What do you think?
Rate this book
Hannibal: One Man Against Rome
This is the breathtaking adventure of the great Carthaginian general who shook the foundations of Rome. When conflict between Rome and Carthage resumed in 219 B.C., after a brief hiatus from the first Punic War, the Romans decided to invade Spain. Eluding several Roman legions sent out to intercept him in Spain and France, Hannibal Barca astoundingly led his small army of mercenaries over the Alps and thundered down into the Po Valley. The Carthaginian swept all resistance from his path and, as one victory led to another, drove a wedge between Rome and its allies. Hannibal marched up and down the Italian peninsula for 18 years, appearing well nigh invincible to a Rome which began to doubt itself for the first time in its history.
This violent and exciting narrative will thrill you with the accounts of heroism and brilliance displayed on both sides as the war raged mercilessly across the entire Western Mediterranean. Learn how the patience of Fabius Maximus and the genius of Lucius Cornelius Scipio finally turned the tide in this, the world's first "global" conflict...a conflict whose aftermath proved to be one of the most decisive and enduring events in world history. And finally, learn the secret to the success of Hannibal, the most brilliant military commander of all time.
This violent and exciting narrative will thrill you with the accounts of heroism and brilliance displayed on both sides as the war raged mercilessly across the entire Western Mediterranean. Learn how the patience of Fabius Maximus and the genius of Lucius Cornelius Scipio finally turned the tide in this, the world's first "global" conflict...a conflict whose aftermath proved to be one of the most decisive and enduring events in world history. And finally, learn the secret to the success of Hannibal, the most brilliant military commander of all time.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1958
About the author
Harold Lamb
121 books151 followersHarold Albert Lamb was an American historian, screenwriter, short story writer, and novelist.
Born in Alpine, New Jersey, he attended Columbia University, where his interest in the peoples and history of Asia began. Lamb built a career with his writing from an early age. He got his start in the pulp magazines, quickly moving to the prestigious Adventure magazine, his primary fiction outlet for nineteen years. In 1927 he wrote a biography of Genghis Khan, and following on its success turned more and more to the writing of non-fiction, penning numerous biographies and popular history books until his death in 1962. The success of Lamb's two volume history of the Crusades led to his discovery by Cecil B. DeMille, who employed Lamb as a technical advisor on a related movie, The Crusades, and used him as a screenwriter on many other DeMille movies thereafter. Lamb spoke French, Latin, Persian, and Arabic, and, by his own account, a smattering of Manchu-Tartar.
From Wikipedia
Born in Alpine, New Jersey, he attended Columbia University, where his interest in the peoples and history of Asia began. Lamb built a career with his writing from an early age. He got his start in the pulp magazines, quickly moving to the prestigious Adventure magazine, his primary fiction outlet for nineteen years. In 1927 he wrote a biography of Genghis Khan, and following on its success turned more and more to the writing of non-fiction, penning numerous biographies and popular history books until his death in 1962. The success of Lamb's two volume history of the Crusades led to his discovery by Cecil B. DeMille, who employed Lamb as a technical advisor on a related movie, The Crusades, and used him as a screenwriter on many other DeMille movies thereafter. Lamb spoke French, Latin, Persian, and Arabic, and, by his own account, a smattering of Manchu-Tartar.
From Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 9, 2019
”There is a warning to the modern world, as well, in Hannibal’s life. It is that warfare need not be a vast conflict of technological skills and accumulation of weapons of destruction. Regardless of its mechanisms, war remains an equation of human beings, and their minds. It has never ceased to be an art, in which a supreme artist may appear out of a pass of the Alps to prevail over money- and man- and weapon-power. No amount of stock-piling of things can offset a superiority in minds. In 219 the Roman state was prepared for war in the usual manner; the Carthaginian was not. ‘Of all that befell both the Romans and the Carthaginians the cause was one man and one mind--Hannibal’s.’”
Hannibal Barca
Hannibal is considered one of the greatest military strategists of all time. Most people think of him as the man who brought war elephants over the Alps. It is generally considered nearly impossible to bring armies over the Alps, but bringing elephants certainly adds an extra romantic flair to the endeavor. Some might know of his genius at the Battle of Cannae, where he destroyed a Roman army composed of 50,000 men with losses below 6,000 for himself. Men love to be covered in glory, but they also love to live through the experience, so it is easy to understand why Hannibal’s men loved him. It isn’t that he outfought the Romans, although that was the end result. It is more important and the key to his success against them that he outthought them.
The thing about the Romans is that they are never really satisfied and never really defeated. The Carthaginians concede to them several times leading up to the Punic Wars, but each time the Romans come back and want more. They come up with pretenses to start wars so that they can shake the African nation down for more money or for more territory. So they have the option to capitulate, as the Etruscans did and many other nations, or eventually risk annihilation. Living peacefully with an agreed upon border between themselves and Rome is always a temporary thing. The Romans fought three Punic Wars with Carthage and win all three wars. They lose battles, big battles, and when Hannibal comes across the Alps and spends 14 years harassing them in their own backyard, they discover the meaning of psychological warfare.
