Customer Reviews:
Alabama History Buff's Must!.......2007-05-07
A true indulgence into the era of earliest expansion of this country's original "west", complete with the "flavor" of the times. The language and provincial thinking, complete with unexpurgated prejudicial ideas, make for an unequaled trip back in time.
Book Description
"[Describes] Alexander's fantastic military achievements... with great skill and charm." --Michael Grant
Coinciding with the release of two films about Alexander by directors Oliver Stone and Baz Luhrmann, here is the classic study of Alexander, his predecessors, and his influence on the art of war--still fascinating and relevant over one hundred years after its initial publication. Dodge here vividly reconstructs every major battle of Alexander's brilliant military career, fully illustrating his narrative with invaluable maps and charts.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent secondary work - worth reading but be on guard.......2007-07-18
I won't cover in detail what many of the other reviewers have already noted: very interesting work before 1900, done by a military man, emphasis on military history - not primarily a biography, a bit dated - with things interpreted from a rifled musket/cannon/cavalry era point of view. Dodge is also a bit biased with his own social/religious notions creeping in at time - more so later in the work on Caesar and Hannibal. Of the "Great Captains" series, it is clear that he thought Gustavus Aldophus was the ideal Great Captain from as much a moral/religious viewpoint as from a military one. Modern historians would probably rate Caesar and Napoleon far higher given our appreciation of the logistics and the political nature of large scale warfare.
If you are interested in the military history of Alexander - this is a nice work and reads quite smoothly. Unlike many military histories which emphasize the big name battles (Arbela, Issus, Siege of Tyre, etc.) this work discusses the little battles and struggles as well - notably Alexander's Danube campaign and how he wended his way through the mountain passes and addresses how he kept his rear areas under control. I had the pleasure of reading an original 1890's era copy and this one is an excellent reproduction.
Great military history, if a little dated........2006-10-17
This book is out of date on two fronts. First, if you are interested in a history of the life of Alexander there are many works of modern scholarship from which to choose. If these do not suffice, you can cut out the middle man and read Arrian, Quintus Curtius or Plutarch in excellent modern translations (or the original if your Latin isn't too rusty). Second, as a work on military tactics, it is written from the perspective of the Civil war era. Thus we get discussions of cavalry techniques which apparently hadn't changed much from Alexander's day to Dodge's.
That said, this is still one of the best histories of the Alexandrine age I have read. It is written with clarity and force and doesn't skimp on details. It concentrates mostly on military matters although it gives enough political and social background to provide an understanding of the strategic significance of events. The book opens with a discussion of military force predating Alexander and tries to make the point that, prior to Greeks, there had been no real use of tactics on the battlefield - a questionable conclusion, I think. There follows a discussion of Persian and Greek arms and tactics and then, at about two hundred pages, it begins a discussion of Alexander proper. The battles of Granicus, Issus and Arbela are all discussed with considerable attention to tactical detail. Dodge then follows Alexander through Persia to Afghanistan and ultimately India. Small maps detail this journey and the myriad small, mopping up battles that ensued. The maps occasionally seem a little suspect given that the first-hand knowledge available to a Civil War veteran of that part of the world was probably small. It seems unlikely Dodge really knew much about the places he describes here. In his two works on ancient generals, Caesar and Hannibal, he visited most of the places he describes. This seems unlikely for the passes of the Hindu-Kush or the courses of the Oxus river. Its hard to get there these days, never mind in the 19th century.
For the most part, however, I really enjoyed Dodge's use of small and very clear diagrams throughout - both as maps and as drawings of equipment etc. These hand drawn items greatly improve the clarity of the book and help you to follow the tactical details of the actions described in the text.
The book closes with a discussion of the Indian campaign, Alexander's return to Persia and his eventual death and sucessors. Dodge clearly thought highly of Alexander - and perhaps rightly so. He does, however, excuse many of his errors, personal and tactical. Alexander's choice of route for returning to Persia is not seen as the tremendous strategic and tactical blunder that it was, for example. An final interesting question raised by Dodge is whether Rome would have stood against Alexander. His answer - no.
If you want great depth or modern scholarship this is not the place to find it but, while the book has its flaws, it is a great read for those unfamiliar with Alexander or those wanting a basic understanding of the tactics and strategy that made him so successful.
