Chicago turabian humanities citation style guide oconnell, robert l, the ghosts of cannae. The ghosts of cannae contained much that was new to me and is a nicely put together synthesis of the ancient sources and secondary scholarship. A dramatic account of the violent ancient battle traces the massive defeat of the huge but inexperienced roman army by hannibals forces, interpreting the larger. Hannibal faced them with 40,000 foot and 10,000 horse. A stirring account of the most influential battle in history. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic by oconnell, robert l. Oconnells consistently professional instinct for the behavior of men and units on the battlefield. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic robert l. Anyone interested in the military history of the classical world should find it engrossing. After they lost the battle, the romans were so mortified that they. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic by robert l. The reference ghosts comes from those who actually survived the carnage and destruction of the battle at cannae on the roman side, where over 50,000 of their. The ghosts of cannae is at once a book about a specific battle the massive defeat of a huge but inexperienced roman army in southern italy by hannibal in 216 bc and also an interpretation of the larger course of the second punic war, as well as an assessment of the historical impact of romes storied rivalry with carthage. The reference ghosts comes from those who actually survived the carnage and destruction of the battle at cannae on the roman side, where over 50,000 of their comrades and a good proportion of the senate were massacred.
Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic oconnell, robert l. A stirring account of the most influential battle in historyfor millennia, carthages triumph over rome at cannae in 216 b. They were banished to sicily until scipio africanus incorporated them into the army that achieved the final roman victory at zama. Citation formats are based on standards as of july 2010. Jul 17, 2010 for those of us with a more general interest in classical history, the military details of the ghosts of cannae can be a bit of a slog it is, after all, a military history but its still. Superbly researched and written with wit and erudition, the ghosts of cannae is the definitive account of a battle whose history continues to resonate. This book does not offer an indepth history of this conflict, for that you should refer to adrian goldsworthys brilliant account. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic by robert oconnell is an engaging and interesting account of hannibal, the battle of cannae and the second punic war. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic in approximately 200 years b.
It was the battle that countless armies tried to imitate, most notably in world wars i and ii, the battle that obsessed legendary. Oconnell, the new york times bestselling author of fierce patriot and the ghosts of cannae, introduces us to washington before he was washington. When they returned to rome, they got an even frostier reception than u. Oconnell a stirring account of the most influential battle in history for millennia, carthages triumph over rome at cannae in 216 b. In this brilliant, longoverdue, and beautifully written account, robert l. A stirring account of the most influential battle in history for millennia, carthages triumph over rome at cannae in 216 b.
Oconnell shatters the popular myth of the invincibility of the carthaginians fabled elephants, the panzer pachyderms. Yet the author argues that no matter how brilliant tactician hannibal was, he seriously misjudged the roman resilience and resources. Oconnell read 21 mar 2011 this book tells the story of hannibals life and of the second punic war. It was the battle that countless armies tried to imitate, most notably in world wars i an. Jul, 2010 finally, oconnell reveals how cannaes legend has inspired and haunted military leaders ever since, and the lessons it teaches for our own wars. They were banished to sicily until scipio africanus incorporated them into the army that achieved the final roman victory at. The ghosts of romes loss at the battle of cannae july, 2010 ancient rome is often thought of as consistently victorious but its defeat. They lived to fight the carthaginians years later and eventually got their revenge. For millennia, carthages triumph over rome at cannae in 216 bce has inspired reverent awe. Sep 05, 2010 the distinctive edge of the ghosts of cannae is robert l. No general since has matched hannibals most unexpected, innovative, and brutal military victory. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
National bestsellerfor millennia, carthages triumph over rome at cannae in 216 b. Oconnell was educated at colgate university and the university of virginia, where he received a ph. The ghosts of cannae are also 10,000 roman survivors who happened to be in encampments some distance from the battle. In ghosts of cannae the author presents a fastpaced narrative of the entire second punic war, the twodecade struggle to determine which would be master of the mediterraneanrome or carthage. The lifeanddeath struggle between rome and carthage during the second punic war of the third century bc proved a watershed for both civilizations. The ghosts of the title are the roman survivors of cannae, who were unwanted reminders of defeat. Oct 22, 2016 a stirring account of the most influential battle in history. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic. National bestseller for millennia, carthages triumph over rome at cannae in 216 b. Piecing together decayed shreds of ancient reportage, the author paints powerful portraits of the leading players. Finally, oconnell reveals how cannae s legend has inspired and haunted military leaders ever since, and the lessons it teaches for our own wars. Writers have exhaustively covered this story, and the ancient warfare specialist is unlikely to find anything new here, yet the book remains a worthy read, if only for the cannae battle reconstruction. The ghosts of cannae new hampshire state library overdrive.
