Tales of War: Great Stories from Military History for Every Day of the Year - Softcover

Carrick, Bruce; Marsh, W.B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1848312172 ISBN 13: 9781848312173

Publisher: Icon Books, 2011

Synopsis

From Julius Caesar’s victory at the Battle of Zela in 47 BC to the heroics of US marines during World War II, Tales of War is a tour of the camaraderie, bravery, and sacrifice of armed conflict. With a story for every day of the year, discover why the "Star Spangled Banner" was adopted as the US national anthem and much more:

• January 3, 1777: George Washington leads his troops to a crucial victory against the British at Princeton
• April 9, 1865: The American Civil War comes to an end
• June 25, 1876: Custer’s Last Stand
• August 6, 1945: Hiroshima
• October 27, 312: A flaming cross inspires Emperor Constantine at Milvian Bridge
• December 16, 1773: The Boston Tea Party

Tales of War shows the far-reaching consequences of a single day’s action and the courage of the people who risk their lives to bring them about.

W.B. Marsh was born in New York, and now lives in London. On his birthday 26 October Alfred the Great, who famously defeated the Danes on British soil, died in 899.

Bruce Carrick has worked in book publishing for many years in New York and London. On his birthday in 1856, The Gazette first published the creation of the Victoria Cross, the highest possible military award in the Commonwealth for valor in the face of the enemy.

About this title

About the Author

W.B. Marsh was born in New York, and now lives in London. On his birthday - 26 October - Alfred the Great, who famously defeated the Danes on British soil, died in 899. Bruce Carrick has worked in book publishing for many years in New York and London. On his birthday in 1856, the Gazette first published the creation of the Victoria Cross, the highest possible military award in the Commonwealth for valour in the face of the enemy.

Review

`One of the complaints made of history is that it's all about dates, but the authors of this volume take the criticism head on, assembling a series of military events to coincide with each day of the year. The format is admirably straight forward: a lead story enscapulating a battle or other military matter is followed up by a listing of other key moments from that particular day. . . . The book is an exercise in storytelling and there are many good tales to be found within, not least the decisive defeat of the Turks at the gates of Vienna in 1683 (12 September). . . . `Tales of War `would make a good Christmas gift to someone with an interest in military history--or, better still, as a birthday present with the appropriate day flagged for the recipient.' -- War Books Review `Most history books tend to follow a particular time line, linking events in a chain of cause and effect . . . However, this solid--more than 700 pages--book is much more of a 'dip-in' affair, offering a relatively brief (2-3 pages at most) snapshot of a particular military event that happened on a particular day of the year--selected from 3,500 years of human conflict, from Pharaoh Thutmose III's victory at Megiddo in 1479 (15 May) to the VC-winning action of Private Johnson Behanny in Iraq in 2004 (11June). . . . all in all, this is a fascinating read. And we challenge anyone not to immediately check what happened on their birthday!.' -- Civvy Street

Edition details

• Publisher: Icon Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1848312172
• ISBN 13: 9781848312173
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 756