”The Carthaginians fought for their own preservation and the sovereignty of Africa, the Romans for supremacy and world dominion.”--Polybius
The Romans are famous for taking the best of other cultures and incorporating those aspects into their own. They learn from their opponents in war. They refine their tactics, and losses are just learning experiences. They are tenacious, and really, their whole culture revolves around war and the spoils that it provides Rome. The Roman citizens will quickly become bored if there isn’t a war going on somewhere, though Hannibal breathing down the very neck of Rome itself is a bit too real for even the most bloody-minded of Romans.
Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus keeps insisting that the way to get Hannibal out of Rome is to attack Carthage. He is right. Once Scipio starts burning his way across Hannibal’s homeland, the Carthaginians recall their greatest warrior home. What is interesting is that we are really talking about a David and Goliath story. There are 700,000 Carthaginians and 6,000,000 Romans; and yet, somehow Hannibal nearly brings them to their knees. Why doesn’t Hannibal take Rome? He certainly could have. Would the Roman Empire have ever existed past 200 BC if he had?
Hannibal declares all of his men, from the generals to the lowliest slaves, free men. He inspires loyalty in a motley group of disenfranchised men from all nationalities. ”It is one of the most fantastic facts of Hannibal’s career that he arrived in Italy with forces of Spaniards and Africans, and departed with Bruttians and Gauls, for the most part, with many Roman deserters.” If he had shared with Alexander the Great the grand ambition to rule the world, he might very well have done it. He’d have found more men to join him wherever he marched.
When Hannibal returns to Carthage in 203BC, it is the first time he has been on African soil in 34 years. As a boy, his father, Hamilcar Barca, had taken him with him to Spain in search of new lands for Carthage to replace what they had lost to Rome. They wanted to find lands with riches beyond the reach of Rome, and Hamilcar was successful. Silver and many other precious resources flowed back to Carthage. It is from Spain that Hannibal launches his march into Italy. Only when Carthage is in danger of being destroyed does he finally return home.
Hannibal was defeated in the much anticipated head to head confrontation with Scipio. There were some circumstances that worked against him. Because of the havoc Scipio was wrecking in his homeland he felt compelled to engage Scipio before he was ready, before all of his allies are gathered. The problem was that he didn’t know which, if any, of the allies of Carthage would respond to the call for help or when they would come. As it turned out, if he had waited even 24 hours he would have had enough troops to nearly match the Roman numbers. Hannibal’s other problem was that he was facing, quite possibly, the finest general that Rome ever produced. I wonder what would have happened if, instead of embarking for home, Hannibal had taken a page out of Scipio’s battle plan and had attacked Rome? Would Scipio have been forced to bring his army back to defend the very heart of the homeland?
Scipio later became frustrated with the politics of Rome and exiled himself to his country estate, never to return. Hannibal spent the rest of his life on the run, hounded by Rome. Rome refused to forget about the boogie man of Carthage and would not rest until he was destroyed. In one of those odd historical parallels, both Scipio and Hannibal died in 183 BC.
Harold Lamb was one of many writers who were quite popular in their day but have since been practically forgotten by readers. For me, he brings Hannibal vividly to life, and though the dust jacket art lead me to believe that this is historical fiction, it is most assuredly a serious work of nonfiction. Lamb was famous for the wonderful pace with which he told a story. He wasn’t just relating facts. He was really doing his best to introduce the reader to the subject of whatever book he chooses to write. I’ve read about Hannibal before, in many other books, but I’ve never come away from any book, except this one, where I felt like I really understood the man and his motivations.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Hannibal Barca
Hannibal is considered one of the greatest military strategists of all time. Most people think of him as the man who brought war elephants over the Alps. It is generally considered nearly impossible to bring armies over the Alps, but bringing elephants certainly adds an extra romantic flair to the endeavor. Some might know of his genius at the Battle of Cannae, where he destroyed a Roman army composed of 50,000 men with losses below 6,000 for himself. Men love to be covered in glory, but they also love to live through the experience, so it is easy to understand why Hannibal’s men loved him. It isn’t that he outfought the Romans, although that was the end result. It is more important and the key to his success against them that he outthought them.
The thing about the Romans is that they are never really satisfied and never really defeated. The Carthaginians concede to them several times leading up to the Punic Wars, but each time the Romans come back and want more. They come up with pretenses to start wars so that they can shake the African nation down for more money or for more territory. So they have the option to capitulate, as the Etruscans did and many other nations, or eventually risk annihilation. Living peacefully with an agreed upon border between themselves and Rome is always a temporary thing. The Romans fought three Punic Wars with Carthage and win all three wars. They lose battles, big battles, and when Hannibal comes across the Alps and spends 14 years harassing them in their own backyard, they discover the meaning of psychological warfare.