The distinctive edge of the ghosts of cannae is robert l. Jul, 2010 the ghosts of cannae refers to the roman soldiers who survived the slaughter and had to carry their loss home with them. For the allied invasion of germany, writes the author, eisenhower envisioned a huge cannae like maneuver, employing a double envelopment of the ruhr, and george patton likened the polish army in 1939 to the unfortunate roman consular army at cannae. Read the ghosts of cannae hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic by robert l. A dramatic account of the violent ancient battle traces the massive defeat of the huge but inexperienced roman army by hannibals forces, interpreting the larger course of the second punic war and the oftendisastrous ways in which the battle has been imi. The ghosts of cannae npr coverage of the ghosts of cannae. Oconnell, one of the most admired names in military history, tells the. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic ebook. Hannibals battle plan at cannae became the mother of all great battle strategiesthe first battle of encirclement that has been imitated often to disastrous effect endlessly over the past two thousand years. The ghosts of cannae quotes showing 15 of 5 rome, on the other hand, lostsuffering on that one day more battle deaths than the united states during the entire course of the war in vietnam, suffering more dead soldiers than any other army on any single day of combat in. Jul, 2010 the ghosts of romes loss at the battle of cannae ancient rome is often thought of as consistently victorious but its defeat at the hands of carthage in 216 b.
Oconnell 2010, cd, unabridged at the best online prices at ebay. What ties the book together is the fate of the survivors, their treatment by. The ghosts of cannae calgary public library overdrive. The ghosts of cannae book tulsa citycounty library. Oconnell 2010, ebook at the best online prices at ebay.
The reference ghosts comes from those who actually survived the carnage and destruction of the battle at cannae on the roman side, where over 50,000 of their comrades and a good proportion of the. The ghosts of cannae king county library system overdrive. The ghosts of romes loss at the battle of cannae ancient rome is often thought of as consistently victorious but its defeat at the hands of carthage in 216 b. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching the ghosts of cannae.
Intelligence community, before becoming a visiting professor at the naval postgraduate school in monterey california. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic on august 2, 216 bc, the carthaginian general hannibal not just defeated but annihilated a larger. The ghosts of cannae robert oconnell books to inmates.
The ghosts of romes loss at the battle of cannae wbur. The ghosts of cannae then brilliantly conveys how this disastrous pivot point in romes history ultimately led to the republics resurgence and the creation of its empire. The ghosts of cannae is at once a book about a specific battle the massive defeat of a huge but inexperienced roman army in southern italy by hannibal in 216 bc but also an interpretation of the larger course of the second punic war, as well as an assessment of the historical impact of romes storied rivalry with carthage. The engagement that followed was a masterpiece of battlefield control. The ghosts of cannae hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic, by robert l. At cannae the romans confronted hannibal with an army of 80,000 infantry and 6,000 cavalry. Historians of today research ancient historians and try to figure out where the infamous battle took place, but aside from knowing the general area, they cannot pinpoint a spot. Outnumbered and hundreds of miles from his base in spain, hannibal accepted battle against a roman force that must have appeared invincible. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic, is an examination of the pivotal battle of. The ghosts of cannae refers to the roman soldiers who survived the slaughter and had to carry their loss home with them.
Oconnell describes how hannibal wiped out the majority of the roman army in a single battle, the battle at cannae, in the ghosts of cannae. It is sprightily written and the research evidenced is impressive. Oconnell, one of the most admired names in military history, tells the whole story of cannae for the first time, giving a stirring account of this apocalyptic battle of the second punic war, and its causes and consequences. This book, by military historian robert oconnell, looks at the hows and also the whys of the battle of cannae, one of the most conclusivebut ultimately least decisivebattles in western history. Hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic, by robert l. The ghosts of cannae hannibal and the darkest hour of the roman republic book. The ghosts of romes loss at the battle of cannae wbur news. The ghosts of cannae is an absolutely incredible true story and if you are interested in the subject, i would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. For the allied invasion of germany, writes the author, eisenhower envisioned a huge cannaelike maneuver, employing a double envelopment of the ruhr, and george patton likened the polish army in 1939 to the unfortunate roman consular army at cannae.