Spendid Classic.......2005-08-02
Its good to see the works of Dodge in print again. His six volumes chronicling the history and development of warfare were classics of their kind. Written in the 1880s, these books still have a lot to say about this subject. Granted some of the information on the organiaztion and tactics of ancient armies may be somewhat dated. Also Dodge's somewhat jaundiced view toward Asian non-western armies may seem a bit out of date in these hyper-politically correct times, but his opinions are always insightful and interesting.
What makes this history of Alexander different is the background development of ancient warfare leading up to his time, as well as the purely military analysis. The reader gets a first-rate discussion of military development and innovation before his time which places the Macedonian army and Alexander in greater perspective. You won't find this kind of depth in many other histories on Alexander. Other than JFC Fuller's analysis on Alexander's generalship, there are precious few works that devote much time to this most important aspect of his life. Whatever else Alexander was, and he was, and remains many different things to different people, he was, first and foremost, a great military genius. This is what we should remember him most for. Many more recent works often forget this important aspect, and place too much emphasis on his character. Many biographers try to read too much into his actions, and have their own agendas to pursue in discussing Alexander's actions. This must have been so in Dodges day as well as he often comments on this tendency.
One of the great things about Dodge is his often candid and frank observations. His writing style is also smooth and elegant. Too bad more historians today don't have this style of elegance anymore. Dodge avoids most of the controversial aspects surrounding Alexander's life, although he will often mention them in passing and offer a brief opinion. The reader is constantly reminded that this is a military analysis of the great Macedonian, not a biographical one. While Dodge's view is decidely pro-Alexander, he does acknowledge some of the darker aspects of his character. The reader is left to make his own judgement about these matters. Like Arrian, Dodge tries to stick to the matter at hand, and throughout maintains a solid and consistent narrative. The maps and diagrams provided may seem inadequate by today's standards, but they are numerous and very helpful in trying to understand Alexander's battles and campaigns. More works on Alexander should have maps like this.
Dodge provides a fine military narrative of Alexander. You won't find any mention of the deviant sides of his character, which is so popular today. For those aspects the reader should turn to the fanciful works of Mary Renault who freely discusses such things. Dodge's work is an excellent companion to any modern day biography of Alexander. You won't find any better discussion of the military aspects of his life than in these pages. Highly recommended for all interested in ancient warfare and the development of military conflict in general.
A classic which stands up well .......2005-03-15
In the last few months a film by Oliver Stone has released based on the life of Alexander of Macedon. It is interesting to compare the character portrayed in the film and the character portrayed in Dodges book. In the film the success of Alexander arises because of his charisma his ability to influence his troops. The book tells a different story.
Dodge explains in detail every step of Alexander's campaigns and he tries to explain the logic and reason behind every move. Some have suggested that Alexander's success was the result of his superb and highly trained army. Something bequeathed to him by his father. However others had invaded Persia before without success including the Spartans.
Alexander thought carefully through the problems of conquering such a vast empire as that of Persia. The first part of his campaign was devoted to building a logistical base for the conquest. He thus defeated two Persian armies and then set about the conquest of the Ionian coast, Palestine and Egypt. The reason being to destroy the Persian navy and to ensure that when he moved against the heart of the Persian Empire he would have a steady supply of men food and horses to keep the war going.
The general impression of a military genius is a person who the impulsive movement of troops is able to conquer. Dodges book shows how much Alexander's genius was based on the mastery of detail. At the siege of Tyre he built a land bridge out to the city which was on an island. As the defenders developed means of impeding the work he developed counter measures. As he moved through Asia he ensured the loyalty of the areas he moved through not only by leaving garrisons but building relationships by the giving reductions in tribute by promoting popular rulers and when necessary by shows of brutality and force.
Perhaps the most impressive battle he fought was against the Indian King Porus. His victories against the Persian King Darius had been assisted by that Kings flights from the battle fields. Porus was a lot braver and not only did he have a highly trained army he over 200 war elephants. Alexander to defeat Porus not only had to deal with these issues but he had to cross an enormous river in the face of a well lead and well equipped army. Dodge's account of this battle is probably one of the best in the book. The manourvering and Alexander's skill come out well in Dodge's account.
The negative side of the book is that the social attitudes and world view in the book are those of another age. Dodge was an American veteran of Gettysburg who lost his leg in that battle and in later life made his living as an author. He writes from the perspective that Alexander was not only a military genius but a person who represented the western way of doing things whilst his adversaries represented the Oriental way of doing things. This gloss is a bit unhistorical and occasionally mars the narrative but this is a minor quibble in reading a book which by and large is still readable today and is good. Broadly because of his military experience Dodge is able to understand and to explain the issues of logistics and marching and movement of an army such as Alexanders.
