Series in Individual Wars
Books in Individual Wars
The Battle of New Orleans
A Bicentennial perspective on the Battle of New Orleans, as fiction would have it, and the treacherous paths that brought its heroes together on one cataclysmic day. The year was 1815. New Orleans was then the great prize worth fighting for on the Gulf of Mexico, commanding the shipping routes among gold-rich Spanish colonies and the sugarcane-covered islands claimed by France. It was a disorderly gateway to the new United States and the sole outlet to the sea for the entire American West. More people spoke French than English and the city’s government was even more blind to misbehavior than it is today. This was the backdrop for the improbable, decisive battle that battle pitted volunteer militiamen, “free people of color,” mountaineers, and pirates against the world’s greatest army and navy. The outcome gave Jackson Square its name, sealed the fate of the slaves, repelled European aggressors for all time, and gave America a chance to see what it could do.
The Hundred Years’ War: 1337–1453
A concise overview of the Hundred Years War, the longest-running and the most significant conflict in western Europe in the later Middle Ages. There can be no doubt that military conflict between France and England dominated European history in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Hundred Years War is of considerable interest both because of its duration and the number of theatres in which it was fought. In this compact and accessible volume, Hundred Years War expert Professor Anne Curry examines how the war can reveal much about the changing nature of warfare: the rise of infantry and the demise of the knight; the impact of increased use of gunpowder and the effect of the war on generations of people. This illustrated introduction provides an important reference resource for the academic or student reader as well as those with a general interest in late medieval warfare.
The Russian Civil War 1918–22
The Russian Civil War was arguably the most important civil war of the 20th century, changing the lives of over half a billion people and dramatically shaping the geography of Europe and Asia. Over a four-year period 20 countries battled in a crucible that would give birth to Communist revolutions worldwide and the Cold War. David Bullock offers a fresh perspective on this conflict, examining the forces involved, as well as the fascinating intervention by Allied forces. At the dawn of modern war, as cavalry duelled with tanks, aircraft, and armoured trains along shifting fronts, this title tells a military story enacted against a backdrop of political and social revolution and within the context of immense human loss. Featuring rare photographs and illustrations throughout, this concise introduction brings this story to life.