Helmet and spear

Chapter 2: PREFACE

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About This Book

This collection retells episodes from ancient Greek and Roman warfare, ranging from Persian invasions and Greek land-and-sea actions to Sicilian struggles, the Punic wars with Carthage, and Rome's campaigns against northern and eastern peoples. Drawing on classical authorities and Plutarch's biographies for narrative detail, it reconstructs battles, sieges, commanders' decisions, and extended campaigns while noting tactics and morale. An epilogue considers how loss and suffering in war can produce lasting social or political outcomes.

PREFACE

I have told again in this volume some familiar stories, using mostly the original authorities, but availing myself, where it was possible, of the help of Plutarch, whose biographies are always rich in picturesque details. These narratives never lose their interest, and they have this special significance, that they illustrate what we all at least desire to believe, that results of abiding good come out of the losses and sorrows of war. I have sought to draw out this thought with some detail in my Epilogue.

A.J.C.

Ightham, Sevenoaks.
September 8, 1900.