Military

F.J. Hebbert and G.A. Rothrock introduce the greatest military engineer of his age, Vauban, who served Louis XIV with unflagging devotion.

William Allan introduces the Napoleonic military genius; in Napier’s words, ‘the best loved Frenchman England ever fought’.

The supreme direction of the First World War has remained a matter of controversy; in this essay, John Terraine contrasts Lloyd George’s hopes with the manner of their realization.

Thomas Pakenham describes the ill-fated but remarkable efforts of a tiny French naval expedition to help conquer Ireland for the rebels during the 1798 Rising.

John Raymond offers the picturesque records of an amiable spendthrift who lived through the greater part of one of the most eventful centuries of English history.

Raymond A. Mohl describs how the nineteenth century history of Anglo-Russian conflict in Central Asia is marked by gradual Russian advances and gradual British retreats.

M.J. Sydenham describes how, returning from the Colonies “with a most dreadful antipathy towards the government and nation”, this one-time highwayman conceived the scheme of striking a dramatic blow for America”.

Dorothy Carrington describes how two citizens of Corsica, both of whom, in the Corsican tradition, aspired to political advancement, conducted a lengthy vendetta that had a decisive effect on the history of Europe.

Before the triumph of Bolshevism, and even afterwards, many revolutionary leaders struggled to take charge of Russian destinies. David Footman describes how Savinkov was one of the extraordinary personalities who tried, and failed.

In the summer of 1849, Austrian forces besieging Venice decided to put into practice a novel plan; Europe had its first experience of aerial warfare.