And in comparing the book to the film one can see that the key to Alexander's charisma and place in history is not due to the fact that he was good looking or that he carried himself in a certain way. Rather the charisma is something which grew from his mastery of detail and his ability to be a successful commander.
A semenal work that should become a classic........2002-09-24
Alexander by Theodore Dodge is a beautifully written book that delves into all relevant areas relating to Alexander's fight to spread Hellenism. The book gives detailed and unequivoval accounts of his great battles. It also gives one a good understanding for what military technology was available to Alexander at the time. It also focuses on the enemies of Alexander and their military strengths and developments. Theodore Dodge is a military historian and thus he does not go into the culture of both greece and Persia as much as I would have like him to. It is amazing how his work can still remain an authority after 100 years since its first publication. This shows what a great book it is and what an objective writer Theodore Dodge truly is. I have also read Hannibal and Caesar by the same author, and I find them equally great.
Book Description
“I think that I or any of my brethren have a right to choose a wife for themselves as well as the whites, and as the whites have taken the liberty to choose my brethren, the Indians, hundreds of thousands of them, as partners in life, I believe the Indians have as much right to choose their partners among the whites if they wish.”—William Apess, An IndianÂ's Looking-Glass for the White Man, 1833
In this groundbreaking study, Thomas Ingersoll argues the Jacksonian American Indian removal policy appealed to popular racial prejudice against all Indians, including special suspicion of mixed bloods. Lawmakers also perceived a threat to white AmericansÂ' transatlantic reputation posed by the potential for general racial mixture, or "amalgamation." Beginning in the 1780s, and for the ensuing half-century, alarmed government officials attempted to separate full blood and mixed-blood Indians into enclaves in the Far West, to isolate them from white migrants out of the eastern states and prevent the rise of a new, genuinely alternative mixed society.
Ingersoll begins by examining the origins and early history of mixed bloods in North America. He follows with the lives of individual mixed bloods, an exploration of how the growing mixed population informed racial thought in the Early National Period, and the role of mixed-blood chiefs in opposing the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
The Native Americans of mixed ancestry in 1830 and why Andrew Jackson implemented a law to remove them.
Customer Reviews:
big & pretty--pretty inaccurate.......2005-09-01
Nice coffee table book, but a great deal of Mails' stuff is either made-up or borrowed from squirrely popular romanticizations of Cherokee folks. For a general if ideologically out-dated history, see Grace Steele Woodward, for culture see Mooney, Theda Perdue for work specifically on women, and for straight-up historical scholarship, try William McLoughlin's stuff.
Cherokee History at its best!!.......2002-03-05
Excellent text! Very detailed in explaining the origin, customs, social structure, and ancient ceremonial lore of the Cherokee people. Contains concise information regarding who the Cherokee were prior to European contact, as well as post contact.
Would recommend this text for use in teaching Cherokee Culture and History. A valuable tool for exploring and researching the history of a noble people- The Cherokee.
Extremely well written, documented and illustrated.......1999-06-04
Rev. Mails, a retired Lutheran minister, has produced a classic reference on the Cherokee people. He quotes other historians, including Englishmen who lived with the Cherokees during the 1700 and early 1800's, who believed the Cherokees are descended from the Hebrews (reinforcing Mormon beliefs that Cherokee ancestors came from Jerusalem and were Jews). The chapter on religion is very complete. The drawings, by Rev. Mails himself, are wonderful, as is his attention to detail. The bibliography is extensive.
Book Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program.
Average customer rating:
- An Encyclopedia of Canadian Natives
- Northern people's history
- A Great Contribution to Canadian Popular History
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Canada's First Nations: A History of Founding Peoples from Earliest Times
Olive Patricia Dickason
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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Reading Beyond Words: Contexts for Native History, Second Edition
ASIN: 019541652X |
Book Description
Canada's First Nations is a comprehensive history of Canada's original inhabitants, Indians, Inuit, and later, Metis. Using an interdisciplinary approach combining techniques from History, Anthropology, and Archaeology, Dickason tells the story of the more than 50 First Nations in the territory that is now Canada.
Customer Reviews:
An Encyclopedia of Canadian Natives.......2006-02-03
This is an excellent book, which can be used as an encyclopedia for the history, traditional names, and geographical location of the Canadian Native peoples. The author has used numerous primary sources and maps and her style is very readable. Dickason gave also the aboriginal perspective of many events but in a very balanced account. The book can grasp the attention not only to professional historians dealing with Native history but also to all readers who have some general interest in the past of Canada's Amerindians.
