Carl von Clausewitz's explanatory classic of military strategy is published here anew for the reader.
Clausewitz, Prussian general who served during the Napoleonic wars, began to author his timeless analysis of war shortly after the conflicts concluded. The tactics, strategy and purpose behind military operations fascinated von Clausewitz, to the point where he wished to make matters of conflict clear to enthusiasts among the general public together with academics and war historians.
We see examined many figures from history, such as Frederick the Great and Napoleon himself. The use of forces, and the efficiency therein, is a preoccupation of Clausewitz's who writes extensively about the proper use, deployment and motion different forces ought to aspire to.
Broadly speaking, Clausewitz distils war down to two types - a small-scale conflict aimed at achieving a limited aim, and an all-out effort to defeat and disarm an enemy of his military strength. Passages detailing the latter have been criticised by some historians, in that they resemble the destructive and terrible methods of 'Total War' seen in both World Wars of the 20th century.
For his part, Clausewitz did not view war as a worthwhile phenomena in and of itself. The book's central message is that war is a course to be taken as part of a wider political goal.
To this day, On War remains a valuable and much referred to text lauded for its depth, attention to detail, and passages imbued by the author's experiences as a soldier. This English edition contains the well-regarded translation by Colonel J. J. Graham.
