
The Ghosts of Cannae
Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic
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Narrated by:
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Alan Sklar
Hannibal's battle plan at Cannae became the mother of all great battle strategies - the first battle of encirclement that has been imitated (often to disastrous effect) endlessly over the past two thousand years. In this brilliant, long-overdue, and beautifully written account, Robert L. O'Connell gives listeners an epic account of one of the most dramatic battles of antiquity.
The Ghosts of Cannae is at once a book about a specific battle (the massive defeat of a huge but inexperienced Roman army in southern Italy by Hannibal in 216 BC) and also an interpretation of the larger course of the Second Punic War, as well as an assessment of the historical impact of Rome's storied rivalry with Carthage. What ties the book together is the fate of the survivors, their treatment by the authorities in Rome, and ultimately their vindication nearly two decades later, when they defeated Hannibal at the decisive battle of Zama in North Africa. With an unforgettable cast of heroes and villains, The Ghosts of Cannae is history at its finest.
©2010 Robert L. O'Connell (P)2010 Tantor MediaListeners also enjoyed...




















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Reader’s breathing is distracting
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Gripping
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This book is sort of a semi-biography of Hannibal, as well-done narrative of the Second Punic War.
"The Ghosts of Cannae" in the title refers to the Roman survivors of the battle, and O'Connell tells their story as well. This was the one really groundbreaking part of the book.
O'Connell does a fair job with this book and the audio/narration is excellent. But, the Second Punic War has been done to death by historians, and perhaps in greater detail (see Goldsworthy, Adrian).
Great work, but not original by any means.
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Adequate
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Hannibal's Legacy
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Impressive record of the story of Cannae
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Fantastic Narrative History
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Excellent
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A Fascinating Read
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What did you like best about this story?
I'm already a fan of this time in history, but the atmosphere, the events and ramifications were conveyed in logical, gripping way. Lots about roman history can be hard to hold in one's head when not reading the names and places in print, but that is not the case here. The story unfolds clearly....and what a story! The fate of the Western World was altered forever during the Second Punic, and the author makes a good case that it was in fact one battle in particular that created the conditions necessary for Julius Caesar, The fall of the Republic, the rise of the Roman Empire and the building blocks of the Western Civilization. All because Hannibal was a badass. Like I said, this time of history is fascinating to me, even if I find Greek culture more rewarding.What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?
It was bloody, violent time and Alan Sklar's voice captures it perfectly. He sounds like a ruined statue and it's perfect.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I didn't listen to it in one sitting, but found it was broken up in such a way that taking a break for a day or two didn't effect my ability to pick the story back up.Any additional comments?
Do you have any interest in Roman culture? Mediterranean history? This one is a no-brainer.My favorite audible purchase so far
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