Hannibal: A Hellenistic Life
by Eve MacDonald
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"Hannibal lived a life of incredible feats of daring and survival, massive military engagements, and ultimate defeat. A citizen of Carthage and military commander in Punic Spain, he famously marched his war elephants and huge army over the Alps into Rome's own heartland to fight the Second Punic War. Yet the Romans were the ultimate victors. They eventually captured and destroyed Carthage, and thus it was they who wrote the legend of Hannibal: a brilliant and worthy enemy whose defeat show more represented military glory for Rome. In this groundbreaking biography Eve MacDonald expands the memory of Hannibal beyond his military feats and tactics. She considers him in the wider context of the society and vibrant culture of Carthage which shaped him and his family, employing archaeological findings and documentary sources not only from Rome but also the wider Mediterranean world of the third century B.C. MacDonald also analyzes Hannibal's legend over the millennia, exploring how statuary, Jacobean tragedy, opera, nineteenth-century fiction, and other depictions illuminate the character of one of the most fascinating military personalities in all of history"-- show lessTags
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Member Reviews
I have read many books on Hannibal and the Second Punic War and this is easily one of the best.
Unlike many authors, this work does not get bogged down on the minutiae of each battle. Given the complexity of the fighting over almost two decades, understandably the standard retelling can become confusing and even off putting. Instead, the author focuses on issues such as how Hannibal was able to present himself to both his men and outsiders as a Hellenistic style leader worthy of following. The author also does an excellent job of explaining context- the various alliances and why they (and Hannibal and his Roman opponents) acted as they did. Finally, many interesting details and insights are added that are generally underreported in other show more similar books. show less
Unlike many authors, this work does not get bogged down on the minutiae of each battle. Given the complexity of the fighting over almost two decades, understandably the standard retelling can become confusing and even off putting. Instead, the author focuses on issues such as how Hannibal was able to present himself to both his men and outsiders as a Hellenistic style leader worthy of following. The author also does an excellent job of explaining context- the various alliances and why they (and Hannibal and his Roman opponents) acted as they did. Finally, many interesting details and insights are added that are generally underreported in other show more similar books. show less
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Kindle Non-Fiction
221 works; 1 member
Author Information
7 Works 174 Members
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 937.04092 — History & geography History of ancient world (to ca. 499) Italian Peninsula to 476 and adjacent territories to 476 Punic wars 264-146 B.C. Biography
- LCC
- DG249 .M33 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania City History of Italy Ancient Italy. Rome to 476 History By period Kings and Republic, 753-27 B.C. Republic, 509-27 Conquest of Mediterranean world. 264-133 First and Second Punic Wars. Illyrian
- BISAC
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- 78
- Popularity
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- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.83)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 1
