New York Times
"Patrick N. Hunt’s HANNIBAL (Simon & Schuster, $28) starts slowly but comes alive when Hannibal charges into battle. The slow start is more the fault of Hannibal than of Hunt, an archaeologist and biographer who teaches at Stanford University. Hannibal was a one-dimensional man who seemed to live solely for combat against Rome. We know more about how he fought than what he thought. Hunt demonstrates why Hannibal was so adept at battle, in particular his ability to turn to his advantage the quirks of terrain, weather and the characteristics of his Roman foes. The book is particularly illuminating in discussing Hannibal’s famous crossing of the Alps in 218 B.C... Hunt excels in his descriptions of battles..."
Thomas E. Ricks, author of Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom
"An exciting biography of one of history's greatest commanders. . . . A thrilling page-turner about one of history's most brilliant strategists and tacticians."
Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Kirkus Reviews
Robert L. O'Connell
“Patrick Hunt's Hannibal is a rare combination of impeccable scholarship and good writing. Knowing what the author knows, this biography could have been 900 pages long; instead it hits the scales at below 300, the perfect fighting weight for one of history's most lethal combatants.”
Robert L. O’Connell, author of The Ghosts of Cannae
Christian Science Monitor
"Archeologist and historian Patrick Hunt distills his survey of literature about the Second Punic War into a brightly dramatic story that covers virtually every anecdote connected with Hannibal...relates the famous general's story with wonderful energy...immensely readable."
Elizabeth Rowe
"...Hunt tells [Hannibal's] fascinating story from beginning to end…For lovers of military history this book is not to be missed."
Bookish
Steven Saylor
“From opening anecdote to closing argument, Hunt’s biography engages fully with both Hannibal the legend and Hannibal the man—telling us what can and should be known about the man while acknowledging the ambiguities and contradictions of the legend. Was Hannibal a military genius or a lucky gambler, a self-propelled comet or the instrument of fate, a figure of terror or of pathos? All of these, and much more.”
Steven Saylor, author of the New York Times bestseller Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome
Barry Strauss
“Patrick Hunt is one of the world’s greatest experts on Hannibal. He brings that magnificent commander to life, with verve and in detail, in this wonderful book. Hannibal is must reading for all students of military history.”
Barry Strauss, Cornell University, author of The Death of Caesar: The Story of History’s Most Famous Assassination
Roger J. A. Wilson
"Patrick Hunt, who has for decades been researching Hannibal, including much personal fieldwork on the ground retracing Hannibal’s footsteps, distills a lifetime’s knowledge and experience in this lively and compelling narrative. It is a tale worth the retelling, and Hunt expounds it in gripping detail and with scholarly and judicious judgment. Right up-to-date with the latest academic debate, the book is written with verve and passion."
Professor Roger J. A. Wilson, University of British Columbia, Renowned Classicist / Roman Archaeologist
Booklist
"Acknowledged Hannibal expert Hunt, an archaeologist, historian, and teacher at Stanford University, examines in depth Hannibal’s activities in Carthage and Spain...This easily digestible and engrossing biography is ideal for general readers with an interest in ancient history."
Library Journal
“The military history is thorough and balanced. . . . Drawing on both ancient and modern scholarship, this book is accessible for the nonspecialist; military history buffs will enjoy.”
Library Journal
Publishers Weekly
“The flourishes that make Hunt a popular on-air personality shine through. . . . . Hunt’s story of the doomed general, whose exploits are more celebrated than those of his vanquishers, will appeal to any reader interested in military history or strategy.”
Publishers Weekly