Clausewitz

His Life and Work

Donald Stoker

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Hardback

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English

Oxford University Press
13 October 2014

Biography; Biography: historical, political & military; Napoleonic Wars; Military tactics

The classical distinctions between strategy, operations, and tactics in warfare derive from two basic sources: Carl von Clausewitz and Antoine-Henri de Jomini, both veterans of the Napoleonic wars who translated their experiences into books outlining general precepts about the nature and rules of military engagement.

Nearly two centuries after the publication of these works, Jomini has been all but forgotten, but Clausewitz's On War remains perhaps the most significant work of military theory ever written. He has become a global brand, one constantly refreshed by a flow of books and articles debating his ideas and arguing what he truly meant in various passages of On War. The masterwork appears in an array of translations sweeping from Arabic to Vietnamese. Military staff colleges the world over use Clausewitz's text, largely to prepare their officers for staff positions and higher command.

Military historian Donald Stoker here offers an incisive biography of Carl von Clausewitz, sketching out his life and career and exploring the various causes that led to the formulation of his theories about war.

Though On War remained unfinished at the time of his death in 1831, Clausewitz's devoted wife, Marie, organised the papers he had left behind and arranged for their publication. The ten volumes of Clausewitz's collected works appeared from 1832-1837, with On War encompassing the first three volumes. Stoker considers both the merits and detriments of the works, but also pays careful attention to the life and experiences of Clausewitz himself. In doing so, he notes that those discussing Clausewitz's legacy as a theorist today have largely forgotten what was most important to him: being a soldier, and one of renown.

Success on the field of battle-success meaning victory as well as distinguishing one's self above one's comrades, who are also brave and daring men - this, Stoker shows, is what drove Clausewitz. Stoker also considers the continuing relevance of Clausewitz's work today, particularly focusing on its effect on strategic thinking in American foreign policy. The result is a brilliant reassessment of both the man and his legacy, one that adds to our understanding of Clausewitz and his place in today's military and political landscape.

By: Donald Stoker
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 157mm, Width: 248mm, Spine: 30mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780199357949
ISBN 10: 0199357943
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 13 October 2014
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Chapter 1: The Point of it All ; Chapter 2: Boy Soldier (1780-1795) ; Chapter 3: Student of War-And of Man (1795-1805) ; Chapter 4: War: The 1806 Campaign (1806-1807) ; Chapter 5: Reformer and Rebel (1808-1812) ; Chapter 6: War: The 1812 Campaign ; Chapter 7: War: The 1813 Campaign ; Chapter 8: War: The 1813-1814 Campaign ; Chapter 9: War: The 1815 Campaign ; Chapter 10: Writer, Soldier (1815-1831) ; Chapter 11: The Legacy

Donald Stoker is Professor of Strategy and Policy for the U.S. Naval War College's program at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is the author of The Grand Design: Strategy and the U.S. Civil War.

Reviews for Clausewitz: His Life and Work

Great. A skillful study of the interplay of military history and thought provides Don Stoker with an instructive way to approach Clausewitz's career and writings. --Jeremy Black, author of War and Technology One of the book's great strengths is its accessibility; Stoker weaves the standard sources together with authoritative, modern secondary treatments to form a readable, well-paced narrative that draws out biographical detail while illuminating the broader political and military canvas on which Clausewitz's life was lived. - War on the Rocks Carefully crafted...an important and worthy book. - The Daily Beast