Medieval Generals

Book excerpt: Sean McGlynn, in this vivid, accessible, and authoritative study, explores the varied styles of leadership in medieval warfare. He analyzes and compares their effectiveness, failings, advantages, and limitations, and he reassesses each general's reputation - deserved, inflated, or neglected - against the dramatic background of campaigns, sieges, and battles. Their failures and the triumphs of the generals he portrays allow the reader to ponder what constituted a good military commander and what constituted a poor one. The absorbing case studies in McGlynn's stimulating book offer real insight into the strategies, tactics, personalities, and leadership qualities of generals from a distant age. It is fascinating reading for all students of military and medieval history. Print run 8,000.