Cover of The Face of Battle

The Face of Battle

HistoryWar & Military

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About “The Face of Battle”

The Face of Battle examines the direct experience of individuals at the point of maximum danger in warfare, focusing on the physical conditions of fighting, the emotions and behaviors generated by battle, and the motives that drive soldiers to fight rather than flee. Through a detailed reassessment of three battles—Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme—John Keegan conveys the reality of combat for those who participated, whether facing the arrow cloud of Agincourt, the levelled muskets of Waterloo, or the steel rain of the Somme.

Praise for “The Face of Battle”

“...still widely regarded as his best despite more than 20 other works.”

— The Guardian

“The most brilliant evocation of military experience in our time”

— C.P. Snow

“In this book, which is so creative, so original, one learns as much about the nature of man as of battle.”

— J.H. Plumb, The New York Times Book Review

Book details

Published
1976
Latest edition
1976 · ISBN 9780140048971
ISBN
9780140048971

Frequently asked questions

How many pages is The Face of Battle?

The Face of Battle by John Keegan has 368 pages.

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Book descriptions, author biographies, award records and review quotes on this page are courtesy of Penguin Random House.