus (333 BC) and the siege of Tyre (332 BC)."
Here're my closing remarks:
"There’s no doubt that English has full mastery of the scarce sources. Within their bounds, the strength of his conclusions rely on how well the sources are marshalled in support of his views and, for the general reader, how clearly they are expressed. I found the book strong on the details but sometimes lacking in the clarity required to engage the general reader. For a more knowledgeable reader I suspect the book has more to offer not least as a source of reference."
This review first appeared in Slingshot 344 (Jan/Feb 2023), the journal of the Society of Ancients.
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