"This is an important book, accessible to students, scholars, and the lay reader. The writing style is clear and focused, and in each chapter Roisman blends ancient evidence with scholarly perception, reaching compelling and thought-provoking conclusions. This will become a standard work in the study of ancient warfare and military leadership." -- Journal of Military History "The book is written in a flowing, easy style which makes it pleasure to read and accessible to undergraduates, and at the same time it contains insights which are valuable for modern scholarly discussions, some of which have been singled out above. Roisman succeeds in stressing the versatility expected from classical Greek generals and the importance of their personalities for the course of history." -- Pavel Nývlt, Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences, Listy Filologické "Overall, the material in this work is informed, well-presented, and supported by outstanding, careful research. This is an excellent contribution to this area of scholarship, and does a wonderful job of demonstrating the complexities of this type of leadership role, the planning and management of ancient warfare, and sheds new light on a number of well-known and important battles during this age. The general reader, as well as students and scholars, will find this work interesting and insightful.

The Classical Art of Command will be a fundamental work for research into various aspects of Greek warfare and ancient Greek command during the Classical Age, as well as the lives and careers of these famous generals." --Charlotte Dunn, Ancient History Bulletin "[Roisman] is to be especially commended for the clarity, with which he traces the often complex shifts in alliances, particularly in the period after the Peloponnesian War-a not insignificant detail, since the ability to cement or undermine these alliances was an important weapon in the commander's arsenal. With 38 illustrations and 38 maps, an extensive bibliography and a useful survey of primary sources, this is a welcome addition to the library of anyone interested in the ancient Greek world." --David Stuttard, Classics For All "This well-conceived and carefully researched book will inform and delight scholars and the general public alike. The Classical Art of Command is accessible yet nuanced as it guides the reader through the complex and varied world of the ever-warring Greek polis. Even those not naturally drawn to military history will find interest and merit in Roisman's analysis of the lives of eight generals from Classical Greece and the world they helped shape." --Timothy Howe, St. Olaf College "Roisman presents a breathtaking panorama of the warring states of Greece from age of the Spartan Leonidas and the wily and brilliant Athenian Themistocles to the Theban generals, Pelopidas and Epaminondas, who revolutionized hoplite warfare.

Spanning the roughly one hundred and fifty years from the Persian Wars to the emasculation of Sparta by the Thebans, this volume studies eight prominent military figures who contributed to the rise of Greek military supremacy in the era before Philip and Alexander of Macedon. Roisman is well versed in this field and his scholarship is impeccable. More than just a military study, The Classical Art of Command belongs in the library of every student and enthusiast of Greek history." -Waldemar Heckel, University of Calgary.