The Face Of Battle By John Keegan - 880 Words

John Keegan describes his book, The Face of Battle, as a personal attempt to catch a glimpse of the face of battle. This personal aspect that Keegan mentions is essential to his book and is excellently articulated, driving home his point. Keegan, who taught at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for over 25 years, begins by acknowledging his uneasiness with the fact that even though he taught British cadets military history, I have not been in a battle; not near one, nor heard one from afar, nor seen the aftermath . . . And I grow increasingly convinced that I have very little idea of what a battle can be like. Keegan is clear to state his proposition that almost all military history has functioned simply as a â€Å"battle piece† description in which one can see all the larger moving aspects followed by the outcome. However, this sort of recounting fails to acknowledge the personal side of war, the experience of battle. What really ensues when a cavalry unit meets an infantry u nit? What are the vital features in determining whether soldiers stand and fight or turn and run? Having proposed that military history has been failing in its duty, Keegan then continues to demonstrate how it should be done. The battles of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme are the main interests of the book; these battles took place centuries apart and all involved British armies. He examines, in detail, which aspects of war changed or remain constant between the three battles. Keegan brilliantly andShow MoreRelatedJohn Keegan s The Face Of Battle912 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Keegan’s The Face of Battle and Sir Charles Oman’s The Art of War in the Middle Ages provide insight into how historians approach the subject of battle. When discussing warfare, historians typically approach the subject from a procedural point of view, but it has also become normal to focus on combatants’ experiences. By cross comparing Keegan and Oman’s descriptions of the Battle of Agincourt, it is apparent that both the procedural method and the method of focusing on individ uals have meritRead More Book Review of The Face of Battle by John Keegan Essay995 Words   |  4 PagesTHE FACE OF BATTLE John Keegan, the author of â€Å"The Face of Battle† is allowing the reader to view different perspective of history, from the eyes of the soldier. Although by his own account, Keegan acknowledges, â€Å"I have never been in a battle. And I grow increasingly convinced that I have very little idea of what a battle can be like.† Keegan scorns historians for pointing the finger of failure after an evolution occurs and not examining the soldier’s point of view while the battle is transpiringRead MoreJohn Keegan, the Face of War801 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Keegan, The Face of War As Keegan notes how battle is considered - from the movement of platoons to grand imperial strategy - the true question behind this book appears: what happens to the soldier in war? I recommend the first chapter to anyone who is either planning to, or already pursuing, a career in history, because Keegan swiftly and surely examines the different methods, techniques and materials of military history, details which would normally fill a specialised text. This is oneRead MoreThe Face Of Battle : A Study Of Agincourt, Waterloo, And The Somme 872 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Face of Battle: a study of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme† Summary The book â€Å"The Face of Battle: a study of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme† authored by John Keegan is a non-fiction resource dedicated to enlightening the reader concerning the history of the military with the emphasis being between the 1960s and 1970s. Keegan provides a more detailed and accurate representation of combat in three fundamental battles in British history, and these include Agincourt, Waterloo, and Somme.Read MoreWinston Churchill By John Keegan981 Words   |  4 PagesIn the book Winston Churchill by John Keegan, he tells a story about the life of Winston Churchill and both the small and major events that he goes through and deals with throughout his life. He tells about Churchill’s whole life, from when he was a kid to when he was a teenager all the way through his adulthood. One of the main points that John Keegan focuses on in this book is the leadership and motivation toward victory that Churchill has. The main summary of this book is all work ed around theRead MoreHistory Vs. Hollywood Essay528 Words   |  3 Pagesbut when you really compare a war movie to an actual war you find that there is a lot of factual information left out. One may ask why would directors and film makers leave out the facts of war and focus on the drama? After reading The Faces of Battle by John Keegan and reviewing war movies such as Saving Private Ryan, and Pearl Harbor, one can clearly see what makes the Hollywood version of war different from real life war. When you watch a movie about war you are given a plot to the movieRead More How Do Military Hilitorians Explain War? 2430 Words   |  10 Pagesoutcome of further study into warfare. Authors like Victor Davis Hanson, John Lynn, John Keegan, Martin van Creveld, and Niall Ferguson explain in detail to what extent the Western way of war is superior to any other. The goal in studying the Western way of war revolves around the concept of superiority in warfare. The comparison and distinction of Victor Davis Hanson, Carnage and Culture (2001), and John A. Lynn, Battle (2003), emphasized their overwhelming background in military research. Read MoreThe Battle of Agincourt Essay1991 Words   |  8 PagesThe Battle of Agincourt occurred in the middle Ages, on October 25, 1415. This battle is one of the most memorable and strategically fought battles between England and France. The Battle of Agincourt involved England and France near Agincourt. The Battle of Agincourt happened during the â€Å"Hundred Years War†. The hundred year War began in 1337 and ended in 1453. The hundred years war actually lasted 116 years. The Hundred Years war included England, France and later Burgundy. Sometimes England wonRead MoreThe Mask Of Command ( London )1843 Words   |  8 PagesJohn Keegan is a British military historian, lecturer. He is also author o f The Mask of Command (London, 1987). Keegan is best known for his comprehensive works on military history, with particular focus on military figures and battles from fourteenth through twenty-first centuries. Keegan is also known for uncovering the psychology used in battle. In that respect, Keegan points out effectively the technical aspects of warfare, particularly relates to Alexander the Great, Arthur Wellesley WellingtonRead MoreThe Mask Of Command ( London )2122 Words   |  9 PagesJohn Keegan, author of The Mask of Command (London, 1987), is a British military historian, lecturer. Keegan is best known for his comprehensive works on military history, with particular focus on military figures and battles from fourteenth through twenty-first centuries. Keegan also worked on uncovering the psychology which was used in battle. In that respect, in the Mask of Command, Keegan points out effectively the broad aspects of warfare. The Mask of Command breaks into five parts. These i nclude