”The Carthaginians fought for their own preservation and the sovereignty of Africa, the Romans for supremacy and world dominion.”--Polybius
The Romans are famous for taking the best of other cultures and incorporating those aspects into their own. They learn from their opponents in war. They refine their tactics, and losses are just learning experiences. They are tenacious, and really, their whole culture revolves around war and the spoils that it provides Rome. The Roman citizens will quickly become bored if there isn’t a war going on somewhere, though Hannibal breathing down the very neck of Rome itself is a bit too real for even the most bloody-minded of Romans.
Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus keeps insisting that the way to get Hannibal out of Rome is to attack Carthage. He is right. Once Scipio starts burning his way across Hannibal’s homeland, the Carthaginians recall their greatest warrior home. What is interesting is that we are really talking about a David and Goliath story. There are 700,000 Carthaginians and 6,000,000 Romans; and yet, somehow Hannibal nearly brings them to their knees. Why doesn’t Hannibal take Rome? He certainly could have. Would the Roman Empire have ever existed past 200 BC if he had?
Hannibal declares all of his men, from the generals to the lowliest slaves, free men. He inspires loyalty in a motley group of disenfranchised men from all nationalities. ”It is one of the most fantastic facts of Hannibal’s career that he arrived in Italy with forces of Spaniards and Africans, and departed with Bruttians and Gauls, for the most part, with many Roman deserters.” If he had shared with Alexander the Great the grand ambition to rule the world, he might very well have done it. He’d have found more men to join him wherever he marched.
When Hannibal returns to Carthage in 203BC, it is the first time he has been on African soil in 34 years. As a boy, his father, Hamilcar Barca, had taken him with him to Spain in search of new lands for Carthage to replace what they had lost to Rome. They wanted to find lands with riches beyond the reach of Rome, and Hamilcar was successful. Silver and many other precious resources flowed back to Carthage. It is from Spain that Hannibal launches his march into Italy. Only when Carthage is in danger of being destroyed does he finally return home.
Hannibal was defeated in the much anticipated head to head confrontation with Scipio. There were some circumstances that worked against him. Because of the havoc Scipio was wrecking in his homeland he felt compelled to engage Scipio before he was ready, before all of his allies are gathered. The problem was that he didn’t know which, if any, of the allies of Carthage would respond to the call for help or when they would come. As it turned out, if he had waited even 24 hours he would have had enough troops to nearly match the Roman numbers. Hannibal’s other problem was that he was facing, quite possibly, the finest general that Rome ever produced. I wonder what would have happened if, instead of embarking for home, Hannibal had taken a page out of Scipio’s battle plan and had attacked Rome? Would Scipio have been forced to bring his army back to defend the very heart of the homeland?
Scipio later became frustrated with the politics of Rome and exiled himself to his country estate, never to return. Hannibal spent the rest of his life on the run, hounded by Rome. Rome refused to forget about the boogie man of Carthage and would not rest until he was destroyed. In one of those odd historical parallels, both Scipio and Hannibal died in 183 BC.
Harold Lamb was one of many writers who were quite popular in their day but have since been practically forgotten by readers. For me, he brings Hannibal vividly to life, and though the dust jacket art lead me to believe that this is historical fiction, it is most assuredly a serious work of nonfiction. Lamb was famous for the wonderful pace with which he told a story. He wasn’t just relating facts. He was really doing his best to introduce the reader to the subject of whatever book he chooses to write. I’ve read about Hannibal before, in many other books, but I’ve never come away from any book, except this one, where I felt like I really understood the man and his motivations.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
January 5, 2012
Ostensibly a biography of the great Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca, the fact is that it's hard to write authoritatively about what the man himself was like. Most of the records were written by his enemies, the Romans, who characterized him as cruel, mad, and treacherous. However, by looking at his actual actions, a different picture emerges, of someone who was a pretty decent man for his time, considering he spent the latter half of his life at war with an enemy that wanted to destroy his nation (and ultimately did). So most of the book talks about the history of the 2nd Punic war, which was the great contest between Rome and Carthage for domination of the Western Mediterranean.
Hannibal was a strategic genius who led his army in an extended campaign against the Roman Republic, before its ultimate ascendancy. For nearly twenty years he trounced the Romans in Italy, before finally being defeated on his home ground. His archrival, Scipio Africanus, was another man of great power and genius, and he defeated Hannibal after studying him for years.
One thing that emerges from this book is how much individual personalities mattered, both in war and in politics. Different generals than Hannibal and Scipio Africanus would almost certainly have meant different outcomes. Likewise, even after losing the war, Hannibal was powerful and influential in Carthage and instrumental in getting the city to repay its reparations to Rome. Likewise, forceful personalities in Rome (like Cato, who absolutely hated Carthage) were responsible for history taking the course it did. This book is a pretty strong argument for the theory that great men shape history. (I should probably say "great persons" or "great personalities," but frankly, women didn't have much to say in either Carthage or Rome.)