Northern people's history.......2003-04-14
Oliva Dickason, the Canadian doyenne of academic Amerindian history, delivers an excellent university introduction textbook to the history of the First Nations of North America, concentrating on those of Canada.
She deals with four periods: the pre-colonial era, the colonial, the 19th & mid-20th century, and the end of 20th century.
Her pre-colonial history is often speculative, since there are no written records, but much can be determined from oral tradition and archeological finds. For instance, the Iroquois confederacy was established shortly before the French landed in the mid-16th century; North America housed a diversity of distinct nations; many Amerindians cultures lived in permanent settlements; west coast nations had developed explicit property rights and had a system of land entitlement.
The colonial era was one of co-operation and alliances between the Ameridians and the Europeans settlers and soldiers. The Europeans brought their wars and diseases with them, while the First Nations brought their wars too. The partnership was equal and the First Nations on the winning side benefitted, at least until the 19th century.
From the 19th century onwards however, White rule has much to answer for. The diseases of the colonial era were brought inadvertently, but not so the 19th century land grab, or the disastrous assimilation attempts of the 20th century.
The end of the 20th century has seen a revival of Amerindian self-government. The First Nations have begun using Western institutions to their advantage. In the 1980's Elijah Harper, then member of Manitoba's provincial parliament, single-handedly, and rather heroically, derailed a Canadian constitutional accord (Lake Meech) which failed to address First Nations concerns. Earlier in the 1970s, the First Nations successfully negotiated with Hydro Quebec and created the precedent that their agreement was needed for development on their lands.
Overall, an excellent reference.
A Great Contribution to Canadian Popular History.......2000-06-15
This book is a wonderful synthesis of Canadian aboriginal history. I was impressed by the author's detailed and well-balanced approach. It is neither a moral fable nor a panegyric of conquerors' exploits, but rather history as it should be told. The only downside is the book's episodic style but that is necessitated by its ambitious goal. Olive Dickason did an especially good job highlighting the different histories of Canada's natives both pre- and post-contact.
Book Description
A social history of Everett, Washington, from its earliest beginnings to the tragic and infamous event on November 5, 1916, which came to be known as the Everett Massacre.
Customer Reviews:
Very detailed.......2005-07-23
Mill Town is a fascinating, and extremely detailed, look at the first 25 years or so of Everett. As my family settled in Everett during the time this book discusses, I thought the level of detail was wonderful --- but that it could be quite tedious for most other people.
Apart from those interested in Everett, I'd recommend the book for anyone who's a serious student of the labor movement. Professor Clark gives an excellent micro-view of the conflicts between labor and management. The narrative helped me understand better the origins of labor unions and why workers in certain industries are so hostile toward management (and vice versa). Though his sympathies are clearly with labor, he gives a fair portrayal of management's side.
I'd also recommend the book to anyone studying the progressive movement. Clark goes into great depth about the goals of progressives, their interactions with organized labor, and some of the key reasons why they failed as a political force.
Clark is a terrific story-teller. If Everett, or organized labor, or the progressive movement are your thing, this book is definitely worth the read.
it was ok.......1999-03-08
unless you are an avid historian, and like it when books go into extreme detail then I would not advise you to read this book.
Book Description
Karel Marten's work occupies a unique place in the present European art and design landscape. While working in the tradition of Dutch modernism, he maintains distance from the main developments of his time: from both the practices of routinized Modernism and the facile reactions against it. His work is personal and experimental, while at the same time publicly answerable. This book presents Martens graphic design oeuvre in reproductions of startling fidelity, and described in informal captions. Printed on uncoated paper and Chinese-bound, the book itself has a compelling tactile quality. For this long-awaited second edition, twenty-four pages have been added to cover Marten's most recent work.
Customer Reviews:
beautiful presentation.......2002-12-02
This book presents a compilation of work from a contemporary Dutch graphic designer/typographer, Karl Martens. It also displays some work from his students. The written portion is quite minimal (as it should be). Most of the book concentrates on the visual, presenting both the raw, unfinished processes and sketches to the finalized, published work of Martens. If you like typography, book binding, page layouts, grid structures, you will love looking at this book. The book itself has a handmade feel to it. it even looks like the text and pictures are printed on inkjet printer and the pages are folded odd and even pages to make double sided spreads. I recommend this--to especially students and faculty at RISD.
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