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International Encyclopedia of Military History (2-Volume Set) - Hardcover - NEW

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Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge; 1st edition (June 2, 2006)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 1600 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0415936616
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0415936613
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.1 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.68 x 3.6 x 11.22 inches

About the Author

James Bradford is head of the Department of History at Texas A&M University. He is one of America's leading military historians. He is the editor of Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War and Its Aftermath, Quarterdeck and Bridge: Two centuries of American Naval Leaders, The Military Conflict Between Cultures: Soldiers at Interface, and many more well-received books.

Editorial Reviews

*Starred Review* This comprehensive A-Z encyclopedia of military history lives up to its description in the preface as a "crucial guide to war." Editor Bradford (a history professor at Texas A & M) heads an impressive list of more than 200 contributors, a number of them leading scholars in their fields, to reference "military history in all its elements." The work is exceptional in its treatment of "the cultural aspect of war" and in its multicultural and international perspectives. Intended for students, researchers, and informed general readers, its 1,662 entries cover a wide range of topics, including battles, campaigns, wars, military biographies, military organizations, equipment, weapons, types of warfare, military systems, military activities, military concepts and definitions, and features of culture and society related to warfare.

Entries provide the dates, details, and cross-referencing to allow readers to place topics in context and assess historical significance. Short entries of 100-400 words tend to be "factually oriented," with little interpretation, whereas longer entries of 750-4,500 words are more investigative and analytical. The brief entry Caporetto provides an overview of this World War I Italian failure and mentions its importance in uniting the Italians in support of the war. The 10-page entry for World War II provides solid political, social, and military commentary and ends with more than 50 cross--references to related entries for battles, leaders, equipment, and more. One drawback is that no maps are provided. Numerous black-and-white illustrations accompany the entries. Eight pages of color plates in each volume add decor but no substance.

The excellence of this work lies in the vast number of first-rate, up-to-date entries on weapons, concepts, types of warfare, and related facets of culture and society not found in similar encyclopedias. One can find entries on such topics as Hezbollah, Jihad, Logistics, Machine gun, and Tanks and also on broad social and cultural issues like Art and illustration, war; Civil liberties and war; and Women in the military. The set could easily be the single military-history reference in the collection. It is the most up-to-date and inclusive A-Z resource on military history available and is recommended for all academic and large public libraries. Another comprehensive multivolume resource, Magill's Guide to Military History (Salem, 2001), focuses primarily on wars, campaigns, and individuals and is not as current, although students may find it more accessible. Charles Becker
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