The Last Full Measure: How Soldiers Die in Battle

Description

Behind every soldiers death lies a story, a tale not just of the cold mathematics of the battlefield but of an individual human being who gave his life. What psychological and cultural pressures brought him to his fate? What lies and truths convinced him to march towards his death? Covering warfare from prehistory through the present day, The Last Full Measure tells these soldiers stories, ultimately capturing the experience of war as few books ever have.

Michael Stephenson is most recently the author of Patriot Battles: How the War of Independence Was Fought. In addition to his writing, Stephenson spent more than twenty-five years as a professional book editor, for much of that time with a particular focus on military publishing. For six years he was the editor of the Military Book Club. He lives in New York City.

A great achievement of research, perception, and fine writing. Few other books have managed to convey the true experience of war with such power and clarity. -- Antony Beevor, author of D-Day and Stalingrad Stephenson brings 'the face of battle' even closer to us than John Keegan did over thirty years ago. -- Hew Strachan, author of The First World War and Chichele Professorship of the History of War, Oxford University Intense grippingly specific ... honors the fallen by making their experiences fiercely, viscerally understandable. -- Janet Maslin * The New York Times * Comprehensive, perceptive, and evocative, this is a must-read -- Dennis Showalter, author of Tannenberg and former president of the Society for Military History