Overview

"In the grand tradition of Edward Creasy's classic Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World, James Lacey and Williamson Murray spotlight only those engagements that changed the course of civilization. In gripping narrative accounts they bring these conflicts and eras to vivid life, detailing the cultural imperatives that led inexorably to the battlefield, the experiences of the common soldiers who fought and died, and the legendary commanders and statesmen who matched wits, will, and nerve for the highest possible stakes. From the great clashes of antiquity to the high-tech wars of the twenty-first century, here are the stories of the twenty most consequential battles ever fought, including Marathon, where Greece's ""greatest generation"" repelled Persian forces three times their numbers--and saved Western civilization in its infancyAdrianople, the death blow to a disintegrating Roman EmpireTrafalgar, the epic naval victory that cemented a century of British supremacy over the globeSaratoga, the first truly American victory, won by united colonial militias, which ensured the ultimate triumph of the RevolutionMidway, the ferocious World War II sea battle that broke the back of the Japanese navyDien Bien Phu, the climactic confrontation between French imperial troops and Viet Minh rebels that led to American intervention in Vietnam and marked the rise of a new era of insurgent warfareOperation Peach, the perilous 2003 mission to secure a vital bridge over the Euphrates River that would open the way to Baghdad"

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"Engaging, well written, and thoroughly researched, this book will appeal to amateur and professional historians alike.-- ""Publishers Weekly"" ""Well-told military history can make for a gripping listening experience, and Kevin Foley's narration brings out the best qualities of these authors' storytelling abilities."" -- ""AudioFile"""

Author Information

James Lacey is the author of several books on military history, terrorism, and current affairs, including The First Clash, Keep from All Thoughtful Men, and Takedown. He is a widely published defense analyst who has written for Time, National Review, Foreign Affairs, and other publications. He currently teaches at the Marine Corps War College and Georgetown University. Williamson Murray is the author of a wide selection of articles and books, including, with Allan R. Millett, the acclaimed A War to Be Won, and has held numerous distinguished academic chairs. He is presently a defense analyst at the Potomac Institute and teaches at the Naval War College. Kevin Foley, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, has more than thirty years of experience in radio and television broadcasting, commercial voice-overs, and audiobook narration. He has recorded more than 150 audiobooks, including River Thunder by Gary McCarthy, for which he earned a Spur Award for Best Audiobook from the Western Writers of America.

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