There are some modern parallels if you consider the reasons why Rome and Carthage went to war, and look at the political maneuvers of the Romans, the way Hannibal had to drag the super-wealthy Carthaginians into line to get the city's debts paid, and then how he was ultimately betrayed, first by his own people and then repeatedly by other rulers whom he assisted in resisting Rome.
There is a certain tragic inevitability in Carthage's ultimate fall, and Hannibal and Scipio Africanus both came to more ignominious ends than these great men deserved.
If you like histories of Roman antiquity with a fair amount of military information (but not too much about the nitty-gritty details about tactics and maneuvers), this is a good book. It's a bit dry at times; Lamb sticks to the source material and anything that might make it more interesting -- conjectures, ahistorical personalizing of the individuals, guesses about what might have happened -- he labels as such and doesn't go too far down that path. Hannibal himself remains more an icon than a man; if you want to hear his voice and see his personality, you'll have to resort to historical fiction.
Hannibal was a strategic genius who led his army in an extended campaign against the Roman Republic, before its ultimate ascendancy. For nearly twenty years he trounced the Romans in Italy, before finally being defeated on his home ground. His archrival, Scipio Africanus, was another man of great power and genius, and he defeated Hannibal after studying him for years.
One thing that emerges from this book is how much individual personalities mattered, both in war and in politics. Different generals than Hannibal and Scipio Africanus would almost certainly have meant different outcomes. Likewise, even after losing the war, Hannibal was powerful and influential in Carthage and instrumental in getting the city to repay its reparations to Rome. Likewise, forceful personalities in Rome (like Cato, who absolutely hated Carthage) were responsible for history taking the course it did. This book is a pretty strong argument for the theory that great men shape history. (I should probably say "great persons" or "great personalities," but frankly, women didn't have much to say in either Carthage or Rome.)
There are some modern parallels if you consider the reasons why Rome and Carthage went to war, and look at the political maneuvers of the Romans, the way Hannibal had to drag the super-wealthy Carthaginians into line to get the city's debts paid, and then how he was ultimately betrayed, first by his own people and then repeatedly by other rulers whom he assisted in resisting Rome.
There is a certain tragic inevitability in Carthage's ultimate fall, and Hannibal and Scipio Africanus both came to more ignominious ends than these great men deserved.
If you like histories of Roman antiquity with a fair amount of military information (but not too much about the nitty-gritty details about tactics and maneuvers), this is a good book. It's a bit dry at times; Lamb sticks to the source material and anything that might make it more interesting -- conjectures, ahistorical personalizing of the individuals, guesses about what might have happened -- he labels as such and doesn't go too far down that path. Hannibal himself remains more an icon than a man; if you want to hear his voice and see his personality, you'll have to resort to historical fiction.
May 17, 2009
One of my favorite's by Lamb. I felt like I was along on the March with Hannibal. Good stuff.
March 11, 2022
An enjoyable but rather dry telling of Hannibal Barca, victor of Cannae.
November 24, 2015
I have been quite fortunate this year to read such excellent history commentaries. Hannibal by Harold Lamb does not fail here either. The audio book was superb. The writing was crisp and held your attention till the very end.
Sometimes it is difficult to engage into a book on history when you already know the outcome. Hannibal is a unique case in that we know so little about the man that virtually all the information about him comes from his enemies.
Hannibal invokes strategies that every general since has used as well. Truth be told Hannibal was defeated by Rome taking up Hannibal's own strategies against him. What strategy did Hannibal utilize that was provided such a dominant effect against far superior numbers? Here are several unique strategies: 1) Deception. Hannibal's physical appearance was not know by his enemies and many of his own troops. He apparently wore disguises, often taking on the attire of the country his was attacking or moving through. 2) extensive spy network. Hannibal often knew the lay of the land and the troop movements better than the Roman commanders. 3)Exploited the weaknesses of his enemy. 4) Hannibal was not attacking Rome to be either a warmonger or as an attempt to land grab for Carthage, rather, he attacked Rome with such a terrible vengeance for the death of his father and also for the many years of Carthage's subjugation to Rome. As Hannibal invaded Roman territories he returned the lands back over to the native inhabitants.
Hannibal was defeated in Italy because Carthage was unable to supply Hannibal effectively through the massive Roman fleet which in this time period dominated the Mediterranean sea. If Philip of Macedonia (Greece) would have been able to send troops the grand Rome influence we know today would have been squashed. Rome eventually showed up at the doorstep of Carthage, faced Hannibal in battle and this time he lost.The price to be paid was forced subjugation at the hands of their biggest enemy.
In the end Hannibal committed suicide as opposed to ever being a prisoner of the Romans. An abrupt end to one of the greatest military minds throughout all the ages.
