The Face of Battle
Ernie's Take:
In The Face of Battle, by John Keegan, the eminent late military historian continues his examination of war by describing the experience of battle for the ordinary soldier, taking the battles of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme for his examples. Avoiding the usual high-level discussion of strategy and tactics at the command level, Keegan instead outlines the effects of medical and weapons technology and cultural/historical differences in the treatment of conflict. This can be seen in the changing notions of honor and bravery on the battlefield, the effects of wounds, and the justifications for the conflicts themselves. Keegan is once again brilliant at illuminating military history with excellent documentation and a clear and appealing prose style.