Karl von Clausewitz's study On War was described by the American strategic thinker Bernard Brodie as not simply the greatest, but the only great book about war'. It is hard to disagree. Even though he wrote his only major work at a time when the range of firearms was fifty yards, much of what he had to say remains relevant today. Michael Howard explains Clausewitz's ideas in terms both of his experiences as a professional soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, and of the intellectual background of his time.a delightful introduction to the paradoxes and insights of this passionate rationalist.' London Review of Books This book is intended for military historians and analysts; students of international relations; general readers interested in the tactics and logistics of war.