October 31, 2013
I am a history nut. This was an excellent description of the great wars between Rome and Carthage in the third and second centuries BCE. Like most histories of written more than 2000 years after the events it is hard to separate recorded fact from the historian's suppositions, but Mr. Lamb weaves together a nice little story.
August 1, 2017
As a high school kid I first read this bio of the great Carthaginian general Hannibal and I thought it was a good exciting read. Harold Lamb (1892-1962) did get his start writing for the pulp magazines. He certainly knew how to keep up a fast-paced narrative. Upon my rereading this book, I appreciate Lamb's trying to get into Hannibal's mind to understand what he was trying to achieve. I suppose historians disagree with Lamb, but I like Lamb's sympathetic portrayal of the man who challenged Rome. Remembered now mainly as the general who led elephants over the Alps, Hannibal was a military genius. He was able to weld together a very effective fighting force from disparate elements. Carthage was a maritime society which really didn't have its own army. Hannibal's army came to include various Africans, Spaniards, Gauls from present-day France, and Italians, especially from southern Italy (and Roman deserters). We know that in the end Rome brought Hannibal down but how it happened makes for a most exciting story. We can't help pulling for the great Carthaginian even though we know he's doomed and no one will be able to stop the Romans....
November 4, 2010
Hannibal Barca, commander of armies of Carthage, man who almost brought Rome to its knees. Man of whom we know nothing except what was written by his bitter enemies, Romans, centuries after Carthage was razed.[return]Harold Lamb s takes us on the journey through northern Africa, Spain, through wilderness of Alps and finally all the way from the northern plains of Italy to the old Greek cities in the south of Italy (to Capua and even further south to Syracuse).[return][return]It is time of great change old Greek city-states are losing their spheres of influence while Rome [bent on conquest and domination of all surrounding territories] rises in power and starts offering unacceptable terms to surrounding states [and thus tries to provoke conflict] and forcing them to withdraw, knowing that old states are more bent on negotiations than on war [while Rome is ready to wage war on anybody who defies it (at the time this means almost everybody)].[return]One side bent on conquest and the other seeking a way to preserve its way of life.[return]Hannibal starts his invasion of Italian peninsula knowing that only in that way he will be able to ease the Roman pressure on Carthage. He will win many battles and soon Romans will fear his very name. But, as it is almost always the case, internal quarrelling and Roman perseverance (coupled with Rome s almost limitless human and material resources) will bring end not only to Hannibal s dream of free Carthage but to any independent city-state in Europe, Asia and Africa, they will soon all become Rome s client s .[return][return]Lamb s prose is quick paced and reads more like a novel than historical research (which is a great plus in my opinion because many historians try to get as many details as possible which may drive the reader in totally opposite direction and cause him/her to loose itself entirely (Keegan and Goldsworthy are modern writers that have this same quality as Lamb)). I got hooked from the first page so much in fact that I am looking forward to reading other historical works of Harold Lamb.[return]Highly recommended.
December 30, 2011
A well-written biography of Hannibal, a Carthenian general who was taken to Spain as a child by his father in about 230 BC. Upon his father's and older brother's deaths, he succeeded as commander of the Carthenian forces in Spain. Upon Rome's violation of a treaty regarding territories in Iberia (Spain) ruled by Carthage, Hannible decided to take the war to Rome - hence, his historic trek (with elephants) over the Alps into Italy. His victories in Italy allowed him to rule much of that country for close to twenty years. Highly regarded as one of the greatest military tacticians the world has known, he continuously confounded the Roman armies and won key battles with much smaller forces and resources. He apparently was not a seeker of power, fame or wealth, but fought for Carthage, his homeland. The book discusses the power struggles among the peoples surrounding the Mediterranean Sea in the Third Century BC (circa 220-186) and thus encompases much more than just the life of Hannibal. Yet, he is the focal point and (along with Alexander the Great who preceded him) was one of a few men who profoundly shaped Western history during that era. A good read.
June 30, 2012
An excellent biography of a great general on the wrong side of history. Hannibal, the great Carthaginian nemesis of Rome, ranks with the best military strategists ever to lead an army into the field. Always outnumbered, undersupplied, and lacking the technologies possessed by the Romans, he managed to defeat them again and again. To this day, historians are staggered by some of his disappearing acts--for instance, when he disappeared from Spain, and reappeared in Italy having crossed the Alps by a pass still unknown to this day, or when he transported a whole army from Italy back to Carthage without the Romans noticing.
As a military mind, Hannibal reminds me of the German Erwin Rommel, a brilliant mind fighting for a losing cause. Similarly, he reminds me of Robert E. Lee, a genuinely unpretentious man who destested indiscriminate killing and was widely respected by friend and foe alike.
Lamb's biography is dated, and a little slow getting started, but an excellent read nevertheless.
