Customer Review
- Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2012Just finished this excellent book. It's a story of a genius (Hannibal Barca) who undertook an impossible mission (defeating Rome) and in the process created what we know today as military strategy. The writer (a Union officer from the US Civil War) describes Hannibal's life in extensive detail. He is especially focused on Hannibal's 16 year war against Rome. There is a detailed and breathtaking description of Hannibal's march across the Alps leading 100,000 soldiers 10,000 cavalry and 200 elephants. That feat alone would place Hannibal in military history. This was followed by several crushing victories over Roman armies which were not prepared for the Carthaginian general's strategic war, his cunning and his power. Hannibal crushed the Romans at Lake Trasimene, at Geronium and of course at Cannae in a battle still studied at military academies for its brilliant strategy and the surrounding and destruction of a much larger Roman army by a brilliant Carthaginian maneuver. Historians often wonder why Hannibal did not march on Rome right after his famous win at Cannae. The author claims this was good strategic thinking by Hannibal who must have known that he would face an army up to 10 times his if Rome had to fight for her life. He was apparently hoping instead to destabilize the Latin Alliance and then dictate peace terms to Rome. He had some successes in this including getting Capua, the second largest city in the alliance, to turn on Rome and side with Carthage. But it would not be enough. For 15 years Hannibal and his army fought in Italy and the Romans eventually stalled the Carthaginian genius by refusing to meet him head on in a battle. Rome was so awed by Hannibal's military skills that they dared not fight him despite having a massive advantage in troop numbers. They simply followed Hannibal around Italy, skirmished occasionally and prevented him from destroying the alliance and sacking Rome. But they dared not fight Hannibal head on. It proved enough. Carthage was run by a group of corrupt oligarchs (does this sound familiar......) who were more concerned in fighting for Spain and keeping its resources as a trade colony than with supporting the campaign in Italy. For this, Carthage paid a price. Defeated in Spain, Carthage was forced to recall Hannibal to defend the city against the Romans led by Scipio. By this time the Carthaginian army was no match for the Romans having been depleted and exhausted by a 15 year campaign in Italy and the local conscripts were not experienced. The Battle of Zama was Hannibal's only defeat. Even that was based on some luck as the battle had been even until Roman cavalry returned from a pursuit unexpectedly and turned the battle.
Hannibal then spent some years in government and was close to returning Carthage to greater power, but the Romans would not let that be. They hounded Hannibal until cornering him and forcing him to commit suicide at age 64.
The author has a deep respect for his subject, almost a reverence. This helps the book also. The subject is well worthy of this reverence in my opinion. Hannibal was truly one of history's great leaders and this book makes his achievements clear in a great way.
