A war is composed of a series of battles. A good strategist must have an understanding of the realities of the experience of battle, not just on moral grounds, but also to enable sound and realistic decisions. John Keegan has written a book designed to show readers what combatants in battle saw, heard, and felt during the harrowing moments of battle. He focuses on the Battles of Agincourt (1415), Waterloo (1815), and the Somme (1916), which took place in different eras in terms of military and technological capabilities. Through accounts of these battles, this book illuminates the human level of war, from the terror of cavalry charges to that of intensive artillery barrages in the trenches. It also delves into what motivated soldiers to endure and prevail amid this hardship and suffering. For those who aspire to professional roles that might involve shaping decisions on the use of force, it is imperative to understand the realities of the face of battle.
Guiding Questions
- How useful is a bottom-up approach to military history, and can it help fill gaps in traditional narratives that war-fighters and policymakers rely on?
- Are there lessons that can be applied from battles in previous conflicts to those that are waged today with more modern technology?