As a military mind, Hannibal reminds me of the German Erwin Rommel, a brilliant mind fighting for a losing cause. Similarly, he reminds me of Robert E. Lee, a genuinely unpretentious man who destested indiscriminate killing and was widely respected by friend and foe alike.
Lamb's biography is dated, and a little slow getting started, but an excellent read nevertheless.
April 12, 2012
At the beginning of his book, Harold Lamb states his purpose - to attempt to get inside the head of Hannibal Barca, one of the greatest generals of western world. There is a problem with this statement - no new information has been uncovered about the subject of Mr. Lamb's study to enable him to do better job than other military historians that attempted to do exactly same thing before him. So the only option for the author to contribute something new about the subject matter lies in new interpretation of what we actually know (or think that we know) about the man and the events he set in motion. This he does and in doing so he commits what is in my eyes a rather grave mistake - on several occasions he oversteps the boundaries of plausibility and enters the realm of pure speculation. Therefore, in my humble opinion, this book needs to be regarded not as history book but as work of fiction "based on true events", with all that phrase entails.
July 22, 2009
Hannibal is best known as the Carthaginian military commander who led his African forces, including a number of "war elephants," over the Alps into northern Italy to defeat the Romans in the Punic wars. I was fascinated by this description of his life and the times in which he lived (about 250 to 180 B.C.), and learned much about geography (now, where was Carthage exactly?) as well as history. Hannibal is considered by many to be one of the greatest military strategists who ever lived. This book held my interest and gave me much insight into the Mediterranean world in the centuries before Christ.
June 20, 2023
In "Hannibal: One Man Against Rome" by Harold Lamb, readers are transported to the ancient world to witness the awe-inspiring life and military exploits of one of history's greatest strategists. This engrossing biography explores the remarkable journey of Hannibal, a military genius whose unwavering determination and unparalleled brilliance brought him tantalizingly close to dismantling the mighty Roman Empire.
One of the standout features of Lamb's work is his vivid portrayal of Hannibal's military genius. Hannibal's cunning tactics and innovative strategies left an indelible mark on the annals of military history. With limited resources and in the face of overwhelming odds, he orchestrated daring maneuvers and outwitted his adversaries time and again. Lamb skillfully captures the sheer brilliance of Hannibal's military mind, offering readers a window into the calculations and audacious decisions that made him such a formidable force on the battlefield.
However, what sets "Hannibal: One Man Against Rome" apart is its exploration of the extreme hardships and tragic circumstances that shaped Hannibal's quest. Hannibal faced immense challenges, both external and internal, throughout his campaigns. From treacherous terrain and harsh weather conditions to political turmoil and personal losses, he endured numerous hardships that tested his resolve and resourcefulness. Lamb's narrative skillfully depicts these trials, creating a poignant portrayal of a leader who persevered in the face of immense adversity.
Moreover, the book highlights the significance of Hannibal's allies—or lack thereof—in his quest to dismantle Rome. Despite his own exceptional brilliance, Hannibal's allies often fell short of matching his caliber of excellence. This discrepancy ultimately hampered his ability to fully exploit the advantages he gained on the battlefield. Lamb astutely captures the complexities of Hannibal's alliances and the frustration he felt as he witnessed missed opportunities due to the limitations of his support network. This examination adds a layer of nuance to the narrative, showcasing the intricate dynamics that shaped Hannibal's campaigns.
Harold Lamb's prose is compelling and evocative, immersing readers in the tumultuous world of ancient Rome and Hannibal's epic struggle. His attention to historical detail and his ability to breathe life into historical figures make the narrative come alive. The battles and military engagements are vividly described, allowing readers to witness the clash of armies and experience the intensity of each encounter.
In conclusion, "Hannibal: One Man Against Rome" is an enthralling biography that showcases the exceptional prowess of one of history's greatest military minds. Harold Lamb's masterful storytelling transports readers to an era of hardship and tragedy, where Hannibal's unwavering determination and strategic brilliance brought him tantalizingly close to toppling Rome's might. This book serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Hannibal and offers a captivating account of his extraordinary life and his audacious pursuit of Rome's downfall.
April 9, 2024
Although there are newer, more "academic" biographies of the famed general, returning to this book, decades after I first read it in High School, reminded me of why Lamb's histories were so seminal for me (his volume on the Crusades is probably why I added a History major in college). An accomplished short story writer, novelist and screenwriter, when in his later career Lamb decided to focus on popular histories, he brought his fiction-writer's gifts to establish scene and place. Consequently, he vividly creates images of the Celto-Iberians, of the complex, heterodox army Hannibal led into Italy and how it changed into an entirely different army by the time he led it to Africa 16 years later, and of the many cities, landscapes and oceans he'd fight across.
