Hannibal's Road: The Second Punic War in Italy 213-203 BC

Many books have been written on the Second Punic War and Hannibal in particular but few give much space to his campaigns in the years from 213 203 BC. Most studies concentrate on Hannibal's series of stunning victories in the early stages of the war, culminating at Cannae in 216 BC, then refocus on the activities of his nemesis ,Scipio Africanus, in Spain until the two meet in the final showdown at Zama. But this has led to the neglect of some of the Carthaginian genius' most remarkable campaigns. By 212 the wider war was definitely going against the Carthaginians. Yet Hannibal, despite being massively outnumbered and with little support from home, was able to sustain his polyglot army and campaign actively across southern Italy for another ten years. His skilful manoeuvring and victory in numerous engagements kept several veteran armies of the normally aggressive Romans tied up and on the defensive, until Scipio's invasion of North Africa pulled him home to defend Carthage. Mike Roberts follows the course of these remarkable events in detail, analysing Hannibal's strategy and aims in this phase of the war and revealing a genius that had lost none of its lustre in adversity. AUTHOR: Mike Roberts is a social worker by training but has had a long-standing interest in the military history of the Classical world. He is the co-author (with his good friend Bob Bennett) of several well-received books: The Wars of Alexander's Successors (volumes I and II); The Twilight of the Hellenistic World and The Spartan Supremacy. This is his second solo book, following Two Deaths at Amphipolis. He lives in Dudley. SELLING POINTS: . Unprecedented focus on Hannibal's neglected campaigns in southern Italy from 213 to 203 BC BC . Fascinating campaigns involving one of the greatest tacticians that ever lived . How did Hannibal sustain the war in Rome's back yard with little support and dwindling resources against veteran Roman armies? . What was Hannibal actually trying to achieve in this phase of the war? . Shows how Roman and Carthaginian armies learnt from each other in these years . By one of the co-authors of the very successful The Wars of Alexander's Successors 20 illustrations

Mike Roberts is a social worker by training but has had a long-standing interest in the military history of the Classical world. He is the co-author (with his good friend Bob Bennett) of several well-received books: The Wars of Alexander's Successors (volumes I and II); The Twilight of the Hellenistic World and The Spartan Supremacy. This is his second solo book, following Two Deaths at Amphipolis. He lives in Dudley.