“Jeremy Black’s extraordinary body of work regularly returns to themes in military history. . . . His latest book distills his achievements as the most prolific historian in the English language into 40 short chapters that describe war from the ancient world to the present day. . . . A Short History of War offers an expansive and often evocative account of great causes that are never lost or won.”—Crawford Gribben, Wall Street Journal
“In this compact, revisited text, the author . . . applies his undeniable erudition to a rapid survey of human bellicosity from the Stone Age to around the end of 2020.”—Strategy
‘Jeremy Black has somehow managed to condense a vast and complex subject into a very compact and compelling book. His global range, avoidance of repetition of the standard topics, and ability to capture the variety of warfare in all its forms throughout history is truly remarkable.’—Professor Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny
‘This is an excellent overview of the history of war. Highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to understand the evolution of war around the globe from prehistory to the present day.’—Professor Heather Jones, University College London
‘This is a truly global survey which amounts to a miracle of compression. Indispensable for students and scholars alike.’— Professor Gary Sheffield, University of Wolverhampton