Hannibal is also one of history's great ciphers--we know Carthage and her greatest general through the lens of the nation that destroyed her--yet Lamb does a great job in pointing out that despite that, despite the fact that Rome continued to in many ways fear Hannibal's ghost long after he was dead (certainly as long as the wretched Cato lived), its own commentators could not hide that in many ways he is a general and a man far more "modern" in his outlook than the Romans he faced in how he thought of war, far more complex and nuanced than any besides Alexander (and adept at working with far less), while lacking Alexanders sociopathy, and there is just no evidence of so many of the personal ambitions or naked cruelty that characterizes the other great generals of the late Hellenistic and Republican Roman Era. Lamb argues that in many ways Rome feared him and hounded him to his grave, long after he was no longer a threat for the same reason it allowed Cato to defame Scipio and drive him into virtual paupery and a self-imposed exile: the Senate could not understand either man's motivations, and not being able to understand them through their own very naked ambitions, feared them. (Particularly ironic since it would only be two generations later that exactly the sort of man they feared would appear in the form of Julius Caesar and the Senate would prove entirely incapable of dealing with him.)
For a wider look at the Punic wars, and Carthage itself, I recommend "Carthage Must Be Destroyed". But for the "Hannibalian War" (Second Punic War) and bio of Hannibal itself, I think this old chestnut has more heart than a lot of the newer works.
Rather than reread this book, I listened to the audiobook and I highly recommend it. For such an old book, a surprising amount of effort was put into it, with a great reader, sound effects, interlude music, etc. Just very well done.
Hannibal is also one of history's great ciphers--we know Carthage and her greatest general through the lens of the nation that destroyed her--yet Lamb does a great job in pointing out that despite that, despite the fact that Rome continued to in many ways fear Hannibal's ghost long after he was dead (certainly as long as the wretched Cato lived), its own commentators could not hide that in many ways he is a general and a man far more "modern" in his outlook than the Romans he faced in how he thought of war, far more complex and nuanced than any besides Alexander (and adept at working with far less), while lacking Alexanders sociopathy, and there is just no evidence of so many of the personal ambitions or naked cruelty that characterizes the other great generals of the late Hellenistic and Republican Roman Era. Lamb argues that in many ways Rome feared him and hounded him to his grave, long after he was no longer a threat for the same reason it allowed Cato to defame Scipio and drive him into virtual paupery and a self-imposed exile: the Senate could not understand either man's motivations, and not being able to understand them through their own very naked ambitions, feared them. (Particularly ironic since it would only be two generations later that exactly the sort of man they feared would appear in the form of Julius Caesar and the Senate would prove entirely incapable of dealing with him.)
For a wider look at the Punic wars, and Carthage itself, I recommend "Carthage Must Be Destroyed". But for the "Hannibalian War" (Second Punic War) and bio of Hannibal itself, I think this old chestnut has more heart than a lot of the newer works.
Rather than reread this book, I listened to the audiobook and I highly recommend it. For such an old book, a surprising amount of effort was put into it, with a great reader, sound effects, interlude music, etc. Just very well done.
December 21, 2019
**please note, this is is less a review and more a reading journal; as such, it will be of no value to others. thanks for understanding.**
learned a lot; mind wandered during the rest.
i know Harold Lamb was an intelligent guy, of that there is no doubt. but what i don't know is if people during his time were generally just smarter than we are today. i've read his books before and wondered the same thing. are we just dumber (myself included)? i wonder this b/c his books in general are very academic and written at a level that would quickly loose the interest of the average reader - so many details.
so, if these were generally consumed by the average reader of his time, well, are we just dumber today than they were 50-100 years ago? attention span that much shorter?
hmmmmm.... troubling question
anyway, this was a quasi-interesting book. the "quasi" comment explained above.
i learned lots, but there was a lot of content that just didn't matter to me. i "read" this in audio version, and, to be honest, there were parts that could have swept me away with excitement and the importance of the moment. instead they just kinda rode by like a monotonous road b/c the narrator was so flat- no inflection, no speeding up during exciting moments, no emphasis of events (other than the words written for him to read that might set a moment apart if you're listening carefully). so he was definitely part of the problem.
historically, though, obviously well researched.
and it ended so suddenly. all of a sudden, he drank poison, and that was the end of that. no build-up, no expression of the corner hannibal must have felt himself in, no sense of hopelessness, no reflection on the life and events that had brought him to this point - nothing. just poison and done.
really an exciting period of history and hannibal was a remarkable man. the subject is worth the time, but the combination of author and narrator just fell short. i wanted to give this 5 stars, but talked myself out of that when i was writing about the narrator, that brought it down to 4, then, writing about the dryness of lamb's writing, well, 4 b/c maybe i'm just not smart enough to appreciate the finer (and many boring) details. that's where i'll settle, but i do so w/the caveat that lamb, at least, piqued my interest in hannibal barca. i'd like to read more about this man by other authors.
learned a lot; mind wandered during the rest.
i know Harold Lamb was an intelligent guy, of that there is no doubt. but what i don't know is if people during his time were generally just smarter than we are today. i've read his books before and wondered the same thing. are we just dumber (myself included)? i wonder this b/c his books in general are very academic and written at a level that would quickly loose the interest of the average reader - so many details.
