Going to War in Ancient Egypt

School Library Journal

Gr 5-7-These books are designed to give a brief picture of soldiers, their weapons, and military strategies in particular eras and geographic locations, including a highly condensed description of their world at that time. Similar in scope to Martin Windrow's "The Soldier through the Ages" series (Watts; o.p.), they are far less detailed than Peter Connolly's fine The Greek Armies (Silver Burdett, 1979; o.p.) or his Tiberius Claudius Maximus (Oxford, 1989; o.p.), and they are fragmented by the all-too-familiar facing-page "chapters." The volumes on World Wars I and II are more detailed in that they cover specific conflicts. However, all five of these colorful constructions will catch the eye, provide some necessary information for young researchers, and plump up a slender bibliography. Heavily illustrated and with numerous captions, each title includes a map with a brief time line. Academically undemanding, and suffering in spots from oversimplification, these books could brighten up the drab 355s and provide some fresh fodder for military-minded report writers.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.