Hannibal Hardcover – July 11, 2017

As Patrick Hunt tells us in the preface to this engaging work, he has spent much of his life researching the enigma that is Hannibal Barca. Now this overriding interest has led Hunt to write a very informative, wide-ranging biography of the famous general.This is a book that makes clear why Hannibal is rightfully considered one of the greatest military figures in history, but it is also a well-balanced volume that avoids hagiography. And while it will certainly please an academic audience, the book is free of academic dryness, avoiding jargon and handling complex concepts in a readable manner. It manages to be suspenseful even when one is already familiar with the events of the general’s life—and that is no easy trick.Hunt is quite skillful in weaving together the various factors that shaped Hannibal’s success and failure, including the startling brilliance of his military mind, the influence of his father, and the political environment of Carthage with its dubious support of the general’s efforts. Hunt is very solid at explaining the faulty tactics—and later brilliance—of the Romans (especially seen in Fabius Maximus and Scipio Africanus). Finally, there is Hannibal’s considerable logistic and administrative skill, a factor often overlooked but which Hunt covers wonderfully.But for all his acumen, Hannibal ultimately failed, and it is this failure that has made him an enigma: His ability to adapt to changing circumstances had been almost wondrous at times—as Hunt makes very clear—but Hannibal seems to have lost something of that ability after his greatest success, Cannae. And here lies the famous multi-faceted question: should Hannibal have invaded Rome? Hunt discusses this question in a very nice, concise way and then goes on to explore an unhappy issue: Was Hannibal incapable of adjusting to what had become the new “game plan” of the Romans? They refused to fight him on his own terms, and they adopted the tactics he had used against them. Hunt explores this topic unsparingly and illuminates how the limitless resources and determination of Rome likely made Hannibal’s mission in southern Italy an inevitable failure. Very highly recommended.

A fantastic read for anyone interested in history, Hannibal, and the Punic Wars. I particularly enjoyed the attention to detail regarding topography, the numbers and background of the troops involved in various campaigns, and the overarching social history as Punic and Roman civilizations clashed throughout the narrative. This book does an excellent job of peeling back some of the hidden layers on Hannibal himself, a truly enigmatic character who would’ve stood out as an extraordinary individual in any era. The author’s use of sources such as Polybius and Livy is particularly fascinating when used in conjunction with known facts from the actual battle sites, such as the terrain and climate conditions. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in ancient history or someone who simply loves a good factual story that is well told.

This book is a very strong biography of Hannibal’s life and times. It is easy to read and clearly written. It focuses on both his life and the lives of those around him - though mostly his enemies and a few of his fellow generals. However, I found it focused more on his movements and battles, which were clearly articulated, and less on the man himself. Would have liked more on his lifestyle, his family and relationships around him. For example, the book does not explore his other generals or comrades except for out,inning their positions in battle. Also, the book could have benefitted from more detailed maps for some of his Italian movements and battles.Overall a very good read to understand Hannibal and his exploits in Europe.

A fascinating and very accessible history of Hannibal and his battles against the Romans. Hunt clearly knows his stuff and separates as much as possible the real from the myths, explaining why he reaches his conclusion without all the academic clutter that impedes most histories. Its clear, concise and persuasive.

The legacy of Carthinian General Hannibal Barca is brought to life in this shockingly graphic and detailed account. His military tactics revolutionalized warfare and still seem remarkable to this day. An exciting read from start to finish!

As a child I heard about his feat of crossing the Alps with elephants. This book gave me a wonderful insight into the politics of Rome and the military genius of Hannibal

This book was a very detailed read about Hannibal as a total person. Much information was given as to the supposed reason he acted the way he did. Quality information was provided as to his later life and his death. A good book to read about Hannibal, not just the warrior Hannibal.

Very well researched & written. I thought his interpretations of events & situations, for which written historical information does not exist, was carefully reasoned out and presented.

This revealed substantial gaps in my knowledge of history. After struggling in some initial chapters I found I could hardly put it down once the battle sequences started.

A very interesting book on Hannibal Barca, the great Carthaginian General of antiquity, most famous for crossing the Alps with his war elephants and taking the battle to the gates of Rome. Hannibal defeated successive Roman armies dispatched against him by employing superior tactics along with skillfully use of terrain and weather. The ‘Double Envelopment’ was his signature maneuver. After the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE, recognizing his brilliance on the battlefield, Rome adopted the ‘Fabian Strategy’ of avoiding direct engagements with Hannibal while raising fresh legions against him. However, Carthage simply did not have the resources to wage a protracted war against Rome. Hannibal was finally defeated at Zama by Scipio Africanus, a Roman General of equal brilliance.The author is an authority on Hannibal having visited various battlefields/ sites associated with the campaign’s of Hannibal as well as having investigated a number of Alpine passes to determine the exact route taken by Hannibal to cross into Italy. In addition to his own investigations, he has drawn on the works of Roman historians Polybius and Livy to stitch together this interesting narrative.The narrative begins with an introduction to Carthage and Hamilcar Barca - Hannibal’s father. Hannibal emerges on the stage around 247 BCE. It thereafter covers the Barcid clan's exploits in Iberia, Hannibal’s march to Rome across the Alps, his many wanderings/battles in Italy, his return to Carthage and concludes with Hannibal’s exile and wanderings after the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE.Through the pages of this biography, the author has skillfully painted a character sketch of Hannibal, the General, highlighting, most importantly, Hannibal’s personality traits of guile, willingness to share hardships with his troops, his understanding of terrain and weather, and his ability to use them as weapons of war. In addition to Hannibal, the author also provides interesting insights into Hannibal’s major opponents including Scipio Africanus, his nemesis.The book is highly recommended for the casual reader interested in Hannibal as well as students of military history.

Hunt has one of the better books on Hannibal I've read - even if he isn't aware or ignores that Hannibal had no last name. Phoenicians (and the Carthaginians) had no last names. They used descriptors. His descriptor is missing from history. Bet it was a beaut though!

I just started reading the book and I can say its the best written book regarding Hannibal and his exploits against Rome. And I got it for $5.00 so I'm very happy.