so, if these were generally consumed by the average reader of his time, well, are we just dumber today than they were 50-100 years ago? attention span that much shorter?
hmmmmm.... troubling question
anyway, this was a quasi-interesting book. the "quasi" comment explained above.
i learned lots, but there was a lot of content that just didn't matter to me. i "read" this in audio version, and, to be honest, there were parts that could have swept me away with excitement and the importance of the moment. instead they just kinda rode by like a monotonous road b/c the narrator was so flat- no inflection, no speeding up during exciting moments, no emphasis of events (other than the words written for him to read that might set a moment apart if you're listening carefully). so he was definitely part of the problem.
historically, though, obviously well researched.
and it ended so suddenly. all of a sudden, he drank poison, and that was the end of that. no build-up, no expression of the corner hannibal must have felt himself in, no sense of hopelessness, no reflection on the life and events that had brought him to this point - nothing. just poison and done.
really an exciting period of history and hannibal was a remarkable man. the subject is worth the time, but the combination of author and narrator just fell short. i wanted to give this 5 stars, but talked myself out of that when i was writing about the narrator, that brought it down to 4, then, writing about the dryness of lamb's writing, well, 4 b/c maybe i'm just not smart enough to appreciate the finer (and many boring) details. that's where i'll settle, but i do so w/the caveat that lamb, at least, piqued my interest in hannibal barca. i'd like to read more about this man by other authors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2023
My favourite historical figure, so i wasn't reading anything i didn't already know.
But it was pretty good. Nothing extraordinary about the way it's written, but it's very well researched, does a good job debunking the many myths around the Hannibalic war, and the punic wars more broadly (There were, it turns out, no muscular legionnaries becoming sailors by flexing their lats on cable rowing machines in outdoor gyms, who would have guessed), and provides clear and cogent explanations for why Rome, Carthage, and their leaders behaved the way they did (including the several reasons that Hannibal chose not to March on Rome).
But it was pretty good. Nothing extraordinary about the way it's written, but it's very well researched, does a good job debunking the many myths around the Hannibalic war, and the punic wars more broadly (There were, it turns out, no muscular legionnaries becoming sailors by flexing their lats on cable rowing machines in outdoor gyms, who would have guessed), and provides clear and cogent explanations for why Rome, Carthage, and their leaders behaved the way they did (including the several reasons that Hannibal chose not to March on Rome).
April 12, 2018
This is how you tell history, intellectual and brutal, an emotional tale of the greatest force to ever truly resist ascendant Rome. Hannibal the man is great enough, but the heroic defense of the city is even more inspiring. I loved this book, I love any book Harold Lamb writes, imo his last name should have been Harold Eagle.
March 22, 2017
This is a great biography of Hannibal. It's interesting, and sticks pretty close to the sources and doesn't stray too far into speculation. It's really remarkable to hear the story of Hannibal - how the talants of one man, or one family, created a world superpower that rivaled the rising star of Rome. He was one of history's greatest generals, fighting against great odds, yet he ultimately was defeated in what could be considered the first defeat of his career. An amazing tale with many lessons for us.
February 17, 2024
A good recounting of the 2nd punic war and beyond. I was entertained throughout despite being familiar with the period. Lamb's writing is competent and easy to grasp, though the work overall does not break new ground on the subject.
December 28, 2017
Interesting history
February 19, 2018
At times a little dull and Hannibal's motivation was sometimes unclear but it was still a story worth reading.
February 26, 2018
One of the best historical fiction books I've ever read. The story itself is incredibly fascinating and the touch given it by Mr Lamb makes me remember the old TV show, "We Were There."
July 1, 2018
I enjoyed it greatly. And for your own information goodreads it’s 276 pages long total
July 21, 2019
Fabulous audiobook. So fascinating, so well presented. Interesting, full of facts and drama. Loved it.
November 19, 2020
A wonderful book on the amazing history of Rome and Carthage.
January 8, 2024
I like reading about Hannibal and his effort to defeat the Roman Republic. The book is a little dry but worth reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2024
The book starts off a little slowly but then gives an interesting account of the battles and tactics that Hannibal fought in Spain and in Italy. I’d give the book a 3 1/2 star rating but rounded it up to four stars.
Hannibal was one of the greatest leaders ever, both on and off the battlefield. He got the most out of his men and resources and was a brilliant tactician and strategist.
Hannibal was one of the greatest leaders ever, both on and off the battlefield. He got the most out of his men and resources and was a brilliant tactician and strategist.
June 18, 2024
If you want a history of the greatest general to ever live and it read like fiction, this book is for you. A must read!!!
January 17, 2017
More historical than fiction, this is a scholarly researched book by Harold Lamb that is consistent with his other efforts. Great read on the Punic Wars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews