Scipio Africanus: Greater Than Napoleon

Although this biography is over a century old, it is an enjoyable and worthwhile read especially as there are few works on this great Roman general.

The author’s style is user-friendly and flows smoothly, although certainly his style is quite different from a more modern work. Nonetheless, he covers Scipio’s life and accomplishments in just the right detail. Enough information to inform, and yet never bogged down in unnecessary specifics.

While I agree with his conclusions that Scipio is a highly underrated general, the author’s final chapter contrasting him favorably with other great ancient generals (Alexander, Caesar and Hannibal) is simplistic and biased.

A worthwhile and recommended read.

The subtitle accurately reflects Liddell Hart’s opinion of Scipio Africanus. Liddell Hart was a leading British military historian and strategist between the two world wars of the 20th century. But in 1926 at age 31, he wrote this brilliant concise history of the third century BCE Roman general. Publius Scipio Africanus led the Romans to victory over the Carthaginians in the Second Punic War. He defeated the better known Hannibal in the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE.

After a brief introduction and the story of Hannibal’s defeat of Scipio’s father in 211 BCE, Liddell Hart takes the reader through Scipio’s victorious campaign against the Carthaginians in the Iberian Peninsula. Liddell Hart is unstinting in his praise of the Scipio’s show more willingness and ability to innovate and break free from stale military strategies and tactics. He also lauds Scipio’s generous treatment of the native tribes and even his defeated foes. Scipio returns home to election as consul and appointment as general for Sicily and Africa. Liddell Hart portrays Scipio as beset by conservative and jealous senators more anxious to drag him down than to further Roman interests.

Scipio narrowly prevails over his political enemies, but is granted a very small force in Sicily. Scipio overcomes all odds, takes his army to Africa and defeats the legendary and much more experienced Hannibal. He returns to Rome and an increasingly unhappy struggle against his political foes led by Cato the Elder.

Liddell Hart’s writing is clear and concise (the Da Capo Press version is just 280 pages). He makes military strategy and tactics accessible to the general reader. From both the context and numerous comments, it is clear that Liddell Hart’s high opinion of Scipio Africanus was against the grain of accepted scholarship at the time. He is especially dismissive of the opinions of the academic historians with no military background. I will leave it to others to argue the relative merits of Liddell Hart’s view of the Roman general, but his book is well worth reading. show less

I was looking forward to reading this book, with a deep interest in Roman history, as other ratings were so high. I was deeply disappointed as his writing often seemed deeply confused and consequently confusing. Often to understand what seemed conflicting statements, I would read it slowly a second time. It has inspired me to read another book on the subject. I really do not know why others rate it so highly?

One of the best ancient military history books I have ever read.