A war like no other : how the Athenians and Spartans fought the Peloponnesian War

From the Publisher: One of our most provocative military historians, Victor Davis Hanson has given us painstakingly researched and pathbreaking accounts of wars ranging from classical antiquity to the twenty-first century. Now he juxtaposes an ancient conflict with our most urgent modern concerns to create his most engrossing work to date, A War Like No Other. Over the course of a generation, the Hellenic city-states of Athens and Sparta fought a bloody conflict that resulted in the collapse of Athens and the end of its golden age. Thucydides wrote the standard history of the Peloponnesian War, which has given readers throughout the ages a vivid and authoritative narrative. But Hanson offers readers something new: a complete chronological account that reflects the political background of the time, the strategic thinking of the combatants, the misery of battle in multifaceted theaters, and important insight into how these events echo in the present. Hanson compellingly portrays the ways Athens and Sparta fought on land and sea, in city and countryside, and details their employment of the full scope of conventional and nonconventional tactics, from sieges to targeted assassinations, torture, and terrorism. He also assesses the crucial roles played by warriors such as Pericles and Lysander, artists, among them Aristophanes, and thinkers including Sophocles and Plato. Hanson's perceptive analysis of events and personalities raises many thought-provoking questions: Were Athens and Sparta like America and Russia, two superpowers battling to the death? Is the Peloponnesian War echoed in the endless, frustrating conflicts of Vietnam, Northern Ireland, and the current Middle East? Or was it more like America's own Civil War, a brutal rift that rent the fabric of a glorious society, or even this century's "red state-blue state" schism between liberals and conservatives, a cultural war that manifestly controls military policies? Hanson daringly brings the facts to life and unearths the often surprising ways in which the past informs the present. Brilliantly researched, dynamically written, A War Like No Other is like no other history of this important war

one Of Our Most Provocative Military Historians, Victor Davis Hanson Has Given Us Painstakingly Researched And Pathbreaking Accounts Of Wars Ranging From Classical Antiquity To The Twenty-first Century. Now He Juxtaposes An Ancient Conflict With Our Most Urgent Modern Concerns To Create His Most Engrossing Work To Date, A War Like No Other.

over The Course Of A Generation, The Hellenic City-states Of Athens And Sparta Fought A Bloody Conflict That Resulted In The Collapse Of Athens And The End Of Its Golden Age. Thucydides Wrote The Standard History Of The Peloponnesian War, Which Has Given Readers Throughout The Ages A Vivid And Authoritative Narrative. But Hanson Offers Readers Something New: A Complete Chronological Account That Reflects The Political Background Of The Time, The Strategic Thinking Of The Combatants, The Misery Of Battle In Multifaceted Theaters, And Important Insight Into How These Events Echo In The Present.

hanson Compellingly Portrays The Ways Athens And Sparta Fought On Land And Sea, In City And Countryside, And Details Their Employment Of The Full Scope Of Conventional And Nonconventional Tactics, From Sieges To Targeted Assassinations, Torture, And Terrorism. He Also Assesses The Crucial Roles Played By Warriors Such As Pericles And Lysander, Artists, Among Them Aristophanes, And Thinkers Including Sophocles And Plato.

hanson's Perceptive Analysis Of Events And Personalities Raises Many Thought-provoking Questions: Were Athens And Sparta Like America And Russia, Two Superpowers Battling To The Death? Is The Peloponnesian War Echoed In The Endless, Frustrating Conflicts Of Vietnam, Northern Ireland, And The Current Middle East? Or Was It More Like America's Own Civil War, A Brutal Rift That Rent The Fabric Of A Glorious Society, Or Even This Century's Red State-blue State Schism Between Liberals And Conservatives, A Cultural War That Manifestly Controls Military Policies? Hanson Daringly Brings The Facts To Life And Unearths The Often Surprising Ways In Which The Past Informs The Present.

brilliantly Researched, Dynamically Written, a War Like No Other Is Like No Other History Of This Important War.

the Washington Post - Tracy Lee Simmons

a War Like No Other Can Be Read As An Elaborate Excursus On The Work Of Thucydides, Performed By Victor Davis Hanson, A Former Professor Of Classics Who Has Made Himself One Of Our Premier Military Historians. Hanson Might Fairly Be Accused Of Overproduction -- Still In His Prime, He Has Authored Or Co-authored 15 Other Books -- But This Study Demonstrates The Care Of An Avid, Meticulous Scholar Whose Learning Can Be Worn Lightly Because It's So Assured. He Has Also Become A Formidable Journalist In Recent Years, Which Has Prompted Him To Produce Prose That Is Starkly Appealing, Direct And Accessible To The Common, Curious Reader.

Provocative military historian Victor Davis Hanson has given painstakingly researched & pathbreaking accounts of wars ranging from classical antiquity to the 21st century. Now he juxtaposes an ancient conflict with modern concerns to create his most engrossing work to date, A War Like No Other. Over the course of a generation, the Hellenic poleis of Athens & Sparta fought a bloody conflict that resulted in the collapse of Athens & the end of its golden age. Thucydides wrote the standard history of the Peloponnesian War, which has given readers throughout the ages a vivid & authoritative narrative. But Hanson offers something new: a complete chronological account that reflects the political background of the time, the strategic thinking of the combatants, the misery of battle in multifaceted theaters & insight into how these events echo in the present. He compellingly portrays the ways Athens & Sparta fought on land & sea, in city & countryside, & details their employment of the full scope of conventional & nonconventional tactics, from sieges to targeted assassinations, torture & terrorism. He also assesses the crucial roles played by warriors such as Pericles & Lysander, artists, among them Aristophanes, & thinkers including Sophocles & Plato. Hansons perceptive analysis of events & personalities raises many thought-provoking questions: Were Athens & Sparta like America & Russia, two superpowers battling to the death? Is the Peloponnesian War echoed in the endless, frustrating conflicts of Vietnam, Northern Ireland & the current Middle East? Or was it more like Americas own Civil War, a brutal rift that rent the fabric of a glorious society, or even this centurys red stateblue state schism between liberals & conservatives, a cultural war that manifestly controls military policies? Hanson daringly brings the facts to life & unearths the often surprising ways in which the past informs the present. Brilliantly researched, dynamically written, A War Like No Other is like no other history of this important war. "Hanson portrays the ways Athens and Sparta fought on land and sea, in city and countryside, and details their employment of the full scope of conventional and nonconventional tactics, from sieges to targeted assassinations, torture, and terrorism. He also assesses the crucial roles played by warriors such as Pericles and Lysander; artists, among them Aristophanes; and philosophers including Sophocles and Plato." "Hanson's analysis of events and personalities raises many questions: Were Athens and Sparta like the United States and the Soviet Union, two superpowers battling to the death? Is the Peloponnesian War echoed in the endless, frustrating conflicts of Vietnam, Northern Ireland, and the current Middle East - or was it more like America's own Civil War, a brutal rift that rent the fabric of a glorious society, or even this century's "red state-blue state" schism between liberals and conservatives, a cultural war that manifestly controls military policies? Hanson brings the facts to life and unearths the often surprising ways in which the past informs the present."--Jacket