Tactical Genius in Battle by Simon Goodenough lands on the shelves of my shop, where it will be found in my Military History section.
Oxford: Phaidon Press, 1979, (First Edition) Hardback in dust wrapper.
Contains: Black & white photographs; Black & white drawings; Diagrams; Maps; Title page vignette;
>From the cover: In the history of warfare there have been a number of battles in which the outcome has been decided through the tactical genius of the commander on the battlefield. This book is Len Deightons anthology of such strokes of genius. It represents his selection of twenty-seven moments when, whether through the rapid movements of disciplined infantry in the Classical era or through the skilled employment of tanks in the modern world, it has been the character, courage and brilliance of one commander that has forced the issue.
There are world-famous battles such as Hannibals annihilation of the Roman legions at Cannae, Napoleons inspired victory at Austerlitz and the swift destruction of France by the Germans in 1940. There are other, less well-known battles, such as Johan Baners brilliant Swedish victory at Wittstock and Douglas MacArthurs dogged fight against the Japanese at Buna.
More than one hundred clear and simple plans showing the basic manoeuvres of each battle are included and there are over one hundred carefully selected illustrations.
The encounters have not been described in chronological order. Tactical cunning makes strange bedfellows of battles that may be centuries apart. It is often the unexpected juxtaposition of two apparently dissimilar examples that throws new light on both. Tactical Genius in Battle adds an original analysis to popular military history, re-creating in the readers mind the strains and glories of command.
Introduction by: Len Deighton
Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper.
Brown boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 136 pages. Index. Bibliography. 11¼” x 8¾”.
