John Drogo Montagu. Greek and Roman Warfare: Battles, Tactics and Trickery.

John Drogo Montagu. Greek and Roman warfare: battles, tactics and trickery, Greenhill Books, London, 2006. ISBN 1-85367-685-3, hard cover with dust jacket, 256 pp, 18 diagrams, 16 x 24 cm, UK25.00 [pounds sterling].

In researching this remarkable work the noted author surveyed almost 700 battles and sieges in the ancient Greek and Roman worlds up to 31 BC. In determining why various protagonists were victorious, the writer highlights why certain factors or elements prevailed at the time. The first part of the work is devoted to the study of these elements, which include doubt, planning, the human condition, surprise, deception, secrecy, chance and others. It shows the author's great depth of knowledge of the subject and his painstaking analysis of how things turned out and why, according to the elements mentioned above.

The second part of the work deals with tactics in battle. Twenty battles (most with supporting diagrams) are discussed in some detail along with a background briefing and a concluding thematic summary. Armed then with such information, the armchair theorist or wargamer should be able to argue like an expert about such battles as Cannae, Zama, Magnesia or Pharsalus. A glossary of tactics is also a helpful guide to greater appreciation of the subject. So. historians and second guessers of ancient battles, rejoice. The hard work has been done for you. The classical writers of antiquity, e.g. Livy and Xenophon (and many others for that matter) have been analysed and the results are here for you to enjoy, thanks to the painstaking research and writing skills of the redoubtable John Drogo Montagu.

Syd Wigzell