Adrian Preston – författare

‘The Duke is a soldier – a bad education for a statesmen in a free country’. Sir Walter Scott’s fear of the political soldier has long been part of Western political life. Yet although many countries would have preferred to keep the military out of politics few have been successful.Originally published in 1976, this book examines the careers of five distinguished twentieth century soldiers and assesses their contribution as statesmen. Hindenburg, Byng, Franco, Eisenhower and De Gaulle all came into political life in different circumstances, but none did so in the name of the profession or to establish a praetorian state. Each was a professional soldier who found himself drawn into the political arena. Each of these essays illuminates one aspect of the range of political, sociological and historical issues which now surround the interrelationship of civil and military. At a time when the tensions of democracy, both internally and externally, impose increasing pressure on the role of the military in society it is important to study the history of soldiers-as-statesmen.

‘The Duke is a soldier – a bad education for a statesmen in a free country’. Sir Walter Scott’s fear of the political soldier has long been part of Western political life. Yet although many countries would have preferred to keep the military out of politics few have been successful.Originally published in 1976, this book examines the careers of five distinguished twentieth century soldiers and assesses their contribution as statesmen. Hindenburg, Byng, Franco, Eisenhower and De Gaulle all came into political life in different circumstances, but none did so in the name of the profession or to establish a praetorian state. Each was a professional soldier who found himself drawn into the political arena. Each of these essays illuminates one aspect of the range of political, sociological and historical issues which now surround the interrelationship of civil and military. At a time when the tensions of democracy, both internally and externally, impose increasing pressure on the role of the military in society it is important to study the history of soldiers-as-statesmen.

Originally published in 1976, this book honours the centenary of The Royal Military College of Canada, 1876-1976. It comprises nine essays written by military historians who have been or still are in some way, as staff and students, connected with RMC since 1948. The essays range in time from the American invasion of Canada in 1775 to Hungary on the eve of the Second World War, and in place, from Upper Canada to the North West Frontier of India. The theme running through the book is the problem of civil-military relations and how this has been faced in Canada in the nineteenth century, in the defence of India in the nineteenth century and in the First World War and post-war period in Great Britain and Hungary.

Originally published in 1976, this book honours the centenary of The Royal Military College of Canada, 1876-1976. It comprises nine essays written by military historians who have been or still are in some way, as staff and students, connected with RMC since 1948. The essays range in time from the American invasion of Canada in 1775 to Hungary on the eve of the Second World War, and in place, from Upper Canada to the North West Frontier of India. The theme running through the book is the problem of civil-military relations and how this has been faced in Canada in the nineteenth century, in the defence of India in the nineteenth century and in the First World War and post-war period in Great Britain and Hungary.

This book, first published in 1978, examines the influence of the General Staffs upon the diplomacy of appeasement and rearmament between 1931 and 1941. The great question of European security and order, and their breakdown and the outbreak of the second world war, are examined here through the eyes of Cabinets and Foreign Offices as well as through the eyes of Chiefs of Staff.

This book, first published in 1978, examines the influence of the General Staffs upon the diplomacy of appeasement and rearmament between 1931 and 1941. The great question of European security and order, and their breakdown and the outbreak of the second world war, are examined here through the eyes of Cabinets and Foreign Offices as well as through the eyes of Chiefs of Staff.

Recent research has largely destroyed the fallacy that most of the powers declared war in 1914 without any clear perception of why and to what ultimate end. War aims were the subject of frequent examination, although decisions to publicise the results depended on a number of factors affecting both national and alliance politics. This book is a collection of original essays by six distinguished scholars dealing with the problem of the major powers’ political aims and military strategies during World War I. The contributors write from the viewpoint of their own special interests and research and so offer a broad spectrum of ideas on the main theme of the book.