CREASY’S CLASSIC FIFTEEN DECISIVE BATTLES, FIRST EDITION
CREASY, Edward S. The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World; From Marathon to Waterloo. London: Richard Bentley, 1851. Two volumes. 12mo, 20th-century full scarlet morocco, gilt-decorated spine with drum motifs, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.
First edition of Creasy’s influential military history, including the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, Joan of Arc’s victory at Orleans, and America’s victory over the British at Saratoga during the American Revolution, handsomely bound in full red morocco by Bayntun.
British historian Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy "is best known for his Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World [which] has met with the approval of those learned in military matters" (DNB). This authoritative work has as its focus key military conflicts that proved a turning point in history. Included are: the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C., the Victory of Arminus over the Roman Legions, the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Joan of Arc's victory over the English at Orleans in 1429, the Defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, the 1777 American victory at Saratoga in the Revolutionary War, and the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. In this definitive work "Creasy wrote so stirringly that he surely influenced at least as many military historians and analysts as did… even Karl von Clausewitz" (New York Times)—and he made an impact on Gilbert and Sullivan, whose Major-General Stanley boasted of his ability to "quote the fights historical; from Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical."
Contents generally clean and bright with marginal paper clip stain to first two leaves of text in Volume I and expert marginal paper repairs to contents page of volume II. Bayntun binding fresh and fine.